Quote from: McrowI wonder if there wasn't some backlash from the last years awards "shackled city snafu" and they were stearing clear of a similar problem?

It would be really, really depressing if that was it. Giving awards to a deserving book is a terrible reason to NOT give awards to another deserving book, and instead give them to inferior works.

Quote from: pigames.netIt's starting to seem a little incestuous around here

Well, we're fans!

-clash

Quote from: mearlsIt would be really, really depressing if that was it. Giving awards to a deserving book is a terrible reason to NOT give awards to another deserving book, and instead give them to inferior works.

Sadly, I think the Shackled City thing from last year kept Ptolus from being nominated as many times. IMO, Ptolus is the best example of quality in multiple catagories.

Quote from: McrowI wonder if there wasn't some backlash from the last years awards "shackled city snafu" and they were stearing clear of a similar problem?

Knowing the personalities of some of the judges, I sort of doubt it.

Quote from: PGivertyEsoterrorists? It doesn't read that well, but in actual play I really enjoyed it.

Yeah, everybody says that. Thing is, in actual play, it's no longer the game I purchased.

Seanchai

Quote from: flyingmiceJust have to say I love your new avatar, Sett! Awesome!

This has been a public service announcement by Flying Mice games. We now return to your regularly scheduled rants!

-clash

Thanks I swiped it from here:
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/forgottenfutures/test/rules.htm

It even has stats!

Quote from: C.W.RichesonYou could always check out my detailed review.

I was also a little surprised to see it up for an award, but then I didn't find the idea of "just give the players the damn clues" to be enough to make a product.

Here's another review.

Quote from: SeanchaiYeah, everybody says that. Thing is, in actual play, it's no longer the game I purchased.

Seanchai

I don't understand what this means.

Quote from: PGivertyHere's another review.

Who do you believe???

kidding

Maybe I'll get it down the road.

Quote from: Caesar Slaad(shrug) Posterity will tell its own tales. I think the pace of new games has been more placid, but I personally don't think the quality of the market has suffered for it. Indeed, Burning Empires and Spirit of the Century were the first non-d20 games to catch my attention since, well, d20.

Fair enough, and I think those two do have a chance to stand the test of time. But what else out there does?

Sometimes, I wonder if the best gaming award would forgo nominations and categories, and simply say "These are the best gaming products of the year", and rattle off a list from zero to 10. There are years when a supplement for a game makes waves, and others where new games are the big thing.

Quote from: mearlsThe only thing I really noticed was Ptolus's absence from the d20 list. I'd be really, really interested in someone trying to explain to me how *any* of the products on that list are better than Ptolus. I'm not even close to seeing it.

To be honest, I had the same thought.  Maybe my exposure to non-WotC products is too limited, though.

I was glad to see Spirit of the Century getting some love, though I'm unfamiliar with it beyond the (excellent) previews.  I like FATE, though, and the Evil Hat guys seem cool.

-O

QuoteThe only thing I really noticed was Ptolus's absence from the d20 list. I'd be really, really interested in someone trying to explain to me how *any* of the products on that list are better than Ptolus. I'm not even close to seeing it.

Whereas I remain baffled as to what the hell is so great about Ptolus that I'd pay such a hideously steep price for what amounts to an overblown gazeteer of some guy's made up city.  

Who the hell gives a shit about production values if what's actually there is just Rote Overdetailed Setting #235?

I'm sure it's great for the collector guys who pretty much just buy this shit to look pretty on a shelf and show it off to their RPGnet friends, but I didn't see any evidence of actual substance there, or anything I haven't seen waaaay too many times by now.

Quote from: J ArcaneWhereas I remain baffled as to what the hell is so great about Ptolus that I'd pay such a hideously steep price for what amounts to an overblown gazeteer of some guy's made up city.  

I have to agree. I know I'm not part of the mainstream, but it's not even something I'd buy if it was $10.

Quote from: J ArcaneWhereas I remain baffled as to what the hell is so great about Ptolus that I'd pay such a hideously steep price for what amounts to an overblown gazeteer of some guy's made up city.  

Who the hell gives a shit about production values if what's actually there is just Rote Overdetailed Setting #235?

I'm sure it's great for the collector guys who pretty much just buy this shit to look pretty on a shelf and show it off to their RPGnet friends, but I didn't see any evidence of actual substance there, or anything I haven't seen waaaay too many times by now.

agreed...i liked it better in 1977 when it was called "City State of the Invincible Overlord".  :rolleyes:

Quote from: J ArcaneWhereas I remain baffled as to what the hell is so great about Ptolus that I'd pay such a hideously steep price for what amounts to an overblown gazeteer of some guy's made up city.  

Who the hell gives a shit about production values if what's actually there is just Rote Overdetailed Setting #235?

I'm sure it's great for the collector guys who pretty much just buy this shit to look pretty on a shelf and show it off to their RPGnet friends, but I didn't see any evidence of actual substance there, or anything I haven't seen waaaay too many times by now.

I'll go out on a limb and say you're probably not the target audience.

I, however, am.  I haven't bought a copy yet simply because the price is so steep in a single chunk.  I'm cool with buying a $30 book here or there (game books are my magazines, so to speak), but shelling out 4x that requires more foresight and planning than I have.

Looking through it, I'm pretty impressed.  It's partly a gazeteer, sure.  It does a lot more, though - it's a detailed complete campaign setting with a lot of adventures built in.  It's like City-State of the Invincible Overlord, only moreso - and more usable, to boot.

(Speaking of Ptolus, a friend of mine won a copy from Gen Con last year.  He was one of the folks who held it at arms' length for something like 11 minutes.  The gladiator guy, if you were there or saw pictures of it.  I was going to buy it from him, but he decided to hold onto it.  And, what do you know, he's actually running a game with it.)

-O