In which we share the love...

[jesshartley]

I've been so excited about Changeling: The Lost's nominations for the ENnies that I haven't taken the time to properly share the love. I'm conflicted about several other categories, because the industry is a small place and while I may not have familiarity with all of the products, there's several categories where I'm at least acquainted with the very talented creators of more than one product being nominated.

I'm not going to be an apologist for voting for/recommending my own products here, or those of the company that's given me the most support and employment. So, if you've got a problem with a heavy White Wolf slant, you may not want to go any further. These are my votes, and, like everyone else on the planet, I'm biased.

That being said (and keeping in mind the fact that any omissions I've made are entirely the result of a) me being dumb and b) me being on my way out the door to Connecticon this morning... )

Jess' Picks for the ENnie Awards:

Best Fan Product : Awarded to a free product (web site, 'zine, podcast, vidcast, or publication) put out by fans.
Nominees:
Animalball Games (podcast)
Dungeon Mastering (website)
Raiders of Oakhurst Reloaded, No Name Publishing
Flames Rising Dot Com (website)
Wandering Geek (podcast)

Jess' Pick: Flames Rising Dot Com - Matt McElroy and Monica Valentelli (who may just have the coolest last name ever) have worked hard to provide a useful, elegant and still creepy fan resource site for years. I love Flames Rising, and put my support fully behind them.


Fans' Choice: 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).
Nominees:
Alderac Entertainment Group
Arc Dream Publishing
Black Industries
Catalyst Game Labs
Crafty Games
Creative Mountain Games
Cubicle 7
Dreamscarred Press
EOS Press
Evil Hat Productions
Exile Games Studio
Expeditious Retreat Press
Fat Dragon Games
Fiery Dragon Productions
Flying Mice Games
Goblinoid Games
Green Ronin Publishing
Hinterwelt Enterprises
Kenzer & Company
lumpley games
Mind Storm Labs
Malhavoc Press
Mongoose Publishing
Necromancer Games
Paizo Publishing
Paradigm Concepts
Pelgrane Press
Pinnacle Entertainment Group
Precis Intemedia
Reality Deviant
Red Brick Limited
Schroedingers Cat Press
Steve Jackson Games
Thenodrin Presents, LLC
Troll Lord Games
White Wolf Publishing
Wizards of the Coast
World Works Games

Jess' Pick: White Wolf Publishing - What can I say, I'm biased.


Best Cover Art -Awarded for the book containing the best cover artwork & design.
Nominees:
Chronicles of RamlarChronicles of Ramlar Player's Guide, White Silver Publishing
Pathfinder 1 - Burnt OfferingsPathfinder #1: Burnt Offerings, Paizo Publishing
Pirate's Guide to FreeportPirate's Guide to Freeport, Green Ronin Publishing
Scion: God, White Wolf Publishing
Thousand Suns, Rogue Games

Jess' Pick: Scion: God, White Wolf Publishing - I told you... Biased.


Best Interior Art - Awarded for the book containing the best artwork between the covers.
Nominees:
Alpha Omega, Mind Storm Labs
Changeling the LostChangeling: The Lost, White Wolf Publishing
Pathfinder 1 - Burnt OfferingsPathfinder #1: Burnt Offerings, Paizo Publishing
Pathfinder Chronicles: Classic Monsters Revisited, Paizo Publishing
The Savage World of Solomon Kane, Pinnacle Entertainment Group

Jess' Pick: Changeling: The Lost, White Wolf Publishing - This one is my baby (well, for whatever value of "my" baby you get in being part of a big team of folks putting their creative juices into make something utterly awesome. I'm not going to carry that analogy out any further...)

Best Cartography - Awarded for the individual product containing the best cartography (art or technique of making maps or charts).
Nominees:
DCC #51: Castle Whiterock, Goodman Games
Elder Evils, Wizards of the Coast
Pirate's Guide to Freeport, Green Ronin Publishing
The Ruined Town, 0one Games
Tavern Tile Designer, 0one Games

Jess' Pick - Pirates Guide to freeport - Finally something I've got no bias about! Unfortunately, it's also an area I know almost nothing about. But I like Pirates, and I've heard great things about Green Ronin, so... there ya go...


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.
Nominees:
Aces and EightsAces and Eights, Kenzer & Company
Alpha Omega, Mind Storm Labs
Campaign Coins, King of the Castle
Changeling: The Lost, White Wolf Publishing
The Savage World of Solomon Kane, Pinnacle Entertainment Group

Jess' Pick - Changeling: The Lost - Back to my bias. But, in my defense, it's truly a gorgeous product, and I've used the hell out of mine in the last year without marring that in the slightest, so the durability is exemplar as well.

Best Writing - Awarded for the book containing the best prose and descriptive text (ie."cream" or "fluff").
Nominees:
Changeling: The Lost, White Wolf Publishing
Grimm, Fantasy Flight Games
Monsters and Other Childish Things, Arc Dream Publishing
Trail of Cthulhu, Pelgrane Press
Two-Fisted Tales, Precis Intermedia

Jess' Pick - Changeling: The Lost, White Wolf Publishing - Totally biased. Can't even pretend I'm not here. I mean, this is the stereotypical "vote for yourself" category for me, as a writer on this project. Sorry, I'm not more selfless.

