Opening can o' worms

[Dextra]

I'm starting up this thread to get input from fans (not publishers- they can pipe in in the parallel publishers' forum discussion I'll start later) on how you want to see the categories handled and defined. This is an opinion-finding mission only, not a vote.

1. Judge Selection: Should judges be able to self-nominate, or should they receive a nomination and second before being put on the ballot?
2. d20: I would like to keep the best d20 category as a nod to the origins of the Awards as well as reflect the unique advantages and disadvantages of using the d20 STL, but redefine it so that a product cannot compete in the Best Game as well as Best d20 Product. Please, no conjecture about 4th ed and how it'll affect future Awards, let's focus only on the 2007 Awards.
3. Mega Books: With the increasing number of mega-books with content spanning multiple genres, should we limit the number of categories an individual product in which a product can compete in the "Genre" domain (best adventure, best campaign/campaign setting supplement, best monster/adversary, best supplement)? Ie. publisher picks one? Or do we reward the products for their content, so in theory a Ptolusesque product could receive nominations in all?
4. Additional Categories: I am contemplating adding the "Best Paraphernalia" category to the list to include items such as T-shirts, RPG fiction (and comics), dice bags, RPG movies, etc. In other words, the Aid/Accessory category would be open to products that enhance game play, paraphernalia to products that enhance gamer lives.
5. Category Definitions: how are we doing with the definitions as is?
6. Category Evaluation Criteria: by what criteria do you think each category should be evaluated?

 

[DaveMage]

I'm starting up this thread to get input from fans (not publishers- they can pipe in in the parallel publishers' forum discussion I'll start later) on how you want to see the categories handled and defined. This is an opinion-finding mission only, not a vote.

1. Judge Selection: Should judges be able to self-nominate, or should they receive a nomination and second before being put on the ballot?
2. Mega Books: With the increasing number of mega-books with content spanning multiple genres, should we limit the number of categories an individual product in which a product can compete in the "Genre" domain (best adventure, best campaign/campaign setting supplement, best monster/adversary, best supplement)? Ie. publisher picks one? Or do we reward the products for their content, so in theory a Ptolusesque product could receive nominations in all?
   

I like judge selection the way it is.

IMO, mega books should not be limited. If they qualify for more than 1 category, then they should be entered in every category that's appropriate.

The only thing that I think needs fine tuning is the definition/difference between campaign settings and adventures. IMO, Shakled City had no business being labeled a campaign setting/supplement.

 

[Dextra]

I like judge selection the way it is.

IMO, mega books should not be limited. If they qualify for more than 1 category, then they should be entered in every category that's appropriate.

The only thing that I think needs fine tuning is the definition/difference between campaign settings and adventures. IMO, Shakled City had no business being labeled a campaign setting/supplement.

Alrighty then- suggest some alternate definitions!

 

[Treebore]

1. I like it the way it is.

2. I think a best d20 and a best "other" are a good idea.


3. I don't think it should be put in two conflicting categories, IE Shackled City. Either it is an adventure, or it is a setting. Greyhawk, Wilderlands, DCC #35, Kalamar, Bards Gate, Mithril City, Hollowfaust, etc... are settings. Shackled City was a HUGE adventure path.


4. I think paraphenalia is too minor to warrant a voting process.

5. I definitely think the definition of adventure versus setting needs to be clarified.

6. I think the criteria is good for evaluation purposes.

 

[Capellan]

2. If D20 games aren't eligible for the "Best Game" category, then it isn't a "Best Game" category at all: it's a "Best Non-d20 Game" category, and needs to be named as such.

 

[DangerDwarf]

Really don't have a problem with how things are done except that a product should not be in both the best adventure and best campaign. Choose one, it aint both.

 

[DaveMage]

Alrighty then- suggest some alternate definitions!

Would you mind posting the current definitions here?

 

[Dextra]

Would you mind posting the current definitions here?

