Wanna be an ENnies judge this year? Do ya, do ya? Not much time left!

[irdeggman]

Vote for me.

I live in Virginia Beach. Some friends of mine work for Avalanche Press and are planning on going to Gen Con and I'd like to 'tag along' with them.

I have been RPGing probably longer than most, since I just turned 46 and started when I was 17. I may not have the game-hours that others have, but wisdom comes with age. Memory is the second thing to go, I forgot what the first was

Games I've played; Traveller, D&D (AD&D 1st ed, AD&D 2nd, AD&D 2nd - player's option, 3.0, 3.5), Alternity, Deadlands d20, Star Wars (West End and d20), several war games, Villians and Vigilantes, Car Wars, and many others whose names escape me.

I have been an editor (I don't like to use the term 'writer' since it is too ego-centric, IMO) for the BRCS d20 (that is Birthright Campaign Setting) {see Birthright.net for more info on that} and was responsible for putting together the chapter on bloodlines and abilities as well as the chapter on "whatever didn't fit anywhere else" . I have posted frequently there concerning the project and other BR related topics. http://www.birthright.net/

I am an active member in the play-by-post game Verge of Extinction at TequilaStarise.net. This is an Alternity Star*Drive setting adventure. So check that out to see my RPGing abilities. http://www.tequilastarrise.net/

I've only recently started posted here, but I think I've done a pretty good job of staying on-topic and relevent.

My gaming group dubbed me a rules-lawyer early on, but I have evolved beyond that. One of the reasons that my advice was usually taken revolved around the fact that I never tried to interpret the rules to my personal advantage - and usually had a conservative view. I still reference the rules but whatever the DM/GM says is what we play to. My biggest gripe is when someone changes rules without letting the player's know. Common consideration says that a DM/GM should let them know before the changes are implemented - that is what I have always tried to do in the games I've run.


I am a career government worker. Having worked at Norfolk Naval Shipyard for the past 21 years. I have a degree in Chemical Engineering (which I haven't really used except when making drinks for my friends ) from the University of Michigan and so I'm familiar with that neck of the country (no its not really red - although if you've seen movie Breaking Away and understand the reference to 'cutters'. . . .)

I was a Certified Quality Auditor (my certification has since lapsed) from the American Society of Quality (ASQ). Being an auditor was was one of the many jobs I've done at the shipyard, others being writing administrative instructions, being a supervisor and "doing the jobs that no one else wants to do and doing them well".

Well that should be enough info to give the pollsters something to hate.

Vote for me - I'm no crook! I can beat GW! I did not have sexual relations with that woman!!

Duane Eggert

 

[Dogbrain]

Whyfor to vote for me.

First, I live in Indianapolis. I WILL be able to make it to GenCon. Heck, a city bus goes straight from my house to a block away from the convention center.

Second, I've been playing roleplaying games for more than 20 years. I've got a lot of broad experience with various systems but have managed to outgrow my system snobbery stage. I have not only played and run in RPG campaigns but have contributed to systems as diverse as Ars Magica (the Ars Magica Bestiary--very old edition) and GURPS (GURPS Swashbucklers, 3rd edition).

I'm very big on the whole "Internal Consistency" thing. A setting doesn't have to "make sense" in comparison to our own world, but it does have to "make sense" when taken on its own terms. Thus, I tend to get quite grumpy when confronted with settings and situations that should tear themselves apart but show no signs of so doing, merely because the designers are too lazy to think situations through.

Of course, this rule is completely suspended if there are Severely Cool Genre Conventions to consider. Genre triumphs over all, but if and only if it is honestly quite plain from the outset that the bullCENSORED parts of the setting are there intentionally, for genre or flavor reasons and the authors are aware that they make no sense, even internally. Few things really get my goat more than daft post hoc rationalizations. A straight-up admission of "we just put it in there because it looks cool" gets more points from me than volumes and volumes and volumes of whining about how the entirety of fantasy gaming would explode and kill all gamers if a single Wizard somewhere were permitted to use a sword once in a while.