Best Rules - Awarded for the book containing the best (innovative, creative, workable) game design and mechanics (ie. "crunch").
Nominees:
Aces and Eights, Kenzer & Company
Epic Roleplaying Game Manual, Dark Matter Studios
Star Wars Roleplaying Game Saga Edition, Wizards of the Coast
Trail of Cthulhu, Pelgrane Press
Witchhunter: The Invisible World, Paradigm Concepts

Jess' Pick - Abstain - I feel bad because this is really a category that you have to have had some experience using the system for, and I haven't played any of these. I'd be tempted to vote for Aces and Eights, just because I like wild west themed rpgs, but that's hardly an indicator of how well the mechanics work.


Best Adventure - Awarded for a product that is primarily an adventure, adventure ideas, or seeds.
Nominees:
DCC #50 Vault of the Iron Overlord, Goodman Games
DCC #51: Castle Whiterock, Goodman Games
Expedition to the Ruins of Greyhawk, Wizards of the Coast
Pathfinder #1: Burnt Offerings, Paizo Publishing
Seven Days to the Grave, Paizo Publishing
Honorable Mention: Shaolin Squirrels: Nuts of Fury, Hinterwelt Enterprises

Jess' Pick - Abstain - Again, I don't have much in the way of experience with any of these publishers or products. I included the honorable mention, however, because if it had made the list I'd have voted for Nuts of Fury just based on the title.


Best Supplement - Awarded for a product which adds supplementary rules or details to the game.
Nominees:
Codex Arcanis, Paradigm Concepts
Hero HighHero High, Green Ronin Publishing
Secrets of the Surface World, Exile Games Studio
Spirit of the SeasonSpirit of the Season, Evil Hat Productions
True20 Companion, Green Ronin Publishing

Jess' Pick - Tie between Hero High and Spirit of the Season - Both Lucien Soulban (who wrote Hero High) and Evil Hat have done a great deal for the industry and have been personally supportive of my own work, so although I haven't had a chance to play either, I'm putting these at first and second (I can't remember which I chose for which position.) If you can't vote based on product (due to not having experience with them) support good people.


Best Setting -Awarded for a product detailing a setting.
Nominees:
City of Brass Box Set, White Wolf Publishing
Pathfinder Chronicles Gazetteer, Paizo Publishing
Pirate's Guide to Freeport, Green Ronin Publishing
Roma Imperious, Hinterwelt Enterprises
Warp World, Blackburg Tactical Research Center

Jess' Pick - City of Brass Box Set, White Wolf Publishing - Back to the bias, but when I don't have experience with the rest of the products, company loyalty wins out.


Best Adversary/Monster Product - Awarded for a product whose primary focus is monsters or adversaries.
Nominees:
The Book of Unremitting Horror, Pelgrane Press
Elder Evils, Wizards of the Coast
Glimpse of the Abyss (Feng Shui), Atlas Games
The Noble Wild, Skirmisher Publishing
Pathfinder Chronicles: Classic Monsters Revisited, Paizo Publishing

Jess' Pick - Abstain - Not only do I not know any of these products, I am not overly familiar with any of the publishers, so I don't really have a leaning here. I'd be tempted to vote for Classic Monsters Revisited based on the potential for coolness in fleshing out established creatures in new ways, but having not seen what they did with it, I can't really do it.


Best Aid or Accessory - Awarded for the best product used to complement role playing game play.
Nominees:
Campaign Coins, King of the Castle
Hero Lab, Lone Wolf Development
Hollow Earth Expedition Game Master Screen, Exile Games Studio
Harrow Deck, Paizo Publishing
Tan Bag of Tricks, Conflict Chips

Jess' Pick - Campaign Coins, King of the Castle - OMG, PROPS! The LARPer in me actually squeed when I saw these, and I'm totally in love.


Best Miniature Product - Awarded for the best miniature or miniature-related product used to complement role playing game play.
Nominees:
D&D Icons: Legend of Drizzt Scenario Pack, Wizards of the Coast
Disposable Heroes Paper Minis, Precis Intermedia
Dragon Tiles: Forest Adventures, Fat Dragon Games
kHT-68 Hovertank, Dreampod 9
Titania's Fury Airship, Dragonfire Laser Crafts

Jess' Pick - Titania's Fury Airship, Dragonfire Laser Crafts - Not only is this a gorgeous product, but the folks at Dragonfire have been amazingly supportive of the Camarilla and the LARP community. I'm all for them.