No problem!
(BTW, sorry if I came across as snarky, I really am interested in what people think the definitions should be!)

Best Fan Site - Awarded for a web site run by fans, for fans, ie. not by a publisher.

Best Cover Art - Awarded for the book containing the best cover artwork.

Best Interior Art - Awarded for the book containing the best artwork between the covers.

Best Cartography - Awarded for the individual product containing the best cartography (art or technique of making maps or charts).

Best Production Values - Awarded for the book exemplifying the best production values, from graphic design and layout, editing, paper, binding- all the factors that combine to create the look and feel of the product.

Best Writing - Awarded for the book containing the best prose and descriptive text (ie."cream" or “fluff”).

Best Rules - Awarded for the book containing the best (innovative, creative, workable) game design and mechanics (ie. "crunch").

Best Adventure - Awarded for a product that is primarily an adventure, adventure ideas, or seeds.

Best Supplement - Awarded for a product which adds supplementary rules or details to the game.

Best Campaign/Campaign Supplement - Awarded for a product particular to a campaign setting.

Best Adversary/Monster Product - Awarded for a product whose primary focus is monsters or adversaries.

Best Aid or Accessory - Awarded for the best product used to complement role playing game play. RPG books are not eligible for this category. Miniatures designed specifically for use as aids or accessories for RPGs are eligible, however miniatures necessary for game play (click games or tabletop war games, for example) are not.

Best Free Product or Web Enhancement - Awarded for the best free product or web enhancement. A company's entire site could be nominated so long as there were considerable updates and content added during the eligibility period.

Best Electronic Book - Awarded for the best book released electronically. Products submitted for Best Electronic Book must have been released exclusively in electronic format to be eligible, although small-run (under 50 copies) Print on Demand will not invalidate an entry in this category. Please note that this is for electronic books only- software in now considered only in the Best Aid or Accessory category.

Best Game - Awarded for the best role-playing game. The Best Game winner brings together art, writing, rules, feeling, playability- everything that makes up a role playing game. Entries in this category must be complete enough to play as-is, from character creation to rules of play.

Best d20/OGL Product - Awarded for the best book using the d20 mechanic. This is open to d20-derived OGL, d20 Licensed games, and products with special D&D licenses.

Best Product - Awarded to the best product. All products submitted will be automatically considered for this category.

Best Publisher - Awarded to a publisher whose body of work during the eligibility period was deemed best overall, with other, often less tangible factors taken into consideration. Customer support, quality and frequency of updates of their web site, their accessibility and contributions to the EN World and gaming-in-general communities will be all part of the qualities of Best Publisher. This is a Fans' Choice Award and the only category in which a publisher who did not submit any product for consideration to the ENnies can qualify (if they receive the nomination).

 

[AdmundfortGeographer]

Here is a proposal for a category.

Best Serial Adventure, a sequence of three or more adventures explicitly connected. Either published individually within the year period, or republished in an omnibus. Supplemental setting material could satisfy the "connected" quality for meeting the category. Witchfire Trilogy, or Shackled City, Mysteries of the Moonsea or Age of Worms would be obvious candidates. Maybe even Glades of Death?

 

[Thunderfoot]

4. - I like the idea of a paraphernalia award and was actually going to ask you about that in a separate e-mail. However, this one could be the hardest to judge. Does a T-shirt warrant an award? How about a gaming related CD that has no actual game content (such as Lukeski's CD)? I think gamer related movies should get some sort of nod, but how often are they produced? Does have to be a feature length? Sure 2007 has at least 3 titles that could qualify as is, but does it have to be a "small independent" production? Would LotR have qualified and if so, will Hollywood even care about showing up to accept?

I have the feeling that an entire separate set of categories could spring up from this simple concept. And while I like the concept, I'm not sure how to direct the creation of said category to not make it seem like the ENnies "booby prize". Sorry this isn't that helpful, but its the best I can do, off the cuff.