Origin Awards [Archive] - HERO Games Discussion Boards

JohnTaber

Mar 18th, '03, 01:57 PM

Ok...now you went and made me mad...who made up the list of games that are up for the Origin 2002 awards this year!?! Here are two catagories that concern me...

Best Roleplaying Game
Buffy the Vampire Slayer RPG .... Eden Studios
d20 Call of Cthulhu .......... Wizards of the Coast
Mutants and Masterminds RPG ... Green Ronin
Silver Age Sentinels .. Guardians Of Order, Inc.
The Lord of the Rings RPG ........ Decipher, Inc.

Best Roleplaying Supplement
Celtic Age .......... Avalanche Press
Freeport: The City of Adventure ... Green Ronin
Kingdom of Kalamar Player’s Guide ..... Kenzer & Company
Nyambe : African Adventures ...... Atlas Games
Vlad, the Impaler: Blood Prince of Wallachia ................ Avalanche Press

HELLO!?!

How about FREd for Best Roleplaying Game and Champions or Star Hero for best supplement! COME ON GENTS!

Argh. No respect.

Armitage

Mar 18th, '03, 06:48 PM

Originally posted by JohnTaber
Ok...now you went and made me mad...who made up the list of games that are up for the Origin 2002 awards this year!?! Here are two catagories that concern me...

How about FREd for Best Roleplaying Game and Champions or Star Hero for best supplement! COME ON GENTS!

Argh. No respect.

Don't they have a "Write-In" space?

Steve Long

Mar 18th, '03, 10:48 PM

I was hoping to have the chance to break this news myself, but unfortunately the utter press of business here at GTS made it impossible for me to get to my e-mail all day.

Hero Games was, sadly, completely shut out of the Origins Awards. Not a single one of the products we placed on the nominations ballot made it to the final, voting, ballot. These include most notably 5E as Best New RPG, but Champions as Best RPG Supplement and several others.

This is, to put it mildly, a travesty, and several people in the industry have been kind enough to tell us they think so (including people at companies against whom we'd compete for this award). I can't begin to describe how angered I am by the whole situation, but I have decided to overcome my anger by wreaking the best form of revenge: winning the award anyway.

As mentioned by Armitage, there is indeed a "write-in" option. I intend to start a write-in campaign with the hopes of netting us one or more well-deserved awards.

I will have more details when I have time to get home and plan, but keep in mind that this is going to require the support of the entire Hero community! For example, we have 800-odd users registered on this website. If every one of them voted for us on a write-in, and got 1-3 other people to do the same, we would have a serious chance of winning.

So, in the days and weeks to come, we're going to be calling on y'all... and your spouses... and your children... and your co-workers... and anyone else you can get to help out! It's going to be a tough battle, but I'm convinced we can win it if you guys help us show why you're the best damn group of fans around... and that you play the best damn game around. ;)

Alibear

Mar 19th, '03, 01:57 AM

Solidarity must be shown to our saviour, FREd! Count on my vote Steve!

Origins my Arse!

Derek Hiemforth

Mar 19th, '03, 02:04 AM

This is a bad joke. I mean no disrespect to the games and supplements that were nominated, but c'mon... A Hall-of-Fame system's best edition isn't even nominated for best RPG? You've gotta be kidding me. Let's do whatever we need to do to get the ball rolling.

Don't piss off the Hero faithful! You stir a slumbering giant. Don't make us angry... you wouldn't like us when we're angry. ;)

Tclynch

Mar 19th, '03, 03:42 AM

Oh boy...now they went and done it! Even if I was tempted to vote for something else...not even being nominated...grrrrrr...Tclynch SMASH!:mad:

mattingly

Mar 19th, '03, 05:02 AM

Don't make us angry... you wouldn't like us when we're angry.In the local idiom, we call that "Enraged." :)

BobGreenwade

Mar 19th, '03, 05:37 AM

Originally posted by Steve Long
As mentioned by Armitage, there is indeed a "write-in" option. I intend to start a write-in campaign with the hopes of netting us one or more well-deserved awards. Say the word, Steve, and I'm on this like danger on a Star Trek "Red Shirt."

