Of course, I only wrote small parts of each. The lion’s share of the credit goes to Cam Banks for developing the Leverage game and to Mike Selinker for editing the Kobold guide. They both did fantastic job shepherding multiple authors through their respective projects and fusing them together into amazing books.

Congrats to both Cam and Mike and to all the creators and developers behind the other nominees as well!

I had bits in two nominated items this year: Family Games: The 100 Best, edited by Jim Lowder, and Shadowrun: Spells and Chrome, edited by John Helfer. Both were up for Best Gaming Publication and against some stiff competition. Despite that, Shadowrun: Spells and Chrome took home the trophy! Big congratulations to all my fellow authors involved in that book, but especially to John, who put together a fantastic collection.

Two projects I chipped in on picked up nominations: Family Games: The 100 Best, edited by Jim Lowder, and Shadowrun: Spells and Chrome, edited by John Helfer. For Family Games: The 100 Best, I wrote an essay extolling the Pokémon CCG, and for Spells and Chrome I wrote a sharp little short story about the weaponization of cursed magic items entitled “No Such Luck.”

Of course, they’re both in the same category – Best Game-Related Publication – and up against some stiff competition from Hamlet’s Hit Points by Robin Laws; No Quarter Magazine edited by Matt Wilson, Aeryn Redel, and Privateer Press; and World at War: Revelation by Mark H. Walker. I’d feel no shame in losing out to any of them. In the meantime, I’ll happily add these two to my total for Origins Award nominations, which now stands at, um, 26, I think.

The biggest happy surprise for me was the inclusion of Space Hulk as a nominee for best board game. Games Workshop released a very limited edition last year, which went out of print almost immediately. I wrote about the game in Hobby Games: The 100 Best as one of my all-time favorite games, and I’m glad to see it reaching a new generation of gamers. Here’s hoping this spurs GW into bringing the game back out on a more permanent basis.

My contribution to each was small. Robin interviewed me, along with dozens of others, for his book, and I wrote one of the 100 essays for Jim’s book. (My entry was about Space Hulk.) Sadly, both were up for the Non-Fiction Publication of the Year, and only one could win.

The voters at Origins chose Hobby Games: The 100 Best. My condolences to Robin, and many congratulations to Jim and the 99 other authors who chipped in on the winning book, among which I count several good friends. That includes many of my fellow Alliterates: Thomas Reid, Monte Cook, Steven Schend, Stan!, Tim Brown, Lester Smith, Wolf Baur, Steve Winter, Jeff Grubb, and Doug Niles.

Now, I can only wonder if GAMA will try to fit all 100+ names on to the trophy? If the rulebooks for collectible card games have taught us nothing else, it’s that people can read really small print.

Congratulations to all of the rest of the winners too! Notably, Jim Lowder’s Astounding Hero Tales anthology of pulp stories took home the Fiction Publication of the Year award too. (Robin was one of the book’s authors too, along with fellow Alliterate writer Thomas Reid, so there’s some small consolation for him.)

As Jim pointed out to me, this is likely the first time both awards have been won by creator-owned projects. Jim always stands strong for creators’ rights, and the contracts for both books show that.

Congratulations also to my friends at Paradigm Concepts for Codex Arcanis winning Roleplaying Game Supplement of the Year. I wrote a chunk of the original edition, although I’m told my work is only there in sprit in the latest, award-winning version.

Best Publication, Non-Fiction: 40 Years of Gen Con by Robin Laws. Robin interviewed me, along with many others, for this book, and I’m proud to see my words appear alongside those of so many people I admire.

Best Roleplaying Game Supplement: Codex Arcanis by Paradigm Concepts. I wrote a chapter or so in the original, paperback edition, which hit shelves in 2001. A handsome, hardcover edition came out last year. Sadly, I don’t have a copy of the new book yet, and I have no idea if I’m credited in it or if any of my work made it into the latest version. Either way, I’m happy for Henry, Eric, and the rest of the crew at Paradigm.

Best Publication, Non-Fiction: Hobby Games: The 100 Best edited by James Lowder. I wrote the essay on Space Hulk, which means I only chipped in 1% (or probably less) of this excellent, star-studded book. I was honored to be asked to contribute anything at all.

Congratulations to all the finalists, and good luck to everyone in the final round!

****33rd Annual Origins Awards – Product Submission ***

Please submit your 2006 gaming products NOW for the 33rd Annual Origins Awards presented by GAMA and the Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts and Design. Any product released during 2006 is eligible, and all products must be entered online at the Academy Website (below) before the 1 March 2007 Deadline. Nominees will be determined at the 2007 GAMA Trade Show (APRIL 23-26, 2007) and the Origins Awards will be presented during the 2007 Origins International Game Expo (July 5-8 2007).

Pete Panzeri
AcademyChair@gama.org

………………………………….

ORIGINS AWARD PRODUCT SUBMISSION

Go to: http://www.originsgames.com/aagad/submission/form

In addition to filling out the form, you will need to send the following to the GAMA address below:

7 copies of the product
Images of the product Title/logo*
Image of your company logo*
(* Images should be in either .300dpi JPG or .PSD format, and may be emailed to minion@gama.org, or included on a clearly labeled CD.)

Mail products and supporting documentation to:
GAMA
Attn: Origins Awards Submissions
280 N. High St. Suite 230
Columbus, Ohio 43215

All submissions for consideration and accompanying documentation must be postmarked NO LATER THAN MARCH 1, 2007.

Please send an e-mail to AcademyChair@gama.org and the Academy Secretary (contact information listed below) when the submissions materials and product are mailed so receipt at the GAMA office can be confirmed. Please include tracking information if available in this email.
The GAMA Offices can be reached by phone at (614) 255-4500 and fax (614) 255-4499.

I didn’t make it to Origins this year. The summer gets packed with conventions of all kinds, and I can only make it to so many of them and still get my work done and see my family. Other shows had stronger pulls this year, so I’m home instead, missing my friends, but enjoying my time with my wife and kids.

If you’re not an industry professional, you can still take a gander at the nominees for this year’s awards and bask in their reflected glory. I don’t have anything on the ballot this year, so this time around my announcement is stunningly plug-free.