{"id":655,"date":"2011-07-08T13:52:03","date_gmt":"2011-07-08T21:52:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/usandacat.com\/thelair\/?p=655"},"modified":"2011-07-08T13:59:33","modified_gmt":"2011-07-08T21:59:33","slug":"johns-comments-on-the-2011-ennie-award-nominees","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usandacat.com\/thelair\/2011\/johns-comments-on-the-2011-ennie-award-nominees\/","title":{"rendered":"John’s Comments On The 2011 ENnie Award Nominees"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"ENnie<\/a>The ENnie Award Nominees for 2011 got posted<\/a> today and I wanted to make some comments on what was chosen and what I think is missing. The entries in italics<\/em> are ones I actually own or have enjoyed.<\/p>\n

Best Adventure<\/h2>\n

Delta Green: Targets of Opportunity (Arc Dream Publishing\/Pagan Publishing)
\n Monsters and Other Childish Things: Road Trip (Cubicle 7\/Arc Dream Publishing)
\n Pathfinder Adventure Path #43: The Haunting of Harrowstone (Paizo Publishing)
\n Perils of the Surface World: Miracle Stone of the Amazon (Exile Game Studio)
\n Saturday Night Delves #1: Revenge of the Iron Lich (Save Versus Death)
\n Honorable Mention: The Dance in the Blood (Pelgrane Press\/Graham Walmsley)<\/p>\n

John’s Comments<\/h3>\n

My only comment on this category is that Graham Walmsley has put out some great products this year. Check out his set of Trail Of Cthulhu adventures…they are very<\/em> nice. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

Best Aid\/Accessory<\/h2>\n

D&D Essentials: Dungeon Tiles Master Set \u2013 The Dungeon (Wizards of the Coast)
\n Eclipse Phase Gamemaster Pack (Posthuman Studios)
\n Gaming Paper Adventure Maps (Gaming Paper)
\n Hero Lab (Lone Wolf Development)
\n The Unspeakable Oath (Arc Dream Publishing)<\/em>
\n Honorable Mention: Vornheim: The Complete City Kit (Lamentations of the Flame Princess)<\/p>\n

John’s Comments<\/h3>\n

The return of Unspeakable Oath has been great. This mag is as good…if not better…than the original. It has some fantastic contributors and product reviews. Highly recommended. Cthulhu demands that I vote for Unspeakable Oath.<\/p>\n

Best Art, Cover<\/h2>\n

A Song of Ice and Fire Campaign Guide (Green Ronin Publishing)
\n Eoris Essence (Visions of Essence LLC)
\n Mutants & Masterminds Hero\u2019s Handbook (Green Ronin Publishing)
\n Shadowrun: Attitude (Catalyst Game Labs)
\n The Laundry (Cubicle 7)
\n Honorable Mention: The Danse Macabre (White Wolf Publishing)<\/p>\n

Best Art, Interior<\/h2>\n

Dark Sun Campaign Setting (Wizards of the Coast)
\n DC Adventures Hero\u2019s Handbook (Green Ronin Publishing)
\n Eoris Essence (Visions of Essence LLC)
\n Legend of the Five Rings, Fourth Edition (Alderac Entertainment Group)
\n Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Inner Sea World Guide (Paizo Publishing)<\/p>\n

Best Blog<\/h2>\n

At-Will
\n Critical Hits<\/em>
\n Gnome Stew<\/em>
\n Sarah Darkmagic<\/em>
\n Thistle Games<\/p>\n

John’s Comments<\/h3>\n

I follow MANY RPG blogs. Out of the selected ENnie Nominees I think Gnome Stew will get my vote. I’m really disappointed that Rob Donahue’s blog, Some Space To Think<\/a>, is not on the list. His blog is really wonderful. I always jolt upright when my blog catcher fields one of his insightful posts.<\/p>\n

Best Cartography<\/h2>\n

Bookhounds of London (Pelgrane Press)<\/em>
\n Deep Vistas Map Set I \u2013 III (Maps of Mastery)
\n Gaming Paper Adventure Maps (Gaming Paper)
\n Heavenring Village \u2013 Virtual Boxed Set (0One Games)
\n Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Inner Sea Poster Map Folio (Paizo Publishing)
\n Honorable Mention: Shadowrun: Sixth World Almanac (Catalyst Game Labs)<\/p>\n

Best Electronic Book<\/h2>\n

Cerulean Seas Campaign Setting (Alluria Publishing)
\n Continuity (Posthuman Studios)
\n Shanghai Vampocalypse (Savage Mojo)
\n Temporal Probability Agency: To Predict and Serve (Apathy Games)
\n The Running Death (Terminal Studios)<\/p>\n

Best Free Product<\/h2>\n

A Time of War: The BattleTech RPG Quick-Start Rules (Catalyst Game Labs)
\n Hell for Leather \u2013 Free Edition (Cobweb Games)
\n Old School Hack \u2013 Basic Game (Kirin Robinson)
\n Saturday Night Delves #1: Revenge of the Iron Lich (Save Versus Death)
\n The Running Death (Terminal Studios)
\n Honorable Mention: Ultimate Combat Playtesting PDF (Paizo Publishing)<\/p>\n

