The Ennies, the awards program originated from the enworld.org and expanded into a vital part of the GenCon itinerary, has released their nominees, and opened voting for the awards to gaming masses July 15-24, 2022.
There appears to be 24 different categories, and I'm so out of the gaming demographic loop, that I barely know who any of the nominees are. When compared to the Origins Awards (which did not occur this year), the Ennies attracted a ton of tiny-press publishers, plus Modiphius, Free League, and Chaosium.
And just like the nomination process for the Origin Awards, I see the same skewed process that ignored superior products while nominating the popular products from a publisher. Simply extends familiarity over quality, the old Origins argument of why nominate WotC, GW, or the 900-lb gorillas in other categories, when, by default, they will win on volume of popular vote alone.
The good news, is that each nominee has a link to their appropriate page, so a fan vote of moral character (ie basically no one) can at least review the candidates and maybe, just maybe, find something new that they'd be interested in.
Best AdventureExtraction From Demon-Fucked Cleveland 1996, MegaCorp Games
HARK! Says the Frog Magus
Odd Jobs, MacGuffin & Co.
The Troubleshooters – The U-Boat Mystery, Helmgast
Uncaged: Goddesses, Unseelie Studios
Best Aid/Accessory – Digital
Call of Cthulhu 3D Digital Gamer Props – Masks of Nyarlathotep, TYPE40
HEXROLL, Pen, Dice & Paper
MÖRK BORG Digital Monster Generator, Stockholm Kartell & Ockult Örtmästare Games
Tales of Xadia: The Dragon Prince Roleplaying Game Digital Toolset, Fandom, Inc.
The Goblin’s Notebook, The Goblin
Best Aid/Accessory – Non – Digital
Call of Cthulhu Classic Prop Set, H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society
City of Mist: Crime Board Map, Son of Oak Game Studio
Fate Accessibility Toolkit, Evil Hat Productions
The Metropolis: Core Set, Paper Realms
Tome of Summoning: Archmage Royal Bundle , Tome of Summoning, LLC
Best Art, Cover
Colostle: A Solo RPG Adventure, Nich Angell
Lore of Aetherra: The Lost Druid, Alchemy RPG & Hit Point Press
Thirsty Sword Lesbians, Evil Hat Productions
Uncaged: Goddesses, Unseelie Studios
Wanderhome, Possum Creek Games
VOTE: ABSTAIN - I like the covers. I believe I get the feel and concept of the games if I picked up a copy at the FLGS. I just can't imagine that we're not missing better nominees. Just a pick perusal of the 2022 submissions pull some tougher competition.
Best Art, Interior
Historia – Dark Fantasy Renaissance Setting for 5e, Mana Project Studio
The One Ring RPG, Second Edition, Free League Publishing
Thirsty Sword Lesbians, Evil Hat Productions
Uncaged: Goddesses, Unseelie Studios
Wanderhome, Possum Creek Games
Best Cartography
City of Mist: Crime Board Map, Son of Oak Game Studio
Czepeku Maps Collection, Czepeku Ltd
HandyMaps: Dungeons, Caves & Strange Locales, MonkeyBlood Design & Publishing
KULT: Labyrinths & Secret Chambers, Helmgast
Scarlet Citadel Map Folio, Kobold Press
Best Electronic Book
A Complicated Profession, Always Checkers Publishing
Anamnesis with Designers Commentary, Blinking Birch Games
One Night Strahd, Hedra Group
The Lazy DM’s Companion, Sly Flourish
The Tomb of Black Sand VTT Digital Deluxe, Swordfish Islands, LLC
Best Family Game / Product
Babes in the Wood, World Champ Game Co
Good Strong Hands, NerdBurger Games
Laser Ponies (2nd Edition), Hex Games
Questlings: RPG, Letiman Games, LLC
Wanderhome, Possum Creek Games
Best Free Game / Product
Auld Sanguine: A Vampire: The Masquerade New Year’s Eve Story, Renegade Game Studios
Champions Begins, Hero Games
Extraction From Demon-Fucked Cleveland 1996 MegaCorp Games
The 2021 Level 1 Anthology, 9th Level Games
Worlds Beyond The Infernal Breach, Mundos Infinitos
Best Game
Colostle: A Solo RPG Adventure, Nich Angell
Root: The RPG, Magpie Games
The Troubleshooters, Helmgast
Thirsty Sword Lesbians, Evil Hat Productions
Wise Women, Aleksandra Brokman
Achtung! Cthulhu 2d20: Gamemaster’s Guide, Modiphius Entertainment
Delta Green: Impossible Landscapes, Arc Dream Publishing
NOVA, Gila RPGs
Putrescence Regnant, Exalted Funeral Press
Voidheart Symphony, Rowan, Rook and Decard
Best Monster/Adversary
Archvillain Archive, Steven Pankotai
Big Bad Booklet 19-30, Hit Point Press
Hal and Roger’s Creature Compendium, The Grinning Frog
Home-Field Advantage: a Compendium of Lair Actions
Nightfell – Bestiary for 5e, Mana Project Studio
Dave Thaumavore RPG Reviews, Dave Thaumavore
Everhearth Inn, Everhearth Inn
RPGBOT.net, RPGBOT LLC
Sly Flourish Blog, Sly Flourish
Beneath a Stony Stump
I Find That Familiar
Play the Game
The Monster of Wonderia, Anthony Dreams Inc.