TheImperialKhan

Mar 19th, '03, 06:14 AM

The injustice of this has well and truly roused the Khan's anger. :mad:

The Imperial Khan shall devote his full resources to righting this travesty.

AndyM

Mar 19th, '03, 06:23 AM

Where do we get this write-in ballot?

andy

misterdeath

Mar 19th, '03, 06:23 AM

I'm in.

D

JohnTaber

Mar 19th, '03, 07:51 AM

Hi Steve (and others): As you can tell from my post...I'm in. I'll talk with my players and such too. Please let us know about the write in stuff. GO HERO!!!

Koshka

Mar 19th, '03, 08:04 AM

You've got my write-in vote, I'll see who else I can shanghai ^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H recruit.

Andy, if I remember correctly from last year, the ballot has write-in slots for each category.

TechnoViking

Mar 19th, '03, 08:05 AM

I was wondering who decides the nominations of the Origins awards?

Is it a single person, a small group (5-10 people on the Origins board), and collective group gaming companies, collective of gaming fans?

If it is one of the first two, the group could be very bias againist certian games, and we know from the www.rpg.net forums (http://www.rpg.net) they are quite a few anti-Hero people out there.

Mike

Steve Long

Mar 19th, '03, 08:11 AM

I mean no disrespect to the games and supplements that were nominated

And neither, let me be clear, do I. I would gladly vote for just about any of them in other circumstances. Heck, one of the products up for Best New RPG is the LOTR RPG, which I wrote. But this is a case where I clearly think 5E is head-and-shoulders better than any of the nominees.

As for where the ballot is: I will let you know when they tell us the online ballot is available. I don't think it's up yet. Not to worry; we have until some time in June to vote.

As for who picks: every year companies interested in having their products considered for the voting ballot have them listed in the appropriate category on the nominating ballot. The members of the Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts & Design (of which I am one) then vote for the nominees, and the top five or six nominees are put on the voting ballot. The public and Academy both then vote; Academy members' votes count more, and a couple of categories are open only for Academy member votes.

But, in short, the Academy decides what makes it on the voting ballot. In theory this is supposed to result in the most noteworthy and deserving products make it. In point of fact, this year as many other years, nothing of the sort occurs.

I'll have more info on the write-in campaign when I get back home and can plan a broad strategy of conquest. ;)

Lord Liaden

Mar 19th, '03, 09:55 AM

The fact that HERO did not even get nominated is ludicrous. Sales of the core book and Champions have been great, critical response has been very positive, fans have been talking up the new version wherever I find gamers. This smacks of the kind of politics that shuts deserving movies out of the Oscar races.

That said, there were quite a few fine games debuting in 2002, and I could accept any one of them winning in a legitimate vote. I would hate to think that HERO gamers who might have considered voting for another game would now reflexively vote HERO just out of resentment for this stupid decision. If HERO wins, it should win because the most voters believed it to be the best.

However, I for one do believe it to be the best. And I want my fair chance to vote! So Steve, just point me toward that ballot. :)

Balok

Mar 19th, '03, 10:53 AM

Out of curiousity:

What are the qualifications for joining the Academy?

Roughly how many members does it have? Roughly how many actually vote on the nomination ballot?

How much do factors not related to the game design affect the voting? I'm talking here about politics, personal relationships (who likes/hates who), that kind of thing.

If you don't feel comfortable discussing it, I'd certainly understand. But if you do, thanks in advance.

Herolover

Mar 19th, '03, 03:23 PM

We are not the only ones that are angry with Origin awards and the Academy. There are several companies that have taken a stand to outright boycott Origins and the awards. (Don't get me wrong they are not very big companies, but still....)
The reason for this is a very late change in the nomination procedures. Up and till this year a game that was nominated for the best RPG had to be a complete product. You had to be able to play the game without any other book, and if another book was required, then it was considered a supplement not a full RPG. For example HERO 5e would make the best RPG category while Champions would be considered a supplement. Makes since right? Until this year. Now, AFTER the nomination ballots were sent out and recieved back, the academy changed their rules. Now the best RPG CAN require the use of another book.
Thus you get Mutants and Masterminds RPG and Silver Age Sentinels, both good games, being nominated as Best RPG of the year when in truth they are supplements. The Academies decision greatly advantages a lot of the third party d20 companies.