Best Game<\/h2>\n

Happy Birthday, Robot! (Evil Hat Productions)<\/em>
\n Icons Superpowered Roleplaying (Adamant Entertainment\/Cubicle 7)<\/em>
\n Legends of Anglerre (Cubicle 7)
\n Mutants & Masterminds Hero\u2019s Handbook (Green Ronin Publishing)
\n The Dresden Files RPG (Evil Hat Productions )<\/em>
\n Honorable Mention: The Laundry (Cubicle 7)<\/p>\n

John’s Comments<\/h3>\n

Boy there are some fantastic choices here. Happy Birthday, Robot by Daniel Solis is wonderful in design and execution. Dresden is an overwhelming and deserving hit with its brilliant implementation of the source material. My vote will go for Dresden in this category.<\/p>\n

I do see a couple of omissions here. I would have really have liked to see Smallville or Leverage get a mention in this category. Those are some pretty kick butt projects with some talented folks that did not get any recognition…well there ya go…have some RPG love! \ud83d\ude00<\/p>\n

Best Miniatures Product<\/h2>\n

BattleTech 25th Anniversary Introductory Boxed Set (Catalyst Game Labs)
\n Deep Vistas Map Set I \u2013 III (Maps of Mastery)
\n Mousling Heroes (Reaper Miniatures)
\n USCR \u2013 Commissar (MERCS Miniatures)
\n WARMACHINE Khador Gun Carriage (Privateer Press)
\n Honorable Mention: Gaming Paper Adventure Maps (Gaming Paper)<\/p>\n

Best Monster\/Adversary<\/h2>\n

Doctor Who: Aliens & Creatures (Cubicle 7)
\n Fey Folio: Clans of the Fey (Alluria Publishing)
\n Monster Vault (Wizards of the Coast)
\n Mythic Menagerie: The Kingdom of Graves (Super Genius Games)
\n Pathfinder Roleplaying Game: Bestiary 2 (Paizo Publishing)<\/p>\n

Best New Game (published for the first time ever)<\/h2>\n

A Taste for Murder (Graham Walmsley)
\n Happy Birthday, Robot! (Evil Hat Productions)<\/em>
\n Icons Superpowered Roleplaying (Adamant Entertainment\/Cubicle 7)<\/em>
\n The Dresden Files RPG (Evil Hat Productions )<\/em>
\n The Laundry (Cubicle 7)
\n Honorable Mention: Stars Without Number (Sine Nominee Publishing)<\/p>\n

John’s Comments<\/h3>\n

Dresden and Icon are “new” but I think I will give the nod here to Happy Birthday, Robot! Happy Birthday, Robot! really defines the category “Best New Game” better than the other selections IMHO. \ud83d\ude00<\/p>\n

Best Podcast<\/h2>\n

Atomic Array
\n Chronicles: Pathfinder Podcast
\n Flagons and Dragons
\n The Dungeon Master Guys Podcast
\n Yog-Sothoth
\n Honorable Mention: Kicked In The DiceBags<\/p>\n

John’s Comments<\/h3>\n

I am a huge podcast fan but surprisingly many of my favorites are not mentioned this year. I really think Fear The Boot and 2d6 Feet In A Random Direction are my favorites.<\/p>\n

Best Production Values<\/h2>\n

Gatecrashing (Posthuman Studios)
\n Happy Birthday, Robot! (Evil Hat Productions)<\/em>
\n Legend of the Five Rings, Fourth Edition (Alderac Entertainment Group)
\n Pathfinder Roleplaying Game: Bestiary 2 (Paizo Publishing)
\n The Dresden Files RPG (Evil Hat Productions )<\/em><\/p>\n

John’s Comments<\/h3>\n

Daniel Solis is an art director and it really shows in his product Happy Birthday, Robot! He also did a video on how the book was designed that is really wonderful. Daniel gets my vote.<\/p>\n

Best RPG Related Product<\/h2>\n

BattleTech 25th Anniversary Introductory Boxed Set (Catalyst Game Labs)
\n Castle Ravenloft Boardgame (Wizards of the Coast)
\n Hamlet\u2019s Hit Points (Gamplaywright Press)<\/em>
\n Tall Pencil Strap Dragon Chow Dice Bag (Dragon Chow Dice Bags)
\n The Bones \u2013 Us and Our Dice (Gameplaywright Press\/Atomic Overmind Press)<\/p>\n

John’s Comments<\/h3>\n

I read Hamlet’s Hit Points when Robin Laws posted them on his blog and REALLY enjoyed them. The Bones is currently on my “buy next” list. \ud83d\ude09 Hamlet gets the vote.<\/p>\n

