Kingbeast's Lair

This year Atlas Games came out with a list of 31 RPG related questions that they wanted people to answer. I will tackle them in small bite sized morsels to make them a bit easier to swallow. Here are the next set of questions.

REVERB GAMERS 2012, #6: Describe your all-time favorite character to play. What was it about him/her/it that you enjoyed so much?

I almost always run games so my list of favorite characters is not too big. I think one of my favorite PC to play is Green Ghost. Green Ghost is a Champions PC. He is a mild mannered law abiding construction worker who dug up an ancient cape that grants him strange magical ghostlike powers. I really enjoy Green Ghost for several reasons. First he has some really fun super powers. Green Ghost can walk through walls, fly, disrupt objects by phasing into them, and produce an ethereal gas to choke out foes. As his powers come from green life magic he is vulnerable to attacks that are red. This can be a lot of fun in conventions as I often need to ask the GM the colors of every attack that comes at him. Another great source of fun is Green Ghost’s near complete law abiding stance. Even though he is a ghost he will not enter a structure unless it is legal to do so. This often brings up lots of fun moments. The fact that Green Ghost is also a father brings up some great role-playing moments.

REVERB GAMERS 2012, #7: How do you pick names for your characters?

For superhero characters I use a thesaurus. For fantasy characters I will often piece together parts of other words. For modern characters I will use a baby name book or random name generator. Right now my preference is Inspiration Pad from NBOS. (You can pickup a copy of Inspiration Pad for free at this URL.)

REVERB GAMERS 2012, #8: What’s the one gaming accessory (lucky dice, soundtrack, etc.) you just can’t do without? Why?

I can only pick one!?! 😀 I guess I would have to pick my landscape Customizable GM Screen. I love the landscape format and having plastic slots for inserts is REALLY nice. Superb product. (You can pick one up at Noble Knight Games for $24.95 at this URL.)

REVERB GAMERS 2012, #9: Have you ever played a character of the opposite sex. Why or why not? If yes, how did the other players react?

I have played a female character but it was VERY early on in my RPG career. After only a game or two I completely gave up trying to play female PC. As I did a terrible job at it the other players did not react well. I have gotten better at playing female NPCs from the GM side of the screen.

REVERB GAMERS 2012, #10: Have you ever played a character originally from a book/TV/movie? How did the character change from the original as you played? If not, who would you most like to play?

I have not played a character that was directly from a published source but I have played some with only the serial numbers filed off. The one that springs to mind is Ridge Runner. Ridge Runner is a Champions character that is essentially Black Panther with a few less enhanced senses. 😉 He ended up being a private eye and less noble than the source.

GAME ON! 😀

Here is a list of the 2012 ENnie Award winners in gold and silver. I’ll put my picks in italics.

Best Adventure

Dead Rock Seven (Pelgrane Press)
Invasive Procedures (Pelgrane Press)
Madness at Gardmore Abbey (Wizards of the Coast)
Streets of Zobeck (Open Design)
The Rending Box (Pelgrane Press)

Best Aid/Accessory

DungeonMorph Cards (Inkwell Ideas, Inc.)
GameMastery Chase Cards (Paizo Publishing)
Masks: 1,000 Memorable NPCs for Any RPG (Engine Publishing)
Mutants and Masterminds GM’s Kit (Green Ronin)
Shadowrun Runner’s Toolkit (Catalyst Game Labs)

Best Art, Cover

Black Crusade: Core Rulebook (Fantasy Flight Games)
Cthulhu by Gaslight (Chaosium Inc.)
Mutants and Masterminds Gamemaster’s Guide (Green Ronin)
Neverwinter Campaign Setting (Wizards of the Coast)
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Beginner Box (Paizo)

Best Art, Interior

Book of Drakes (Open Design)
Do: Pilgrims of the Flying Temple (Evil Hat Productions)
Dragon Age: Set 2 (Green Ronin)
Legend of the Five Rings, Fourth Edition: The Great Clans (Alderac Entertainment Group)
The One Ring: Adventures Over the Edge of the Wild (Cubicle 7)

