Well, I just submitted my top picks for the ENnies. Feels good to have it submitted.  On Tuesday, we should see the voting results, break any ties, finalize the nominess, and on July 8, I think the nominess are released.

I don't know how close some of the other judges will be to me on decisions, but I do know there might be some pleasantly surprised folks this year.  I think we're looking at a good mix--but let's see what the other judges say.

Anyhow, felt like celebrating.  Woooo!  No more Bill Corrie sending his tawdry squirrel novellas to be judged!

Quote from: Zachary The First;220725Anyhow, felt like celebrating.  Woooo!  No more Bill Corrie sending his tawdry squirrel novellas to be judged!

Hey now! Watch it, or I might not send you Freedom Squirrel complete with the Orderly, a time traveling alien who loves to stick his nose in where it does not belong. (Oh, and he has a sonic nutcracker. You know that has to hurt).

Congrats!

Bill

Quote from: HinterWelt;220745Hey now! Watch it, or I might not send you Freedom Squirrel complete with the Orderly, a time traveling alien who loves to stick his nose in where it does not belong. (Oh, and he has a sonic nutcracker. You know that has to hurt).

Congrats!

Bill

Thanks!  It's time for a little break.

Hey, if I'm a judge again next year, in all honesty, I hope you send more squirrel products.  They were fun to go through, and refreshing.

We are finalizing the nominees right now.

I am slamming my head into the wall repeatedly.

Sweet christ

I am definitely not in a majority here.

Details, man.

DETAILS.

Quote from: Pierce Inverarity;220963Details, man.

DETAILS.

Still some surprises, still some new faces.

Alas, many of the products I loved best were doomed to anonymity.  Perhaps I loved too well.

As soon as I'm able, as promised, I'll share my nominees.  It'll likely have to wait until the actual nominees come out, which will be on the 8th, I think...

Much more to go...

Quote from: Zachary The First;220965Still some surprises, still some new faces.

Alas, many of the products I loved best were doomed to anonymity.  Perhaps I loved too well.

As soon as I'm able, as promised, I'll share my nominees.  It'll likely have to wait until the actual nominees come out, which will be on the 8th, I think...

Much more to go...

Don't worry Zach, I wont hold it against you.

Bill

This is cool! Thanks Zach for the inside ball!

Edit: Just cause you're being so nice and all and showing how the pizza is made, I so swear not to report on any... uh... critters.

Let me explain, for the benefit of those following along at home, what is happening behind the curtain right now:

Each judge submitted 7 products in each category (except for Best Product, which gets 12).  These are each assigned a point value, Denise @ the ENnies tabulates them, and we go from there.  Some of the categories are every close, and if some folks feel strongly about a product and have another product which hasn't made the top 7 or 8, they can discuss, plead, persuade, etc., on adjusting the categories a bit.  Top 5 are nominees; #6 is an honorable mention.

I have a lot of products which right now are not going to make into the ENnies--that does mean that I think the products in there are crap or anything.  I have multiple products I've done a little lobbying on.  There are two products that I feel very, very strongly should be represented, and I am currently typing up why I feel they should get one last look.  None of this guarantees anything, but I'll feel better knowing I left it on the playing field.  The finalizing goes on, and I hold out hope.  There are some categories I think are great, and many were tough calls.  I just really fell strongly about a couple of products, and feel they deserve every ounce of effort I can give--just like any product submitted deserves the best look possible.

This has been a rough night for me, as I felt a lot of products showcased the diversity and depth of quality in gaming got shut down.  But there are many deserving products, deserving enough that our 4 ENWorld-based judges felt like voting for them.  And there were many products we ALL voted on, unanimously or nearly unanimously.  But you guys know you love contreversy, argument, and conflict--that's a big reason why awards are popular in the first place.

I promised to be as open through this as possible, and I am damn well seeing through in keeping that.  Without spoiling the awards, I'll be keeping this up till we're done.

What is the qualifying timeframe for releases again? GenCon 07 up until right now? And are WOTC part of it?

Quote from: Pierce Inverarity;220996What is the qualifying timeframe for releases again? GenCon 07 up until right now?

The cutouff date was like a month ago, but it went from Gen Con '07 till then.

QuoteAnd are WOTC part of it?

They are this year.  A lot of folks instantly assume whatever WotC is nominated, they'll win, because of their huge fanbase. Which is why a lot of publishers just consider getting nominated a prize.  Plus, there's Silver & Gold.   We'll see how it works out.

More about WotC, Paizo, and everyone else when I'm able.

Home from work.  Checked in to the site.  I think we might see a slight shift towards a few of the products I felt strongly about.  I made my case, and that's all I can do.

The results are supposed to finalized tonight.  Some tabulations we're still waiting on, like Best Rules and one or two others.  I think the ties are just about all broken, and things are being smoothed out.

Am I happy with everything?  No.  But its looking better than it was at first sight.  Hang on RPGSiters...this should be interesting....

EDIT: I spoke too soon.  At this time, still being worked are Rules(!), Supplement, Setting(!), and Minis Product.

Thanks for these updates, Zachary the First!  While I don't like the trend of what you are relaying to us, it's really cool to get an inside (albeir justifiably obfuscated) look at the process.  Keep fighting for the little guy!