Best Rules<\/h2>\n

D&D Rules Compendium (Wizards of the Coast)
\n Icons Superpowered Roleplaying (Adamant Entertainment\/Cubicle 7)<\/em>
\n Legends of Anglerre (Cubicle 7)
\n Mutants & Masterminds Hero\u2019s Handbook (Green Ronin Publishing)
\n The Dresden Files RPG (Evil Hat Productions )<\/em>
\n Honorable Mention: D&D Gamma World Roleplaying Game (Wizards of the Coast)<\/p>\n

John’s Comments<\/h3>\n

This one is tough. A couple of these are based on FATE and others are D&D 4e based. I guess Dresden will get my vote as the FATE implementation has really been tweaked for perfect delivery of the source material.<\/p>\n

Best Setting<\/h2>\n

A Song of Ice and Fire Campaign Guide (Green Ronin Publishing)
\n Dark Sun Campaign Setting (Wizards of the Coast)
\n Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Inner Sea World Guide (Paizo Publishing)
\n Progenitor (Arc Dream Publishing)
\n Space 1889: Red Sands (Savage Worlds) (Pinnacle Entertainment Group)
\n Honorable Mention: Bookhounds of London (Pelgrane Press)<\/em><\/p>\n

John’s Comments<\/h3>\n

Um…I can’t vote for my favorite…Bookhounds Of London. Very bummed that Ken Hite did not get a full nomination…a travesty actually. \ud83d\ude41<\/p>\n

Best Supplement<\/h2>\n

Block by Bloody Block (Print Version) (White Wolf Publishing)
\n Gatecrashing (Posthuman Studios)
\n Pathfinder Roleplaying Game: Advanced Player\u2019s Guide (Paizo Publishing)
\n Shadowrun: Attitude (Catalyst Game Labs)
\n Space 1889: Red Sands (Savage Worlds) (Pinnacle Entertainment Group)
\n Honorable Mention: The Danse Macabre (White Wolf Publishing)<\/p>\n

Best Website<\/h2>\n

d20pfsrd.com
\n Obsidian Portal<\/em>
\n RPG Geek<\/em>
\n The Escapist<\/em>
\n UK Role Players<\/p>\n

John’s Comments<\/h3>\n

I’ve recently become enamored with RPG Geek. Initially I wanted a way to track my RPG collection. After some research I found that RPG Geek would do the job brilliantly. After I got hooked I started entering product corrections, adding new products, uploading product images, leaving session posts, posting reviews, and…having a TON of fun. A definite vote for RPG Geek here. <\/p>\n

Best Writing<\/h2>\n

The Danse Macabre (White Wolf Publishing)
\n Delta Green: Targets of Opportunity (Arc Dream Publishing\/Pagan Publishing)
\n Gatecrashing (Posthuman Studios)
\n The Dance in the Blood (Pelgrane Press\/Graham Walmsley)
\n The Dresden Files RPG (Evil Hat Productions )<\/em><\/p>\n

John’s Comments<\/h3>\n

I really need to get The Dance In The Blood as I like Walmsley’s work but I think this year my vote is easy…The Dresden Files. The Evil Hat crew really did a bang up job on Dresden…it was worth the wait. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

Product of the Year<\/h2>\n

A Song of Ice and Fire Campaign Guide (Green Ronin Publishing)
\n DC Adventures Hero\u2019s Handbook (Green Ronin Publishing)
\n D&D Gamma World Roleplaying Game (Wizards of the Coast)
\n Gatecrashing (Posthuman Studios)
\n Happy Birthday, Robot! (Evil Hat Productions)<\/em>
\n Legend of the Five Rings, Fourth Edition (Alderac Entertainment Group)
\n Pathfinder Roleplaying Game: Advanced Player\u2019s Guide (Paizo Publishing)
\n Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Inner Sea World Guide (Paizo Publishing)
\n The Dresden Files RPG (Evil Hat Productions )<\/em>
\n The Stork (DreamPunk Productions)
\n Honorable Mention:Legends of Anglerre (Cubicle 7)<\/p>\n

John’s Comments<\/h3>\n

Drum roll please! My vote is for The Dresden Files. The beautiful artwork, stunning layout, and terrific writing make my vote for Product Of The Year easy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The ENnie Award Nominees for 2011 got posted today and I wanted to make some comments on what was chosen and what I think is missing. The entries in italics are ones I actually own or have enjoyed. Best Adventure Delta Green: Targets of Opportunity (Arc Dream Publishing\/Pagan Publishing) Monsters and Other Childish Things: Road […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,6,4,5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-655","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-games","category-growlings","category-product-reviews","category-site-recommendations"],"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usandacat.com\/thelair\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/655","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usandacat.com\/thelair\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usandacat.com\/thelair\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usandacat.com\/thelair\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usandacat.com\/thelair\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=655"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usandacat.com\/thelair\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/655\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usandacat.com\/thelair\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=655"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usandacat.com\/thelair\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=655"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usandacat.com\/thelair\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=655"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}