Best Blog

Campaign Mastery
Gaming as Women
Gnome Stew
Roving Band of Misfits
Sly Flourish

Best Cartography

Harker Asylum – Virtual Boxed Set (0One Games)
Madness at Gardmore Abbey (Wizards of the Coast)
Mass Transit III (Maps of Mastery)
Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Jade Regent Map Folio (Paizo)
The Shadowlands Conversion Guide (BlackStar Studios)

Best Electronic Book

Advanced Encounters: Terrain Toolbox (Sneak Attack Press)
Cthulhu Apocalypse: The Apocalypse Machine (Graham Walmsley & Pelgrane Press)
GURPS Social Engineering (Steve Jackson Games)
Spookybeans: The Gothic Comics RPG (Chapter 13 Press)
Way of the Wicked Book One: Knot of Thorns (Fire Mountain Games)

Best Free Product

Black Crusade: Broken Chains (Fantasy Flight Games)
Dragon Age Quickstart Guide (Green Ronin)
The One Ring: Words of the Wise (Cubicle 7)
The Shadowlands Conversion Guide (BlackStar Studios)
Pathfinder Module: We Be Goblins! (Paizo)

Best Game

Cosmic Patrol Core Rulebook (Catalyst Game Labs)
Do: Pilgrims of the Flying Temple (Evil Hat Productions)
Hollowpoint (VSCA Publishing)
Marvel Heroic Roleplaying Basic Game (Margaret Weis Productions)
Savage Worlds Deluxe (Pinnacle Entertainment Group)

Best Miniatures Product

Dungeons and Dragons Dragon Collector’s Set (Wizards of the Coast)
Monster Medallions Set 1: Deadly Encounter Groups (Fiery Dragon Productions)
Pathfinder Battles: Heroes and Monsters (Paizo)
Serene Fist Set Four: Katana Schoolgirls vs. Zombie Furries (Okumarts Games)
Steam Tower (Mayhem in Paper)

Best Monster/Adversary

DC Adventures: Heroes & Villains, Vol. 1 (Green Ronin)
Deathwatch: Mark of the Xenos (Fantasy Flight Games)
Hacklopedia of Beasts (Kenzer and Co.)
Hunter Sheets Issue Two—An SLA Industries Supplement (Nightfall Games)
Monster Vault: Threats to the Nentir Vale (Wizards of the Coast)

Best Podcast

Haste – The Official Obsidian Portal Podcast
Iron GM
Jennisodes
Law of the Geek
Role Playing Public Radio

Best Production Values

Hacklopedia of Beasts (Kenzer & Co.)
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Beginner Box (Paizo)
Smallville High School Yearbook (Margaret Weis Productions)
The One Ring: Adventures Over the Edge of the Wild (Cubicle 7)
Vampire: The Masquerade 20th Anniversary Edition (CCP Games/White Wolf Publishing)

Best RPG Related Product

Carnival Arcane (Midnight Syndicate Soundtracks)
Complete Kobold Guide to Game Design (Open Design)
Cthulhu Wrapping Paper (Gaming Paper)
Lords of Waterdeep (Wizards of the Coast)
Tales of the Far West (Adamant Entertainment)

Best Rules

Bulldogs! (Galileo Games)
Hollowpoint (VSCA Publishing)
Lorefinder—The Pathfinder / GUMSHOE Mashup (Pelgrane Press)
Marvel Heroic Roleplaying Basic Game (Margaret Weis Productions)
Spellbound Kingdoms (T. Shield Studios)

Best Setting

Ashen Stars (Pelgrane Press)
Cthulhu Apocalypse: The Apocalypse Machine (Graham Walmsley & Pelgrane Press)
Cthulhu Britannica: Shadows Over Scotland (Cubicle 7)
The Investigator’s Guide to Occult London (Pelgrane Press)
Unhallowed Metropolis, Revised (Atomic Overmind Press)

