Hall of Fame Nominations 2009

[Sunset Trooper]

Nominated Game: Eyes of the Leopard
DM:ironbeard
Reasons for Nomination I wasn't the first batch of players to start the game, I came in the middle of everything. I absolutely loved this game, a reason was that this was one of my first games I played up here, so it has a little sentimental value, but aside from that the DM was wonderful at telling you the story. It was a simple, basic campaign, but the actions of the characters and the actions of the DM made the story come to life. He kept the action fun and present throughout but, enough of the story to make it a worthwhile game. Honestly there are way too many posts and chapters to the story to post the links here. Going into the thread though you can browse around and see all the STUFF that is in it. The game has been completed for a little more then a year now, so it is in the archives. One of the best games I've played, including tabletop.

[darkmajare]

Nominated Game: 20,000 Dead Under the Sea
DM: Wretch
Reasons for nomination: Of all the games that I have played in, this is by far the most enjoyable. Although I was only part of the game during its beginning, I have followed its evolution since.

Wretch continues to shape a world that is both detailed and original with every post he makes. The great time and effort put into creating the lore behind the world the game is set in, is daunting. If only to add background flavor and points of reference, Wretch continues to tell an amazing tale. As many others who have also played in the game have already said, it is a must visit to any DnDoG fan.

[LordJecks]

Name: Stronger than Destiny
DM(s): Aeronder

Reasons for nomination: On a purely selfish reason because its my favorite game, PbB or Tabletop, I've been in, and its DMed by one of my top 3 favorite DM's. Aeronder has continued the game throught the last year and a half even during the birth of two new family members. Its got a nice dark and gritty feel to it, due to the low levels of magic in this world, which makes it all the more challenging since you can't just yell at the cleric to heal you after every encounter. Hell there is no divine magic in this world so no healing period thus far, save natural purposes (Soon my Troll Bloodline halfling will healing like a mad man).

All the current characters actually have depth to them. Provar, the pyromatic half-elf seeking to unlock the secrets of magic once more. Borridio, a young gnome learning the ways of hte world like his master before him. Faindrein, a human woodsmen desperately searching for his lost love (current quest) whose being held capitive up in the north reaches of the world (The foothold of evil in this world). Grunhilda, a dwarven battlemaiden seeking the secrets of heavy armor lost to the ages. Silvavir, a halfing plainsmen youth seeking a wife and was caught up in the adventure in exchange for information.

The plot thus far has revolved around the exploration of Cárehtálë, a set of elven ruins, to discovered more about the past of our world and the disappearance of the dragons and elves. Along the way we faced many challenges including, goblins, the theft of our map, and monsters. With the discovery of our ruins we bid fair well to our employer, Borridio's master, and decided to aid our friend Faindrien in his quest to save his beloved. Which leads to where we currently are, traveling north based on the information Borridio's master provided Faindrien for his services at Cárehtálë.

[hvg3akaek]

Name: Blood's Song
DM(s): CE2JRH
Reasons for nomination: It's awesome. Should have been nominated previously, but the whole 'being run by a mod' didn't allow it. A great storyline, very original setting, twists and explosions, and all manner of good players. I will do some more work and pad up this post when I have the time, but for now, go look through the archives.

[Halcyon]

Name: What May Come
DM: Davion
Reasons for nomination: There are so many great DM's and players out there that stay below the radar, out of the spotlight so to speak, concentrating their time solely on making their games great and not on the community enrichment projects that tend to elevate members (perhaps rightfully so) to celebrity status here on ddog. One such long-standing member of the community is Davion (not completely anonymous on this site, Davion put up a great fight in the most recent Iron DM competion). This long-running game that I am nominating is a testament to Davion's creativity and passion. This is the second year that I am nominating it, and the only game that I am nominating this year.

Of the elements that make up a great game: a) a dedicated DM, b) quality players that post content worth reading, c) plot twists and unpredictability, this game's got it all! It's been so much fun that the only players to leave this game were players who had to cease activity on DDOG for one reason or another. Even though this game has gone on for over two years, the story's cohesiveness proves that Davion had it all planned out from the beginning. Like a great mystery novel, clues were dropped little by little, chapter by chapter, so that each hurdle cleared by the party edged them closer to understanding the strange circumstances surrounding them... and believe me, the circumstances got stranger and stranger all the time! The storyline takes the adventurers from a mishap on a treasurehunt to a nightmare-realm where the characters relive past memories, trying desperately to achieve better outcomes than their real life memories, but constantly opposed by a great demon and later on a crazed paladin (who was once one of the original PC's!). Are their actions in this dream-world actually altering the past? If so, is it for the better or for the worst? And how in the hells can they get themselves out of this mess when no one around them seems capable of giving a straight answer?!

There are many, many great games on this list already, but here are some moments from 'What May Come' that define the originality and creativity of the players and DM and set this game apart. I only joined the game in Chapter 5 and we've just completed Chapter 6, so these references are recent. Note the very nice battlemaps and props that Davion uses in his game. Not the sort of thing that should get a game into the Hall of Fame, but his attention to detail certainly made the experience much more exciting for the players!

