Becker Posted July 19, 2005 Posted July 19, 2005 The nominees for the 2005 ENnie awards have been released. You can vote here: http://www.enworld.org/ennies/index.php?do=vote If you've never heard of the ENnies, they are the largest PnP RPG awards around. Which is kind of like being the tallest midget in the room. However, such is life. The list of the nominees is here: http://www.enworld.org/ennies/index.php?do=nominees Now at this point I'm sure many of you are wondering: "What kind of scam is this!?!?! Where the **** is Wizards of the Coast! This is a lie! A sham! Plus, who is this Becker guy? Sounds like a spammer to me! Let's beat him up and take his lunch money!" These are fair questions. 1) You have to enter to get nominated. Companies like Wizards and Steve Jackson Games typically don't enter. Why should they? They dominate the market share and all their entry would do is drive their own customers to other companies. For what it's worth, I support a general "fan's choice" where anything goes and that award would almost certainly go to WotC. However, I am in absolutely no postion to see this to fruition. 2) This is a scam in one sense. I'm up for a "Best Writing" award. My interests are truly mercenary. If this irritates you, I would strongly suggest gimping my chances by voting for the "Valus" game, because the writing there is truly sublime. However, I'd obviously appricate a nod for "Murchad's Legacy". 3) Who am I? I used to post on the Bio/Black Isle forums. Now I don't so much. This is mostly because my brain is turning into tapiocia pudding and I get distracted by shiny objects very easily. 4) I only brought $7.43 for lunch money today. Please don't take it all. At least leave me with $0.50 so I can get a soda. Happy gaming folks!
EnderAndrew Posted July 19, 2005 Posted July 19, 2005 I wouldn't vote against you to spite you as I don't know you. I know several of the publishers and it seems like about 7 products keep getting 5+1 slots for each category. That seems a little suspect, though I can personally vouch for some of the products being nominated as being top-notch. I can't vote for you, or many of the categories as I just haven't read enough of the books to adequately form an opinion. Either way, good luck and congratulations for getting nominated.
Becker Posted July 19, 2005 Author Posted July 19, 2005 I know several of the publishers and it seems like about 7 products keep getting 5+1 slots for each category. That seems a little suspect, though I can personally vouch for some of the products being nominated as being top-notch. Yeah, the publishers have to submit products for consideration. So, if a publisher hands over their one kick-butt book, that book is going to see a lot of light. I can't vote for you, or many of the categories as I just haven't read enough of the books to adequately form an opinion. Fair enough and I admire your honesty. But just as a point of reference, you can't hurt a book's chances. The voting system is set up so that it only tallys "yeas" and "nays" don't exist. So if you only have knowledge of one book on the list, you aren't really hurting things. Either way, good luck and congratulations for getting nominated. Thanks. I'm going against White Wolf, so I harbor no illusions. This is pretty much the end of the ride for me. However, as you said, there are a lot of good products up there. If nothing else, it's a good list for a PnP gamer to check out.
EnderAndrew Posted July 19, 2005 Posted July 19, 2005 Hell, I'm also a big fan of Monte Cook's Malhavok label (carried by White Wolf) and the Atlas Games house. I consider those some serious competition. BTW, did you self-publish? It appears yours is the only book from your publishing house.
Becker Posted July 19, 2005 Author Posted July 19, 2005 BTW, did you self-publish? It appears yours is the only book from your publishing house. Yep. I pitched the book to varoius publishers and realized I was just going to have to bite the bullet and do it myself. I'm going to move to a PDF-only format in the future. Publishing is a lack of fun. I would only reccomend it to people that have no desire to ever have money or sex again.
EnderAndrew Posted July 19, 2005 Posted July 19, 2005 That was a bold move and I hope it doesn't blow up in your face.
EnderAndrew Posted July 19, 2005 Posted July 19, 2005 Reading the one-page player intro, the setting seems pretty decent. Church of Light is a pretty cliche name for the big good Church, but other than that there is some promise. However if you want to get people into the setting, I think nailing the theme is important. Random names of nations and kings doesn't sell anything to me. If you have some intro stories, or flavor text, I'd put some of that up on the website. Sell us on the stories, plots and feel of the world.
Becker Posted July 19, 2005 Author Posted July 19, 2005 Not a bad idea. I'll toss up the intro story tonight!
Reveilled Posted July 19, 2005 Posted July 19, 2005 Its a shame Mystic Eye Games didn't get any nominations (I don't know if they even entered). A Few years ago, Hal (their Vice President) gave me a free sourcebook for Christmas. Nice Guy, and a useful, highly detailed book. Hawk! Eggplant! AWAKEN!
EnderAndrew Posted July 19, 2005 Posted July 19, 2005 I'd also capitalize on geek hype. Find a geek who can get the word out, and offer them a free book. See if they will playtest it for a week/month, whatever. Maybe a local RPGA group, or something like that. If they are anything like the Camarilla (White Wolf's official fan club/gaming group - 11,000 members strong) then they chat on mailing lists alot. Maybe find a web cartoonist who caters to the geek crowd. Some of the big ones get so many hits that a link from them will create a "Slashdot" effect.
Archmonarch Posted July 19, 2005 Posted July 19, 2005 Maybe find a web cartoonist who caters to the geek crowd. Some of the big ones get so many hits that a link from them will create a "Slashdot" effect. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> If you were to follow this advice, Id try Rich Burlew. He writes The Order of the Stick, which is as far as I know the most well-known DnD webcomic. It also happens to be fairly hilarious. And I find it kind of funny I find it kind of sad The dreams in which I'm dying Are the best I've ever had
EnderAndrew Posted July 19, 2005 Posted July 19, 2005 I don't know if the Knights of the Dinner Table guys would throw you a bone, since they publish their own D20 label as well.
Archmonarch Posted July 19, 2005 Posted July 19, 2005 I wasnt aware of that, but its still worth a shot. Perhaps GitP games could act as a sponsor or something. And I find it kind of funny I find it kind of sad The dreams in which I'm dying Are the best I've ever had
EnderAndrew Posted July 19, 2005 Posted July 19, 2005 Sometimes other people in the industy will give a shout-out.
EnderAndrew Posted August 1, 2005 Posted August 1, 2005 For what it's worth I bought this guy's book and the writing is pretty good. I don't care for D20 but this is a good setting from a rules and story perspective. The Prestige Classes aren't horribly overpowered, and aren't strict templates that people have to go into. The Prestige Classes are more cultural archetypes for various nations/culutures in the game to strive for. Reading the book makes me want to play it. Is it better than Arcana Unearthed? No. But it is a fine D20 setting and people may want to check it out.
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