Best Supplement

Agents of Oblivion (Reality Blurs)
Cthulhu by Gaslight (Chaosium Inc.)
Dungeons and Dragons Player’s Options: Heroes of the Feywild (Wizards of the Coast)
GURPS Horror, Fourth Edition (Steve Jackson Games)
Star Hero (Hero Games)

Best Website

D&D Insider
Obsidian Portal
Pathfinder Wiki
See Page XX – The Pelgrane Press Webzine
RPG Geek

Best Writing

GURPS Horror, Fourth Edition (Steve Jackson Games)
Panopticon (Posthuman Studios)
Stealing Cthulhu (Graham Walmsley)
The Investigator’s Guide to Occult London (Pelgrane Press)
Your Whispering Homonculous (Open Design)

Product of the Year

Cthulhu Britannica: Shadows Over Scotland (Cubicle 7)
GURPS Horror, Fourth Edition (Steve Jackson Games)
Hacklopedia of Beasts (Kenzer and Co.)
Hollowpoint (VSCA Publishing)
Madness at Gardmore Abbey (Wizards of the Coast)
Marvel Heroic Roleplaying Basic Game (Margaret Weis Productions)
Masks: 1,000 Memorable NPCs for Any RPG (Engine Publishing)
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Beginner Box (Paizo)
Star Hero (Hero Games)
Stealing Cthulhu (Graham Walmsley)

My Take
I picked a lot of the winners. 🙂 When looking at the list I think my biggest complaint is that Do did not take any awards. Travesty. 🙁

Here are the award winners for fan favorite publishers and a new category for Judges’ Sportlight Award. I think having that category is cool.

Fan’s Favorite Publisher

Evil Hat Productions 
Paizo Publishing 

My Take
I voted for Evil Hat Productions out of the huge list of publishers so I was really glad to see them take one of these coveted awards. The transparency that Fred Hicks brokers is refreshing.

Judges’ Spotlight Award

Designers & Dragons (Mongoose Publishing)
Edge RPG (Outrider Studios)
Honor + Intrigue (Basic Action Games)
Shelter In Place (Galileo Games)
Technoir (Cellar Games LLC)

My Take
I have Technoir and Designers & Dragons. Both are really fantastic products. Highly recommended. 😉

GAME ON! 😀

Here is a list of the 2012 Ennie Award Nominations with some editorial comments on product where I have an opinion. If you want to see the list on the official site go here.

Best Adventure

Dead Rock Seven (Pelgrane Press)
Invasive Procedures (Pelgrane Press)
Madness at Gardmore Abbey (Wizards of the Coast)
Streets of Zobeck (Open Design)
The Rending Box (Pelgrane Press)

My Take
GO PELGRANE! Well deserved…they have some fantastic products out right now. My vote is for Dead Rock Seven.

Best Aid/Accessory

DungeonMorph Cards (Inkwell Ideas, Inc.)
GameMastery Chase Cards (Paizo Publishing)
Masks: 1,000 Memorable NPCs for Any RPG (Engine Publishing)
Mutants and Masterminds GM’s Kit (Green Ronin)
Shadowrun Runner’s Toolkit (Catalyst Game Labs)

My Take
I only have experience with Masks but it is a really fantastic product. My vote is Masks.

Best Art, Cover

Black Crusade: Core Rulebook (Fantasy Flight Games)
Cthulhu by Gaslight (Chaosium Inc.)
Mutants and Masterminds Gamemaster’s Guide (Green Ronin)
Neverwinter Campaign Setting (Wizards of the Coast)
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Beginner Box (Paizo)

My Take
The Cthulhu By Gaslight cover is pretty great…that one gets my vote.