When it comes to rules, I'm even more of a grump on "internal consistency". There is no excuse for bad system design. There is no excuse for incompetent copy editing. A game can be very simple, very "rules lite" and still be an elegant (and even "realistic") example of rules crafting. I don't care beforehand if rules are or aren't "realistic" unless the following happens:

The rules actually present themselves as "realistic". Then it's a matter of "put up or shut up".

The rules misrepresent something from reality without making it plain that this is intentional.

The rules just toss in a bunch of real-world terminology in a way that betrays gross ignorance of said terminology. Make some words up, in that case.

I'm not a big fan of presentation. Text is the king. Layout is the Prime Minister. Truly Illustrative Artwork might be the Minister of the Treasury or the Privy Purse. Spiffy design and fluff art are the court jester.


I'm extremely opinionated, so I won't be paralyzed by indecision. "Well, they're all good, so I can't decide." rarely comes up in my life.

Other stuff: I have functioned as a radiation safety officer for a molecular biology lab. I have served on a safety committee. These are positions that require attention to detail and the ability to explain to truly obstinate old farts exactly why it is that the procedure they have been using since Watson was a graduate student just aren't permitted, anymore.

 

[MeepoTheMighty]

I'd like to toss my hat into the ring. I've tossed my hat into the ring every year so far. Good thing I have my portable hole crammed full of extra hats.

I've been playing for about 15 years, since I was a wee little lad. I'm not an old grognard - at least not as old as some. I grew up on Dark Sun and Planescape, not Greyhawk and Conan.

Why should you vote for me? Hmm. The "I'm good at math" line got me elected class treasurer in high school, but I doubt it'll work here. Like all the other geeks here, I'm smart, great SAT scores, yadda yadda yadda, but who cares about that? More importantly, I'm a gamer. I love gaming. I'm the resident rules lawyer for two different groups, play as often as I can get a chance, and pretty much live for gaming. Hmm, that makes me sound like a loser.

Vote for me! I'm a loser! Let's steal this thing back from the tyrrany of successful types. You don't want them flaking off on their judging because of a "job" or a "girlfriend" or a "social life." This is serious business!

Edit: Oh yes, I'm in southern Michigan.

 

[Lela]

Hello all,

I'd like to be a judge at the ENnies. Why, you may ask. FREE BOOKS!!!!!!!!!!

(Uh oh, did I say that out loud?)

Actually it's something about wanting to be part of these great awards and hoping I can add something unique to the experience.

(Whew, good save. That was close.)

Many of you may have noticed that I spend the majority of my time in the Story Hour forum. If so, you've stumbled upon my passion. I live for a good story. It's why I play this game.

As a judge, I'll be looking for elements that give the DM and player the ability to create such a story. From new weapons, PrCs, and spells to campaign ideas, NPCs, and guidance suitable for newbies and experienced gamers.

I plan to use my own limited experience in the game, extensive fantasy novel experience to achieve this. But, most of all, as a judge I would draw from the Story Hours I read. I've seen a lot of what other DMs use to create an amazing story and plan to use that to its full effect.

Remember, "It's all about the Story."

 

[Mexal]

I have been sitting here all week wondering whether or not to take my first attempt at becoming an ENNIE judge.

My name is Mexal, although some folks may know me as Megan Robertson, and I have been role-playing since 1977, generally a couple of times a week face-to-face plus plenty of PBeMs. By trade I'm a teacher (having been an academic botanist, computer-herd and webmaster along the way), and when it comes to assessing games my particular interest is how a particular product will be of use in an actual campaign...

