The ENnie Awards

 

 

Chris Gath

Chris Gath

aka Crothian

Introduction
 

1. When did you join the RPG hobby and what inspired you to become involved and stay with it?
I have been a Judge six time before. I write reviews for EN World and have for RPGNow in the past. I bring lots of experience with judging books and dealing with the tons of material judges get.

2. 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 gaming as young kid in 1980 and it was fun so I stuck with it. I like the creativity and friends I've gained through gaming. It's a hobby that I greatly enjoy.
3. The ENnies require 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've done it in the past and my friends and family know what I'm getting into. I am back in school and that allows for a lot of flexible time. I am able to play some of the game we get to test them out with friends.
4. 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 love talking about games so when a judge I usually am trying to get discussion going before others are ready. I always make sure I have time by using vacation days from work if needed to meet the deadlines and get the job done.
5. 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 really enjoy D&D and the White Wolf games. Though I'm not much of a fan of Exalted. I really like reading the samll press books as those games tend to take chances with doing something different. IT doesn't always work for them but I appreciate the effort.
6. What system do you think is best designed? Is it the one you play most?

D&D is the game I play the most because it is the easiest to get people to play. There is no best designed; all the games have flaws. I find I enjoy the games with the flaws like Scion.
7. What games have you played in the past year? List up to 10 RPGs you have played the most.
In the past year I've played D&D 4e, Scion, Delta Green, Call of Cthulhu, Dread (Jenga version), Hollow Earth, Hunter the Vigil, Ninja Burger (PDQ), D&D 3e, Sorcery and Super Science.
8. 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 try to forget who did what. I rate the books in front of me. I read them many times and take notes on everything. I have reviewed hundreds of PDFs so I rarely look at them differently. I like creativeness and orginality. I like rules that support the prose.
9. 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?
I fall back on my own private library to read books and learn systems for supplements we get. In the past I have bought books to learn games I did not know.
10. How would you like to see the ENnies change (categories, policies, etc)? What should remain inviolate?
There are some categories like the free product and many fan categories that the ENnies need to either get more submissions for or just do away with them.
 
 

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