Kurt Wiegel

Introduction and Platform

Hi. I’m Kurt Wiegel. I’m a professor of chemistry and a husband and proud father of three. I’m an aging gamer now – 39 years old (“The Gamer in Winter?”), and I’ve been gaming for 32 pretty continuous years, and I’ve been lucky enough to find a way to balance my work, family and hobby. I’ve been fortunate enough to have been involved in an on-line RPG review show: Game Geeks on YouTube. One of the things I love about my hobby is the wide diversity of products and opportunities that it offers- so many stories and so little time. There is a game for everyone and anyone who wants to play it. We’ve always had a “no negative review” policy at Game Geeks, something I’d continue here at the Ennies.

When did you join the RPG hobby and what inspired you to become involved and stay with it? Since you joined the hobby, what roles have you played (e.g. vending, professional writing and publishing, freelancing, reviewing, convention organizing, homebrewing, playing, GMing, etc.)?

I started in the RPG hobby in 1979- I was in second grade. Playing a thief in the Caves of Chaos, I promptly died. I was hooked after that. I love the absolute freedom in roleplaying, and the unbridled creativity which it allows. I have been fortunate to play with a large number of brilliantly creative roleplayers, and I’ve learned a lot from all of them. I’ve been involved mainly as a GM in my life, playing a wide variety of games. More recently, I’ve been lucky enough to be the creative director of Game Geeks, a Youtube RPG review show that has been very popular (almost 5000 subscribers, and over a million and a half total views.) I’ve also been involved in local convention organization and demoing new games wherever I lived.

The ENnies requires a major commitment of time and mental energy. What resources do you bring that will help you discharge these responsibilities? Will your gaming group or other individuals be assisting you? Does your family support you?

I’m a college chemistry professor, and an active researcher. I also have a very supportive wife and family. I’m used to balancing family life, work and my hobby. For game review and playtesting, I have an active, creative and diverse game group- they will be very active in helping me examine and analyze the products I would review.

Judging requires a great deal of critical thinking skills, communication with other judges, deadline management, organization, and storage space for the product received. What interests, experience, and skills do you bring that will make you a more effective judge?

I have a PhD in chemical engineering, and I run a very active research program. I am very used to critically examining data from a variety of sources. I’m always having to work towards deadlines as a teacher and researcher.

What styles and genres of RPGs do you enjoy most? Are there any styles or genres that you do not enjoy? Which games best exemplify what you like? Do you consider yourself a particular system’s, publisher’s, or genre’s “fanboy/girl”?

I enjoy playing any game that allows for telling interesting an detailed stories. I tend towards running and playing “rules-light,” more narriative-focused games, such as Unisystem, CORTEX and BRP. Since Game Geeks began, I have gained an appreciation for more rules-oriented games, such as Savage Worlds, FATE and Spycraft and Fantasycraft. My favorite genre is the modern fantasy/horror genre, ranging from Buffy and the Dresden Files to Call of Cthulhu.

What system do you think is best designed? Is it the one you play most?

For narrative focused games, I think Cinematic Unisystem is perfectly designed, and FATE is ideal for allowing the players to have as much control over the story as the GM. The game I play the most is Savage Worlds- it has the best mixture of streamlined rules and tactical detail for my players.

What games have you played in the past year? List up to 10 RPGs you have played the most.

Savage Worlds
Cinematic Unisystem
Cortex
Cortex +
Call of Cthulhu
Star Wars Saga
D6
Fantaycraft
Pathfinder

Briefly summarize the criteria you will use for judging products in the different categories. How will you deal with comparing products of vastly disparate lengths, medium (PDF vs. print), or mechanics to prose ratios? Will innovation and originality play a major role?

I would start by considering each game on its own merits- some games are a principally rules with minimum setting, and many are more interesting settings with little rules bolted on. Reading and digesting each game is critical to being able to judge each one. Games that are truly epic in scope (very large) are often the most interesting to read and rewarding to understand. For me, PDF products have no substantive difference compared to print books. I think innovation is critical to our evolving hobby- games have evolved tremendously from our roots in fantasy wargaming.

How will you judge supplements or adventures for game systems whose core rules you are unfamiliar with or you believe are badly designed? What about for systems that are out of print?

There have been very few games I’ve ever encountered that have no redeeming values. I’d get the core rules for any product from a system with which I’m unfamiliar. I think that’s key for understanding a game, even one which is mainly setting. The PDF market is ideal for getting games that are out of print, as are auctions sites like Ebay.

How would you like to see the ENnies change (categories, policies, etc)? What should remain inviolate?

I’d like to see a category for best story, or best story arc for an adventure. Otherwise the categories and policies are well designed and shouldn’t be changed.

BONUS: (optional) If you were an RPG, what would it be and would you play it?

My life as an RPG would be involved with balancing work, life and gaming, with great bonuses for supportive spouses and children just coming into gaming. Challenge ratings would be based on semester grade deadlines and how insane my dog is feeling that we