Best Art, Interior

Book of Drakes (Open Design)
Do: Pilgrims of the Flying Temple (Evil Hat Productions)
Dragon Age: Set 2 (Green Ronin)
Legend of the Five Rings, Fourth Edition: The Great Clans (Alderac Entertainment Group)
The One Ring: Adventures Over the Edge of the Wild (Cubicle 7)

My Take
Dragon Age: Set 2 and Do are both beautiful products but I have to give the nod to Daniel Sollis…Do is a work of art.

Best Blog

Campaign Mastery
Gaming as Women
Gnome Stew
Roving Band of Misfits
Sly Flourish

My Take
I follow the top three. Really enjoying Gaming As Women for its fresh take on the industry. It gets my vote.

Best Cartography

Harker Asylum – Virtual Boxed Set (0One Games)
Madness at Gardmore Abbey (Wizards of the Coast)
Mass Transit III (Maps of Mastery)
Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Jade Regent Map Folio (Paizo)
The Shadowlands Conversion Guide (BlackStar Studios)

My Take
No experience here.

Best Electronic Book

Advanced Encounters: Terrain Toolbox (Sneak Attack Press)
Cthulhu Apocalypse: The Apocalypse Machine (Graham Walmsley & Pelgrane Press)
GURPS Social Engineering (Steve Jackson Games)
Spookybeans: The Gothic Comics RPG (Chapter 13 Press)
Way of the Wicked Book One: Knot of Thorns (Fire Mountain Games)

My Take
No experience here.

Best Free Product

Black Crusade: Broken Chains (Fantasy Flight Games)
Dragon Age Quickstart Guide (Green Ronin)
The One Ring: Words of the Wise (Cubicle 7)
The Shadowlands Conversion Guide (BlackStar Studios)
Pathfinder Module: We Be Goblins! (Paizo)

My Take
Lots of GREAT stuff here. My vote is the Dragon Age Quickstart Guide. Excellent layout. High quality.

Best Game

Cosmic Patrol Core Rulebook (Catalyst Game Labs)
Do: Pilgrims of the Flying Temple (Evil Hat Productions)
Hollowpoint (VSCA Publishing)
Marvel Heroic Roleplaying Basic Game (Margaret Weis Productions)
Savage Worlds Deluxe (Pinnacle Entertainment Group)

My Take
I have Do, Marvel, and Savage Words Deluxe. All are top notch products but I really think the creativity of the Marvel Heroic Roleplaying Basic Game will get my vote. Fantastic piece of game design by some RPG masterminds that normally work for Evil Hat.

Best Miniatures Product

Dungeons and Dragons Dragon Collector’s Set (Wizards of the Coast)
Monster Medallions Set 1: Deadly Encounter Groups (Fiery Dragon Productions)
Pathfinder Battles: Heroes and Monsters (Paizo)
Serene Fist Set Four: Katana Schoolgirls vs. Zombie Furries (Okumarts Games)
Steam Tower (Mayhem in Paper)

My Take
No experience here.

Best Monster/Adversary

DC Adventures: Heroes & Villains, Vol. 1 (Green Ronin)
Deathwatch: Mark of the Xenos (Fantasy Flight Games)
Hacklopedia of Beasts (Kenzer and Co.)
Hunter Sheets Issue Two—An SLA Industries Supplement (Nightfall Games)
Monster Vault: Threats to the Nentir Vale (Wizards of the Coast)

My Take
No experience here.

Best Podcast

Haste – The Official Obsidian Portal Podcast
Iron GM
Jennisodes
Law of the Geek
Role Playing Public Radio

My Take
I listen to LOTS of RPG podcasts but on this list I only listen to Jennisodes. I love her interviews so she gets the nod.

Best Production Values

Hacklopedia of Beasts (Kenzer & Co.)
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Beginner Box (Paizo)
Smallville High School Yearbook (Margaret Weis Productions)
The One Ring: Adventures Over the Edge of the Wild (Cubicle 7)
Vampire: The Masquerade 20th Anniversary Edition (CCP Games/White Wolf Publishing)

My Take
No experience here.

