Hello, My name is Sean Parker. I've been a gamer since I was 11 (26 years or so) and gaming has played a prominent role in my life ever since. For a while now I've felt the desire to be able to do something more for the hobby that I enjoy so much. I know I'll never write the next big game, but I still want to contribute to the community and industry in some way. That's when I found the ENnies a few years ago and realized that being a Judge gives me the chance to do just that. So here I am.
1. When did you join the RPG hobby and what inspired you to become involved and stay with it?
My first introduction to gaming was my mother flipping out when she found me looking at the Dungeons and Dragons toy line in the toy department at a Zares department store. How could a toy cause such hysteria? I got curious and that was that; been hooked since. My first purchase was the Car Wars Deluxe box set followed not long after by the BattleDroids (and eventually Battletech) box set. My real introduction to roleplaying games came with 5th grade and I met my best friend at the time. He introduced me to the Marvel Superheroes RPG (YAY! FASERIP!) and we played that for nearly 3 years solid after that. Since that time gaming has been a major part of my life both as a hobby and a social and creative outlet. I think it's the people I've met (and will meet) that keeps me so enamored with the hobby.
2. Since you joined the hobby, what roles have you played (e.g. vending, professional writing and publishing, freelancing, reviewing, convention organizing, homebrewing, playing, GMing, etc.)?
Mostly I've just been a player. I enjoy playing but I've always had a creative streak so have tried my hand at world building and such. Nothing that will ever see print of course but the creative exercise is worth it. I have recently gotten the GM bug and will be starting a game in the near future, I'm really looking forward to that. I did have a friend who was/is a game designer. I enjoyed hanging out with him, being a sounding board to his ideas and helping with the playtesting. Was neat to see the books after they were printed and knowing I had a small part to play in their creation. Even if I wasn't in the credits.
3. The ENnies require a major commitment of time and mental energy. What resources do you bring that will help you discharge these responsibilities? Will your gaming group or other individuals be assisting you? Does your family support you?
Time is what I have in spades at the moment. I am currently a part time student, taking only 2 classes a quarter. I do have a gaming group and other gamer friends that I can call upon to help with any playtesting that might arise. My family might not understand my gaming lifestyle, but they have always been supportive.
4. Judging requires a great deal of critical thinking skills, communication with other judges, deadline management, organization, and storage space for the product received. What interests, experience and skills do you bring that will make you a more effective judge?
Professionally I am a Computer Support Specialist and that has given me the skills to handle the needs of being a Judge. Storage won't be an issue, anything new I get always goes on the best shelves of my already overburdened book cases.
5. What styles and genres of RPGs do you enjoy most? Are there any styles or genres that you do not enjoy? Which games best exemplify what you like? Do you consider yourself a particular system’s, publisher’s or genre’s “fanboy/girl”?
Wow, hard to answer really since I've read and played so many games and genres. I'm a softy for Superheroes games, Mutants and Masterminds being one of my favorite systems right now. I also played GURPS for nearly 10 years so I'd have to say it's also one of my favorites. Besides the Superhero genre I also really enjoy grim and gritty fantasy (from Conan to Warhammer), Victorian/Steampunk, Space Opera and especially anything with giant robots in it...
6. What system do you think is best designed? Is it the one you play most?
Best designed? I'd personally have to go with two, GURPS and Mutants and Masterminds. GURPS for the sheer level of detail in character creation and the tactical advantage of 1 second combat rounds. I think my love with GURPS has bled into Mutants and Masterminds because it too is so versatile with the added advantage of being a lot easier to play. M&M has boiled the d20 mechanic into its purist form. It really is a wonderful game and like GURPS, can be completely genre generic.
7. What games have you played in the past year? List up to 10 RPGs you have played the most.
Mutants and Masterminds, Warhammer Fantasy Role-Play 2e, Dread, D&D3.5 and 4e, and Hollow Earth Expedition. I also play a wide variety of tabletop miniatures games as well.
8. Briefly summarize the criteria you will use for judging products in the different categories. How will you deal with comparing products of vastly disparate lengths, medium (PDF vs. print), or mechanics to prose ratios? Will innovation and originality play a major role?
I feel that creativity is more of a factor than originality or innovation. Humanity has been around and telling stories for thousands of years before the invention of the roleplaying game. Creativity in how we tell those stories is what brings originality and innovation to the experience. Each product should be judged on its own merits not how they compare to one another. I will look at its creativity and see what originality it brings to the table and with that what innovations it has made both from a mechanical point and in storytelling.
9. How will you judge supplements or adventures for game systems whose core rules you are unfamiliar with or you believe are badly designed? What about for systems that are out of print?
Well, the likelihood of stuff for systems that are out of print I don't think will be that much of a problem and if I personally don't have it on my shelf, then I'm certain one of my friends whose game collection far exceeds my own would be willing to loan it to me. Plus there is always Ebay and other outlets to find obscure games. And again, with systems I'm unfamiliar with and don't own I have those friends who more than likely will have a copy somewhere. Supplements and Adventures should be based off the merit of their content, creativity and how it adds to the game they are for and shouldn't matter if their systems are badly designed or not.
10. How would you like to see the ENnies change (categories, policies, etc)? What should remain inviolate?
I don't know enough of the process of the ENnies to really make a comment. I do however hope that the ENnies continues to be a force within the gaming community, bringing heightened awareness to the best of the industry and ensuring continued quality from game publishers.
BONUS: (optional) If you were an RPG, what would it be, and would you play it?
haha With my surgery last year it would first start off as an espionage game of trying to get a patients file dropped into the hands of a waiting admissions clerk. Then there would be a long skill challenge simulating standing in line for 12 months and then move into a game of Operation where you try desperately not to touch the sides as you remove little plastic Gallbladders within the allotted time. Finally you'd break out the Car Wars like game set where you stumble through the hospital dodging crash carts and wheelchairs as the nurse walks you through the halls...
I will be happy to answer any questions anyone has for me. Thank you for your consideration.