Derek Hiemforth

Mar 19th, '03, 03:59 PM

Originally posted by Herolover
Thus you get Mutants and Masterminds RPG and Silver Age Sentinels, both good games, being nominated as Best RPG of the year when in truth they are supplements.I'm sorry to be so blunt, but this is simply incorrect. Both M&M and SAS (at least the Tri-Stat version of SAS) are self-contained and have all the rules you need to play. Neither of them require the D&D Player's Handbook or anything else.

Herolover

Mar 19th, '03, 04:49 PM

That may be, but the fact they changed their own rules still remains.

TheEmerged

Mar 19th, '03, 06:36 PM

meh.

Personally I gave up on award contests and things of that ilk a long time ago. Things like this are the rule, not the exception.

Steve Long

Mar 19th, '03, 10:03 PM

What are the qualifications for joining the Academy?

You have to be able to afford a $30 membership fee. That's it. You can find out more at the Academy's website, which IIRC is www.aagad.org.

Roughly how many members does it have? Roughly how many actually vote on the nomination ballot?

I don't have any precise figures. The Academy leadership keeps all number figures on how many votes are made (at any stage of the proceedings) very secret.

From what I do know (which I'd rather not discuss publicly), I think we have a serious shot at winning via a write-in campaign if we can significantly mobilize the Hero fanbase. I'll discuss this further in the next couple of days after the trade show ends and I have time to write a brief "position paper" and request for the fans' help.

How much do factors not related to the game design affect the voting? I'm talking here about politics, personal relationships (who likes/hates who), that kind of thing.

Unquestionably some "non-design" factors play in, since the design factors are, by definition, utterly subjective. For example, given two games that I consider equally meritorious design-wise, one produced by a friend of mine and one by someone I don't know, I'll vote for the one produced by my friend. That's the sort of thing friends do. But I wouldn't vote for a friend's game just because of our friendship if I thought another game was more deserving; nor would I expect him to vote for me if our positions were reversed. I think the vast majority of the Academy members probably feel the same.

GestaltBennie

Mar 19th, '03, 10:28 PM

Unfortunately the best reward that a Hero author can expect is to be told that something he worked on ten or fifteen years earlier was fondly remembered and made an impact on peoples' games - I've worked on award winning projects and long term appreciation is actually more satisfying.

Even so, give 'em hell, Steve! :-)

Scott Bennie

Steve Long

Mar 20th, '03, 08:11 AM

I agree that long-term appreciation is, ultimately, better than an award.

But I want both. :cool:

TheImperialKhan

Mar 20th, '03, 08:41 AM

Originally posted by Steve Long
I agree that long-term appreciation is, ultimately, better than an award.

But I want both. :cool:

Quite understandable. You did a lot of hard work and put out several superior products. They should have been recognized. If they had been nominated and lost it would have been one thing, but to be ignored was a slap in the face. Not just to you but to all of us. Especially when you consider everything that the HERO System has brought to gaming in general and role-playing in particular over the years.

And we aren't going to stand for it!

We're behind you, Steve!

Now let's get an award!

In fact I want two. Best Role-Playing Game:HERO System Fifth Edition and Best Role-Playing Supplement: Champions or Star Hero. :)

Celt

Mar 20th, '03, 02:30 PM

Originally posted by Steve Long
You have to be able to afford a $30 membership fee. That's it. You can find out more at the Academy's website, which IIRC is www.aagad.org.

Linkage: The Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts and Designs (http://www.aagad.org/)

The period carried into the url, Steve.

BTW, folks. There are prerequisites for membership. From the application to join: "Applicant must be a professional or semi-professional in the game industry; employed full or part-time as a designer, editor, developer, writer, playtester, illustrator, or graphic designer of games, or as a designer or sculptor of game miniatures, or an executive or manager of such activities; or employed full or part-time by a game retailer or distributor; or a freelance writer or illustrator with publication credits in at least two products or magazines."

