So the Indie RPG Awards have come to the end of their official registration period. There are 32 games (and 11 supplements) registered -- compared to 39 games in 2003, 41 games in 2004, and 29 games in 2005. However, when I review the list, we're a bit short on free games. I think it's a bit natural that people aren't as pushy to promote free games since, well, they don't make money on them. But the Indie RPG Awards do have a special award for Free RPG, so I'd really like to get some more of them onto the list. So I'm extending things a bit to look for more qualified free entries.

So, what were the best Free RPGs of 2006, in opinions of theRPGsite-ers?  

Right now the only two submissions I have are Greg Porter's EABALite and a Norwegian game "Inntil Vi Sinker" (which sounds potentially cool, but I can't read it :confused: ).  For what it's worth, last year the winner was Perfect20, a D20 variant by Levi Kornelsen.  

P.S. You can post suggestions directly on the Indie RPG Awards Registration Form if you're so inclined.

Can I enter JAGS Revised?

-Marco

Please do, Marco! I want to vote for it.

-clash

What if it's a game that technically predates this entire award for by a long shot, and was even originally in print?  'cause right now I'd totally have to go with Time Lord.

It would seem sourcebooks are allowed (JAGS Wonderland got nominated in the past), but even the Journies sourcebook, which is pretty awesome, is three years old.

Not that it has the slightest chance of winning one of these awards, given past history . . .

At some point I'd like to organize the Indie RPG Awards to do a "All-Time Best" for independent games like Time Lord that came out before the awards were founded in 2002.  However, that's not going to happen this year.  

I'd point out that JAGS-2 came in 2nd place for Free RPG of the Year in 2004, and JAGS Wonderland came in 2nd place for Best Supplement of 2005.  Which is lead-in to that the rule we have from before is that 2nd editions don't qualify for the awards.  Sorry, but it prevents popular games from re-winning as well.

The previous rule was that a 2nd edition was eligible if half or more of the edition was new material. Thus I entered StarCluster 2, which, since it was twice the size of StarCluster 1, was demonstrably mostly new material.

-clash

JAGS Revised isn't an update of JAGS. The two games are similar but really very different (more than 2x the number of pages, etc.) JAGS-2 is a companion game to the original JAGS.

-Marco

Quote from: J ArcaneWhat if it's a game that technically predates this entire award for by a long shot, and was even originally in print?  'cause right now I'd totally have to go with Time Lord.

I like Time Lord as well.

I was reading it until I got Unknown Armies and now I have been sidetracked.  But as soon as I am done with UA I will finish reading Time Lord.

I'm going to break my self-imposed exile to indulge in shameless self-promotion and say Simple20. It generated enough interest to get me invited to a virtual con as a guest speaker (i.e., I was interviewed) and for two commercial publishers to speak with me about possible commercial releases for the system.

Quote from: jhkimAt some point I'd like to organize the Indie RPG Awards to do a "All-Time Best" for independent games like Time Lord that came out before the awards were founded in 2002.  However, that's not going to happen this year.  

I'd point out that JAGS-2 came in 2nd place for Free RPG of the Year in 2004, and JAGS Wonderland came in 2nd place for Best Supplement of 2005.  Which is lead-in to that the rule we have from before is that 2nd editions don't qualify for the awards.  Sorry, but it prevents popular games from re-winning as well.

Okay--well: I did enter it through the link before I saw this. You can decide how to make the call.

1. It's (way) more than 50% new material over JAGS-2.
2. It's not a 2nd edition of JAGS-2 in any philosophical sense (there are notes in the book about that).
3. It's more than 50% new over the original JAGS (which is what it's revised from)
4. JAGS was never entered.

I think (and my understanding was aligned with Clash's) that there's a good case for it--but of course it's your decision in the final analysis. If Ultimate DitV came out with +150 pages (all the rules for tactical combat the first was 'missing') or Kill Puppies For El Diablo in it's revised, Squad-Leader-like incarnation came out I don't think I'd complain about a re-issue (even as I was voting for them!).

-Marco

Quote from: jhkimWhich is lead-in to that the rule we have from before is that 2nd editions don't qualify for the awards.  Sorry, but it prevents popular games from re-winning as well.

Am I reading this right? If I am, then why is Ninjaburger - 2nd edition sitting there on the list of registered games?

Quote from: JohnnyWannabeAm I reading this right? If I am, then why is Ninjaburger - 2nd edition sitting there on the list of registered games?

Good point.  Actually, I went back and checked the FAQ on this, and as other people pointed out, the actual policy is this:

QuoteSecond editions of games published in earlier years, or upgrades to a PDF RPG (like 1.0 to 1.5, 2.0, etc) do not count for the purposes of these awards. However, this can be a grey area. If an RPG's second edition were to be a complete overhaul of the rules to a completely new system, or it includes 50%+ more original material/design that completely reforms the game, it may be considered for these awards.

When I first answered, I just remembered in particular rejecting Burning Wheel Revised and Conspiracy of Shadows 2nd edition -- and didn't re-check the policy.  However, though I haven't gone through it yet, I'll accept Marco's word that JAGS Revised falls into the grey area and I've added it to the list.

Thanks for reconsidering, John! I think it's a good rule, because sometimes second editions are not at all like first editions, for good or ill, and they need to be judged on their own. In Marco's case, for good, btw.

-clash

Quote from: jdrakehI'm going to break my self-imposed exile to indulge in shameless self-promotion and say Simple20. It generated enough interest to get me invited to a virtual con as a guest speaker (i.e., I was interviewed) and for two commercial publishers to speak with me about possible commercial releases for the system.

I like it...
Are there links to it anymore and any updates?
Did you enjoy Icon?