Best RPG Related Product

Carnival Arcane (Midnight Syndicate Soundtracks)
Complete Kobold Guide to Game Design (Open Design)
Cthulhu Wrapping Paper (Gaming Paper)
Lords of Waterdeep (Wizards of the Coast)
Tales of the Far West (Adamant Entertainment)

My Take
Lot of fun stuff here. I am partial to Tales Of The Far West. That will get my vote.

Best Rules

Bulldogs! (Galileo Games)
Hollowpoint (VSCA Publishing)
Lorefinder—The Pathfinder / GUMSHOE Mashup (Pelgrane Press)
Marvel Heroic Roleplaying Basic Game (Margaret Weis Productions)
Spellbound Kingdoms (T. Shield Studios)

My Take
I have experience with Bulldogs! And Marvel. As I mentioned above the game design in Marvel is just fantastic and really a neat take on the superhero genre. They are getting my vote.

Best Setting

Ashen Stars (Pelgrane Press)
Cthulhu Apocalypse: The Apocalypse Machine (Graham Walmsley & Pelgrane Press)
Cthulhu Britannica: Shadows Over Scotland (Cubicle 7)
The Investigator’s Guide to Occult London (Pelgrane Press)
Unhallowed Metropolis, Revised (Atomic Overmind Press)

My Take
I actually have all of these EXCEPT Cthulhu Britannica: Shadows Over Scotland and it is currently on my buy list. (Shadows has won some RPG awards in Europe.) This is probably the toughest category for me. I’m going to give the narrow nod to The Investigator’s Guide To Occult London. The love that went into this book really shows. Evocative stuff.

Best Supplement

Agents of Oblivion (Reality Blurs)
Cthulhu by Gaslight (Chaosium Inc.)
Dungeons and Dragons Player’s Options: Heroes of the Feywild (Wizards of the Coast)
GURPS Horror, Fourth Edition (Steve Jackson Games)
Star Hero (Hero Games)

My Take
I only have experience with Star Hero but it is a wonderful product. My vote will go to Star Hero.

Best Website

D&D Insider
Obsidian Portal
Pathfinder Wiki
See Page XX – The Pelgrane Press Webzine
RPG Geek

My Take
I have experience with all of these EXCEPT the Pathfinder Wiki. Boy I love all of these sites so this one it tough. They also fill different needs which makes is hard to pick a favorite. I guess I will give my vote to RPG Geek. I really think they provide a GREAT service and I am nearing gold contributor status in several departments. 🙂

Best Writing

GURPS Horror, Fourth Edition (Steve Jackson Games)
Panopticon (Posthuman Studios)
Stealing Cthulhu (Graham Walmsley)
The Investigator’s Guide to Occult London (Pelgrane Press)
Your Whispering Homonculous (Open Design)

My Take
I have experience with GURPS, Stealing Cthulhu, and the Investigator’s Guide. I think my vote will go to Stealing Cthulhu. The tone and editorial comments in the book really make this a fun read. Graham did a great job on this one.

Product of the Year

Cthulhu Britannica: Shadows Over Scotland (Cubicle 7)
GURPS Horror, Fourth Edition (Steve Jackson Games)
Hacklopedia of Beasts (Kenzer and Co.)
Hollowpoint (VSCA Publishing)
Madness at Gardmore Abbey (Wizards of the Coast)
Marvel Heroic Roleplaying Basic Game (Margaret Weis Productions)
Masks: 1,000 Memorable NPCs for Any RPG (Engine Publishing)
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Beginner Box (Paizo)
Star Hero (Hero Games)
Stealing Cthulhu (Graham Walmsley)

My Take
What a truly fantastic list! I have experience with Marvel, Masks, Star Hero, and Stealing Cthulhu. Of the four that I have I’ll give the nod to the Marvel Heroic Roleplaying Basic Game. This is a wonderful product and highly recommended even if you only plan to read it and never play it. 🙂

GAME ON! 😀