Crimson-Hawk

Mar 20th, '03, 03:34 PM

Heh... I almost meet the requirements. :D

Seriously, though. Once the ballots open, I'm there. And I've got some friends I might rally for this cause.

I agree. FREd and either Champions or Star Hero need to win this year. I want to also pitch Ninja Hero, but we need to coordinate ourselves if this is going to work.

So, in thinking, maybe we should bump heads and decide as a whole who actually gets the cookie... Aaron or Jim.

Agent Escafarc

Mar 20th, '03, 03:41 PM

I'm sure you can count on us HEROphiles from FL. Of course if they use a "Butterfly" ballet well.......;)

JohnTaber

Mar 20th, '03, 04:12 PM

Hi Crimson (and Others): Let's hang and let Steve come up with the...da da da...MASTER PLAN! ;)

Jemster

Mar 20th, '03, 05:19 PM

I already e-mailed Steve and pledged both my and my gaming group's support on this. From the buzz that's been generated over it there's a really nice chance of everything going our way. Can't wait to see what happens. :D

BobGreenwade

Mar 20th, '03, 08:08 PM

Originally posted by Steve Long
I agree that long-term appreciation is, ultimately, better than an award.

But I want both. :cool: I sure hear you on that, Steve. There's nothing quite like hearing the phrase "award winner" just before your name. (Not that I'd know... but I can still hope that TUV gets a nomination next year!) :D

kave99

Mar 22nd, '03, 02:32 PM

BTW, folks. There are prerequisites for membership. From the application to join: "Applicant must be a professional or semi-professional in the game industry; employed full or part-time as a designer, editor, developer, writer, playtester, illustrator, or graphic designer of games, or as a designer or sculptor of game miniatures, or an executive or manager of such activities; or employed full or part-time by a game retailer or distributor; or a freelance writer or illustrator with publication credits in at least two products or magazines." [/B][/QUOTE]

that sounds like a good reason to write some digital hero stuff.:confused:

TheImperialKhan

Mar 22nd, '03, 06:01 PM

Originally posted by Celt
Linkage: The Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts and Designs (http://www.aagad.org/)

The period carried into the url, Steve.

BTW, folks. There are prerequisites for membership. From the application to join: "Applicant must be a professional or semi-professional in the game industry; employed full or part-time as a designer, editor, developer, writer, playtester, illustrator, or graphic designer of games, or as a designer or sculptor of game miniatures, or an executive or manager of such activities; or employed full or part-time by a game retailer or distributor; or a freelance writer or illustrator with publication credits in at least two products or magazines."

Let's see I've got one credit from my first sale to the old Stardate magazine from FASA back in the 80's. Two articles at the old Digital Hero (Still available at the DH archive BTW). Six articles at the website MisterBaldy's Bazaar (run by a friend of mine) and almost everything at my own website Uncharted Reaches. Even if the web articles at MBB and UR don't count that should still be enough. So how do I join?

Super Squirrel

Mar 22nd, '03, 08:12 PM

Alas, I have long given up on Awards for some time for this very reason. BtVS has never won a Golden Globe and the year that the musical was out was 'accidently' left off a ballot. The movies that I feel deserve it, never win Oscars and so on.

I will vote for Hero when the time comes and I do not blame your anger. The fire that destroyed the basement of my home took over $800 worth of D&D books and Dragon Magazines and I could frankly care one bit because Star, FREd, UMA, and the Bestiary were sitting on my kitchen table.

I hope THAT is worth something to you.

Steve Long

Mar 23rd, '03, 06:01 AM

So how do I join?

Go to www.aagad.com and you can find the info and forms for joining.

I hope THAT is worth something to you.

Indeed, it is! Thanx for the story.

Susano

Mar 23rd, '03, 06:35 AM

Out of curiosity, will NINJA HERO be submitted for the 2004 Origins Awards?