I review for D20 Zines and for my own site, RPG Resource (for which Morrus is kind enough to post links when I put up a new review!), and the college is used to my reading role-playing books during the lunch hour... not possibly the wisest move when you sit in a corner inhabited by the psychology department

As for Gen Con Indy... as I live in the UK it's a fair step, on the other hand just about all the major UK conventions this year are in term time which makes it difficult to get to them, so I just might be tempted.

Hugs and kisses,

Mexal.

 

[Cthulhu's Librarian]

Please consider voting for Cthulhu's Librarian for appointment to the 2004 panel of judges for the ENnie Awards.

I have spent the better part of the past week considering weather or not to put my name into the running to be a judge for the ENnies this year. I decided this evening, on the way home from my regular gaming session, that I would put myself on the line and see what people think of my ability to be part of this panel. Better to try and know, than not to try and wonder.

First, here are some of the basics about me. I live in Charlottesville, Virginia, and work in the library at the University of Virginia as a Reference Assistant and Technology Specialist, and I have a degree in Anthropology (no, I'm not a true librarian, yet). I will be attending GenCon this year, and plan on volunteering at the ENnies in some capacity.

For my qualifications, I have the following to offer:

• I have been an active member of the ENWorld community for approximately one year. Prior to this, I was a regular lurker on both ENWorld and on Eric Noah's 3e News page. I was a rare poster, under a couple of different user names.
• I have been playing RPGs since 1983, when I received the D&D Basic set for my 11th birthday. I have continued playing RPGs since then, with only a few years break while I was in college (I was caught in the CCG craze, then stopped gaming for a few years as I recovered). I was disappointed in the direction D&D 2e was headed, but eventually returned to RPGs in early 1999. I soon learned that there was to be a 3rd edition of D&D. Excited by this, I began playing more often, and eventually found a group of players that I have been exploring the variety of d20 products (and other systems) that have been coming out ever since. My previous gaming experiences include a wide variety of systems, including: Basic through 3.5e D&D; GURPS; FUDGE; Marvel Superheroes; Call of Cthulhu (BRP & d20); Star Frontiers; Palladium Roleplaying System; Rolemaster; Talislanta; Star Wars (WEG & d20); Eden Unisystem; and others.
• I have over 6 years of previous experience working in the publishing field. I worked for several years as the Assistant Editor for HarperPrism (now EOS), the SF/Fantasy imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. During my years at Prism, I had the opportunity to work with and learn from some of the best editors and writers in science fiction and fantasy. I was the primary editor of several books, and the assistant on many more. I was one of the primary editors on the line of CCGs that Prism released in the late 1990s. I also worked for a few years doing layout and design on graphics intensive specialty books, where I was able to learn design technique as well as combine my editorial work with design work.

I feel that these qualifications make me suited to the position of a judge on the ENnies panel this year. My judging standards would be based on a combination of high quality content, good editorial work, and pleasing and useful design choices. I do not consider myself to be a rules lawyer by any means; but I can read a game book, learn the rules, try them out at the table, and see if they work. When I shop for RPG books, I look for a book that includes material that is first and foremost well written, and packaged in a way that enhances the material without overburdening it with excessive flash, color, or difficult to use design choices.

Finally, there is one point that I need to bring up. In a discussion with one of the former judges about the workload of ENnie judges, I was asked about the time that I would need to devote to judging and the fact that I am getting married in May 2004. I will be unavailable for a period of 1-2 weeks at the end of May into the beginning of June. If GenCon were being held in July, I would not consider attempting to be a judge due to the time that will be required of me. Since the convention and awards are being held in August this year, my wedding will be over when the majority of the reading and work will need to be done. Also, the work will fall after the end of the school year, so my workload at my job at the UVA library will have slowed down considerably, and I will be able to devote more time to outside activities than I would if classes were in session.

Thank you for reading, and I hope that you will consider me to represent ENWorld as a judge this year.

Rich Miller
Cthulhu's Librarian

 

[Morrus]

That's all, folks! This thread is now closed.

I'll start the voting process tomorrow. Good luck to the entrants!