Two Hearts Apart
VOTE: Across RPGSEA
Best Podcast
+1 Forward Gauntlet Community
Ain’t Slayed Nobody Push the Roll LLC
Kill Every Monster
Pink Fohawk
Role To Cast
Best Production Values
Bardsung: Legend of the Ancient Forge, Steamforged Games
Call of Cthulhu Classic Prop Set, H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society
Complete Wizard Chronicle, Beadle and Grimm’s Pandemonium Warehouse
Jiangshi: Blood in the Banquet Hall, Wet Ink Games, Game and a Curry
Star Trek Adventures: Tricorder Collector’s Box Set, Modiphius Entertainment
Dice Carousel Kit, Gamer Concepts
Everway Silver Anniversary Edition – Deluxe Fortune Deck, The Everway Company
KULT: Labyrinths & Secret Chambers, Helmgast
Shadows of Esteren: Adeliane CD, Studio Agate
Things Heroes Say: A Fantasy Artbook & Phrasebook, Andrews McMeel Publishing
Colostle: A Solo RPG Adventure, Nich Angell
Good Strong Hands, NerdBurger Games
Haunted West, Darker Hue Studios
NOVA, Gila RPGs
Rest in Pieces, Imagining Games
VOTE: Haunted West - This will be a classic gamer voter trope for me. Holy crap, off course I'm voting this Dark Hue book... but when the heck did it come out? I don't remember seeing it the distributor solicitations, but despite the cover price, it's an 800 page book! My only issue is the same I have for Harlem Unbound (which I do own), I don't know when I'm going to get the chance to play this.
Colostle: A Solo RPG Adventure, Nich Angell
Eldritch Century – Chronicles of the Wounded Earth, Draco Studios
Historia – Dark Fantasy Renaissance Setting for 5e, Mana Project Studio
Jiangshi: Blood in the Banquet Hall, Wet Ink Games
Tal’Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, Darrington Press
Call of Cthulhu: Cults of Cthulhu, Chaosium Inc.
City of Mist: Shadows & Showdowns, Son of Oak Game Studio
Root: The RPG: Travelers and Outsiders, Magpie Games
Sin: A Spire Sourcebook, Rowan, Rook and Decard
Untold Encounters of the Random Kind, Loke Battle Mats
VOTE: Root: The RPG: Travelers and Outsiders
Colostle: A Solo RPG Adventure, Nich Angell
Dune – Adventures in the Imperium: Core Rulebook , Modiphius Entertainment
Fateforge: Tetralogy Box Set 5e, Studio Agate
KULT: Beyond Darkness and Madness, Helmgast
Rosenstrasse, A Story of Love and Survival, Unruly Designs
Call of Cthulhu Classic Prop Set, H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society
Colostle: A Solo RPG Adventure, Nich Angell
Dune – Adventures in the Imperium: Core Rulebook Atreides Collector’s Edition , Modiphius
Jiangshi: Blood in the Banquet Hall, Wet Ink Games
Odd Jobs, MacGuffin & Co.
Putrescence Regnant, Exalted Funeral Press
Root: The RPG, Magpie Games
The Troubleshooters, Helmgast
Thirsty Sword Lesbians, Evil Hat Productions
Uncaged: Goddesses, Unseelie Studios
Hey! Thanks for posting this, and hope you enjoy our show!
ReplyDeleteI’m working through them all finally, but I’ve only subscribed to one, if you catch my drift.
Delete;) Glad to hear you’re digging it!
Delete