Here is the meat and potatoes of the Battle of Westgate. Previous to the referenced post, our PC's completed a series of missions to weaken the invading army... which cost the lives of two of our party members! Now they return to help try and hold the wall and save the city. The sheer scale of this battle is very impressive, and Davion handled it masterfully.

In this scene, my favorite interlude of the game, my half-orc character finds himself inexplicably transformed into a centaur, sucked in to a huge trans-dimensional rift, and transported to a strange plane where he eventually gets to meet a God!

Meanwhile, two companions, the only survivors from our adventuring party of the vicious battle of Westgate, find themselves in a complicated situation! Luckily for those of us that died, every time a 'dream-sequence' ends we all wake up in the same glade, in a strange forest, and are forced to choose a path that leads to the next sequence!

Chapter 6 found us exploring a a noble family's tomb in search of a lost artifact. Here's another day at the office... this is a most creative way to deal with a familiar dungeon dweller!

Lastly, Chapter 6 is coming to an end... what better way to leave a dungeon than triggering a trap in the treasure room that destroys the entire tomb!

Bear in mind that these are only the highlights of the last two chapters! There's great reading in the game archive for those that get hooked!

[Kainti]

Name: PSA DnD (The Lich's Debt)

DM(s): Ridin Godjin

Reasons for nomination: I found Ascendant's reasons well written and succinct. Still, i've read this game, and that deems the requisite fanatical worship.

I mean, who are you kidding? This game carries an all-star cast that somehow managed to not collapse in on itself before reaching beyond the threshold of in-jokes and me-too lines. There is a force to this game, honest moments of incredible tension, and laughs to be had. Ridin Gajin is a cruel mistress, and I quote myself when I say "I love it." His seat of the pants style of GMing creates what are probably some of the most natural and interesting situations without being too derivative. If not, then the game moved right along with the player's following in step.

AxeMan shines here, his character Hennet being every dirty bit of any character he had played in his life personified, to the power of ten. Lushmoss and his footnotes play a character so streamlined and personal that I to this day find it difficult to see him playing as anything other than Gimble. For his part OneArmPirate was the right amount of cocksure and aggression that paralleled his undying fealty to Pelor, the single wussiest god in the D&D pantheon. While on the subject of cocksure, Nightstalkers and Kithkunabi (Tordek, Redgar) were all character. Especially when it hurt them the most. Chaopsychochick and BraveSirRobin were Lidda and Krusk, to the point where I doubted their lives varied much from their fantasy counterparts. Last but not least, CE2JRH and Symthrell. Those two add their own flavor to the insanity. Twist the lime of comprehension and stir in some lemon, if you will. The point i'm trying to bash into your skull with a rusted hammer is that the roleplaying in the PSAs is incredible, dynamic, and best of all natural (eventually).

It takes the source material created by CreativeJuices7 (The DND PHB PSAs) and elevates it up, beyond, and sideways. Even the CJ7 team recognizes this fact. So what's keeping you? Go.

[M_Sinner]

Name: Corrupted
DM: Ronarscorrution
Reasons for Nomination:

Aside from lasting quite a while (Since June of '06!), this game is a prime example of Ronars' skill as both a writer and a DM. Each of his posts is descriptive and enticing, drawing the reader into his world (anyone who's gamed with him knows this to be true already). Further, Ronars has been able to pass characters off to multiple users, keeping the continuity of the story. The game has incorporated many respected roleplayers, as well as seen some respected roleplayers through from their younger days on DnDOG.

Some examples of the posts that make this game great can be found:

Here, at the start of the most recent chapter, as Ronars describes the players' new "home."

Here, where the nature of a cursed sword is considered, far back in the game.

Here, where party tensions rise...

And many, many more places. However, it's late, I'm tired, and finals are coming up, so I'll have to leave it at that for the moment.

[Kainti]

Name: Life or Death /Life and Death

DM: Codger

Reason(s) for Nomination: If ever a game that deserved it's own wikipedia page this would be it. It's concepts are enormous and the ambition carries not only through the main character, but in the duo running it.

Codger and AxeMan, DM and Player, work in a way that I have not seen in any other place on this website. Codger knows how to write, and damn it does he do a good job of pulling you in with his twisting labyrinth of words. AxeMan, for his part is enigmatic. His character, Cassel is unforgettable. His journey is one of great actions that had been, and their consequences. Morality is just the tip of it all though, Life or Death is about so much more. You know, like everything conceivable to the human pysche. It's a great read, I hope you'll note that I don't treat this like a game. Life or Death honestly feels like two people writing a story that will span ages, and they are writing it well.

[Chronicler]

And that's all we have for this year. Now to have the CSers vote.

[Magrok]

Don't forget - you can still be part of the voting process if you become a Community Supporter!