The ENnie Awards

 

 

Keith T. Sutherland

  Keith T. Sutherland

aka Spacekase

Introduction
I've been playing RPGs for over 25 years. Through out my life role-playing has brought me many wonderful friends and taught me social skills and critical thinking that have brought me success in many ventures.

The best thing that role-playing does is bring people together. I spent a bit of time in the U.S. military moving around, no matter where I went, or fox hole I was in, I could always find a geek to connect with and play a game.

I currently own 100+ RPGs and have read every one of them. At least once a week my girlfriend reminds me of how much space "my games" take up. Everyone has to have at least one addiction.

Thanks,
Keith

1. When did you join the RPG hobby and what inspired you to become involved and stay with it?
I first started playing D&D in 1981. The first game that I actually owned was the red box and then blue box. I still have my blue box dice, but alas the crayon has not survived. In 1982 E.T. came out and all the "cool guys" were playing D&D at that point. Throughout middle school and high school I had other priorities, sports, partying and dating, but I always found time for a weekly game of 1st edition D&D. While in college 2nd edition came out, but we pretty much stuck with 1st edition and a little Palladium Fantasy or Robotech. I switched over to 2nd edition in the military and was introduced to many good systems including Champions, GURPS, Shadowrun, Star Wars D6 and original Vampire. I carried around a bag of dice, a pencil and the mini books of 1st edition D&D around in my cargo pockets. That plus the M&Ms from our MREs and we were ready for a session in any two-man hole. After the military I started to really to indulge my addiction. Why do I stay with this hobby? It's been part of my life since I was a child, how can I not? I'll see you guys and gals in the old folk's home with my bag of dice, no shuffleboard for me.

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.)?
Other obligations in my life haven't allowed me much time to do more than GM, play a game when one of my players feels inclined to GM, and the occasional review. GMing and homebrew pretty much go hand in hand for me, there is no perfect system or setting. I attended Gen Con annually from 1988 till the move to Indianapolis.
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 do not believe that you can judge a game without playing it. All my friends are gamers, their help would be enlisted. Each product I judge will be playtested. If I receive hundreds of products, perhaps not much, but the ultimate test is the roll of the dice.
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 have been in management for fifteen plus years. My organization skills, communication skills and focus are fairly good. I am used to meeting deadlines and keeping focused.
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 enjoy the fantasy genre the most. I have played many genres and have yet to find one that I haven't liked. I am not a fanboy of any particular system/publisher etc. Personally I tend to enjoy the small press stuff more, I just don't usually get to play or run them on a regular basis.
6. What system do you think is best designed? Is it the one you play most?
That is a hard question. I literally own over a hundred systems. Every session that I GM I bring a new book to introduce my players to new systems and settings, but they tend to want to stick to the oldies, but goodies. If I really feel strong about a system, I will push it. I have recently come to enjoy Swashbucklers of the Seven Skies, but in my humble opinion, there is no best designed system.
7. What games have you played in the past year? List up to 10 RPGs you have played the most.
Past Year:

D&D 4th
Star Wars SAGA
Warhammer FRPG
S7S

Ten more I have played most

Shadowrun
Exalted
Vampire
Rifts
Robotech
D&D all editions
Champions
Star Wars all editions
MERP
GURPS
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?
My votes in the past have always been based on how much fun the game was to play or how fun the adventure was. Medium doesn't matter. I own many PDF RPGs, but I do prefer a dead tree version. Length really depends on the product. Mechanics versus prose really is a personal thing. There have been good RPGs with little prose and excellent RPGs with a very basic rules system. Innovation and originality, always play a large role in my vote. Not necessarily a new rules system. It could be a new direction that an adventure takes characters, like the first time I picked up Through the Looking Glass or Blackmoor.
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 would judge a supplement on what it adds to the it's system and it's originality. I would judge an adventure on what direction it takes the PCs and how exciting it is for them. I have taken many adventures from rule systems that I don't like and converted them over to whatever system my group is playing. I would not judge adventures on a system. Supplements can be a pretty wide open category. Depending on the supplement you might have to include the system in a judgment. I have been role-playing avidly for 25+ years, I'm sure things will just jump out at me as being above the bar. Whenever I browse the local brick and mortar they do.
10. How would you like to see the ENnies change (categories, policies, etc)? What should remain inviolate?
There is only one constant, change. I don't believe in something being inviolable. If a positive and necessary change needs to occur, it should. I also don't believe in change for the sake of change.
BONUS: (optional) If you were an RPG, what would it be, and would you play it?
Revenge of the Geek

I would play it, of course, and be much better at than Keith originally was.

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