Best Regalia - Awarded for the best product used to complement role playing game play.
Nominees:
Hobby Games: The 100 Best, Green Ronin Publishing
The Art of EveThe Art of Eve, CCP/White Wolf
Confessions of a Part-Time Sorceress: A Girls Guide to Dungeons & Dragons, Wizards of the Coast
Dungeons & Dragons Inn-Fighting, Wizards of the Coast
Game Night, Magnum Opus Press

Jess' Pick - The Art of Eve, CCP/White Wolf - Partially, but not wholly, loyalty based. The art in this is just fantastic.


Best Free Product or Webhancement - Awarded for the best free product or web enhancement.
Nominees:
Changeling Quickstart , White Wolf
Fire and Brimstone: The Comprehensive Guide to Lava, Magma, and Superheated Rock, Sammichcon Creations
Pathfinder RPG Alpha, Paizo Publishing
Shadowrun: Quickstart Rules, Catalyst Game Labs
Signs and Portents, Mongoose Publishing

Jess' Pick - Changeling Quickstart, White Wolf - This kicked it off, and while I've heard mixed reviews, I really enjoyed it.


Best Electronic Book - Awarded for the best book exclusively released electronically.
Nominees:
Book of Experimental Might 2, Malhavoc Press
Empire of the Ghouls, Open Design
Heavy Gear PDFHeavy Gear Blitz!: Locked and Loaded, Dreampod 9
Six Arabian NightsSix Arabian Nights, Open Design
Changeling: Fearmaker's Promise, White Wolf Publishing

Jess' Pick - The Fear-maker's Promise, White Wolf Publishing - Not bias or loyalty here - Chuck Wendig did a fantastic job with this product and I've been tearing it apart left and right of late, so I should know.


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.
Nominees:
Aces and EightsAces and Eights, Kenzer & Company
Monsters and Other Childish Things, Arc Dream Publishing
Og, Firefly Games
Witchhunter: The Invisible World, Paradigm Concepts
Star Wars Roleplaying Game Saga Edition, Wizards of the Coast

Jess' Pick - Monsters and Other Childish Things, Arc Dream Publishing - I have to admit, I'm basing this entirely on second hand information. But I've had enough folks (both gamers and industry people) recommend this game to me in the last few months to feel pretty confident putting my vote behind it.


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.
Nominees:
City of Brass Box Set, White Wolf Publishing
Codex Arcanis, Paradigm Concepts
Monte Cook's World of Darkness, White Wolf Publishing
Star Wars Roleplaying Game Saga Edition, Wizards of the Coast
True20 Freeport Companion, Green Ronin Publishing

Jess' Pick - Monte Cook's World of Darkness followed by City of Brass - Company loyalty here, honestly, I've never played either.

Product of the Year - Awarded to the best product overall, no matter what system or type.
Nominees:
Aces and Eights, Kenzer & Company
Changeling: The Lost, White Wolf Publishing
Grimm, Fantasy Flight Games
Monsters and Other Childish Things, Arc Dream Publishing
Pathfinder #8: Seven Days to the Grave, Paizo Publishing
Pirate's Guide to Freeport, Green Ronin Publishing
The Savage World of Solomon Kane, Pinnacle Entertainment Group
Star Wars Roleplaying Game Saga Edition, Wizards of the Coast
Traveller, Mongoose Publishing
Witchhunter: The Invisible World, Paradigm Concepts

Jess' Pick - Changeling: The Lost - I can't even read this category without giggling like a schoolgirl and bouncing up and down in my chair. They like us, they really like us. Regardless of the end result, I'm going to treasure this nomination for the rest of my career.

And, there you have it. I warned you, I'm biased and not as well-rounded as some gamers in the industry. If anything, this has convinced me that I need to actually get out and /game/ more outside of White Wolf's products, cuz it sounds like I'm missing out on a world of good stuff.

Comments

[weaver42.livejournal.com]

This one is my baby (well, for whatever value of "my" baby you get in being part of a big team of folks putting their creative juices into make something utterly awesome. I'm not going to carry that analogy out any further...)

Are you saying we all had a baby together?

...

That's a biological feat, lady. Wow.

And thanks for the Fear-Maker's love. I'd love to see it win its category, but who knows?

-- Chuck

[sixswordsamurai.livejournal.com]

My picks for best developer were:

Crafty
Catalyst
White wolf

in that order.

and confessions of a part time sorceress is an AWESOME book to help females who aren't into roleplaying get into roleplaying, although it is VERY DnD slanted (written by a DnD employee..)

[sixswordsamurai.livejournal.com]

oh and Privateer Press (Iron Kingdoms Rules!)

[fuzzyrobo.livejournal.com]

Miss Hartley I have a question for you. (Granted I still have to discuss this with the bunny) But would you like to see the New apparment since your going to be in my area anyways ~.^

[eddyfate.livejournal.com]

Jess' Pick - Abstain - I feel bad because this is really a category that you have to have had some experience using the system for, and I haven't played any of these. I'd be tempted to vote for Aces and Eights, just because I like wild west themed rpgs, but that's hardly an indicator of how well the mechanics work.

Trail of Cthulhu. Seriously.

[drivingblind.livejournal.com]

Thanks!