Steve Long

Mar 23rd, '03, 08:33 AM

Actually, NH is eligible for the 2003 Awards, which are handed out in 2004. The Awards being given this year, 2003, are for the 2002 release year.

Whether we place any given book into the nomination round depends on our evaluation of the year's product line. We're going to pick the book we think is "best" and/or which has the greatest chance of being voted onto the voting ballot.

TheImperialKhan

Mar 23rd, '03, 08:40 AM

Originally posted by Steve Long
Go to www.aagad.com and you can find the info and forms for joining.

Downloaded the application. I'll fill it out this evening and send it out in Monday's mail.

Thank you, Steve. You're a Gentleman and a Scholar but I won't hold that against you. :)

Being a Lawyer on the other hand... ;)

Well I suppose I shall forgive you that as well.

But only because I'm big-hearted and understanding.

And that happens to be my brother's proffession as well :p

Susano

Mar 23rd, '03, 08:44 AM

Originally posted by Steve Long
Actually, NH is eligible for the 2003 Awards, which are handed out in 2004. The Awards being given this year, 2003, are for the 2002 release year.

Oops... that's what I meant by "2004."

Whether we place any given book into the nomination round depends on our evaluation of the year's product line. We're going to pick the book we think is "best" and/or which has the greatest chance of being voted onto the voting ballot.

I understand.

Grymlynn

Mar 24th, '03, 09:59 AM

Hey, I just want to say that I bet you'll get a great many more answers once you've posted your plan. I was waiting to post for that very reason, but then I realized that a bunch of others probably were too, and I wanted to point out that your support is likely a lot more numerous than current post count would look... Just wanted to say something on the off chance you didn't already know.

Steve Long

Mar 24th, '03, 01:22 PM

Oh, absolutely! I am waiting until the online ballot is available. I've got my announcement and guidelines and such all ready to go... but it's pointless to drum up interest when people can't vote yet.

Trust me, the second I know the ballot's available, you'll have all the data I can provide. :)

Bazza

Mar 26th, '03, 01:04 AM

Originally posted by Celt
BTW, folks. There are prerequisites for membership. From the application to join: "Applicant must be a professional or semi-professional in the game industry; employed full or part-time as a designer, editor, developer, writer, playtester, illustrator, or graphic designer of games, or as a designer or sculptor of game miniatures, or an executive or manager of such activities; or employed full or part-time by a game retailer or distributor; or a freelance writer or illustrator with publication credits in at least two products or magazines."
Q: does that definition include all the playtesters to have playtested HERO before the products are released. if so, I lot of the HERO playtesters can join?

I can almost here is now: We are the CHAMPIONS :)

Derek Hiemforth

Mar 26th, '03, 05:34 AM

Originally posted by Bazza
Q: does that definition include all the playtesters to have playtested HERO before the products are released. if so, I lot of the HERO playtesters can join?Well, it says you have to "employed" full or part time as a playtester. It doesn't sound like "freelance" playtesting would count.

Of course, I don't know how stringently they check this stuff, either...

Ron

Mar 29th, '03, 02:57 AM

Hey, the online ballot is already up. Do HERO games have a strategy regarding best supplement? I've Star Hero and it does deserves my vote, but I haven't checked Champions, so I can't comment. If Hero Games have any chance we should concentrate votes in a single product. Steve?

Steve Long

Mar 29th, '03, 05:23 AM

Stop!!!

The online ballot is NOT up!!!

The ballot that has been "posted" is riddled with errors; in fact, I think it's only a test or something. When the proper ballot is officially announced on the Academy list, I'll tell you. Any votes made now won't count; you'll have to vote again.

We definitely have a strategy. Without it, the write-in campaign won't work; we all have to pick the same thing. Here's what we're going with:

Best New RPG: Hero System 5th Edition
Best RPG Supplement: Champions
Best RPG Periodical: Digital Hero

Those are the products we put on the nominations ballot, so those are the ones we want to stick with. I'd rather not change horses in mid-stream. ;)

More information on the write-in campaign will follow just as soon as I have something concrete to announce. :)