2022 Ennies Voting is Now Open

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 Adventure
Extraction 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

VOTE:  Extraction From Demon-Fucked Cleveland 1996  - I immediately eat some of words.  Extraction fits my demographic well.

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

VOTE: HEXROLL -  Full Disclosure, I did sign-up for the Goblin's Notebook, but upon navigating it, I found the same issue I have with a campaign wiki... time.  To have Hexroll create a sandbox campaign based on multiple variables, and generate all the minutiae brings joy to this middle-age man with no time. 

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

VOTE: Metropolis, Core Set - In a world dominated by 3-D printing, some well-designed paper terrain will always warm my heartstrings.

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

VOTE: The One Ring - And I'll note, regarding my previous voting comment, this is NOT one of the games I was referring to as an alternate. The interior art for this book far surpasses its cover. 

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

VOTE: Abstain

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

VOTE: A Complicated Profession - Not only is this a great product (I have a physical copy of the 'zine through Kickstarter), but I was able to use the digital copy during an online game.  Despite strong nominees, actually using an electronic book as it was intended is the strongest vote.

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

VOTE: Wanderhome

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

VOTE:  Extraction From Demon-Fucked Cleveland 1996 

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

VOTE:  Root: The RPG

Best Layout and Design
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

VOTE: Delta Green: Impossible Landscapes

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

VOTE: Nightfell - Bestiary for 5e

Best Online Content

Across RPGSEA, momatoes
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

Update:  Vote: Pink Fohawk.  I enjoyed some of the concepts of the other podcasts, but I'm only listening to all of the episodes of Pink Fohawk, and possibly anything else they produce.

VOTE: ABSTAIN  (For now) - Considering I've never heard of any of these podcasts, I guess I'll need to listen to them before voting.  When most of the 900-lbs gorillas, 300 lbs baboons, and morbidly obese monkeys in the milieu don't even submit, it might open new doors for me.  Or it will confirm my nose-in-the-air high standards can't find new podcasts that keep me hooked.  To put it another way, if Ken and Robin Talk About Stuff is the my elite NFL middle linebacker, their worst episode of the past year would still put them in NFL starter territory, which ain't bad. 

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

VOTE: Call of Cthulhu Classic Prop Set

Best RPG Related Product
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

VOTE: Dice Carousel Kit - I gotta admit, there are other products on Gamer Concepts that I find more appealing, an order may be upcoming.

Best Rules
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.

Best Setting
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

VOTE:  Eldritch Century - Chronicles of the Wounded Earth

Best Supplement
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

Best Writing
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

VOTE: ABSTAIN

Product of the Year
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

VOTE:  ABSTAIN