EN World, also known as Morrus' Unofficial Tabletop RPG News, is a British-owned tabletop role-playing game news and reviews website. The website is run and owned by Russ Morrissey ("Morrus").[1] It reports current news and provides insight into major product releases before they are officially unveiled.[2] EN World was the original host of the ENNIE Awards.
Type of site | Gaming |
|---|---|
| Owner | EN Publishing Ltd. |
| Created by | Russ Morrissey |
| URL | enworld.org |
| Commercial | Yes |
| Registration | Optional (required for posting on the forums) |
| Launched | January 1, 2001 |
| Current status | Active |
The site's forums are a gathering place for over a quarter-million gamers. In addition to discussing games, members also participate in play-by-post games on the EN World message boards.
ENnies
editBeginning in 2002, EN World hosted the ENnies in association with the Gen Con gaming convention.[3] The ENnies is an award show recognizing the best role-playing game products and publishers for the preceding year. The ENnies were officially known as the "Gen Con EN World RPG Awards" from 2002 to 2019. As of 2017, the awards are run by business manager Stacey Muth.[4] In 2019, EN World owner Russ Morrissey retired from the awards, which were officially renamed "The ENnies".[5]
EN Publishing
editEN Publishing was established in 2001 and is the publishing arm of EN World.[6] It has published over 300 books, including the What's O.L.D. is N.E.W. (WOIN)[7] role-playing game system, EN5ider magazine, and the official Judge Dredd (role-playing game).[8] In 2016 Angus Abranson joined EN Publishing as business director.[9] Abranson left in 2019 and was replaced by Jessica Hancock, while Marc Langworthy joined as 2000 AD line manager.[10]
In October 2000, the company announced the Awfully Cheerful Engine, a comic-book-inspired tabletop game.[11]
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
editIn August 2020, EN Publishing announced a project code-named Level Up, an advanced adaptation of Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition.[12] The game was published in 2021. Kotaku.com listed Level Up in its 10 Best Tabletop Roleplaying Books of 2022,[13] and Polygon featured it in the same year.[14] Screenrant suggested that Level Up could be D&D 5e's Pathfinder.[15]
Level Up is supported by a free online tools platform which contains all of the rules of the game, and a monthly magazine called the Gate Pass Gazette'.[16]
In 2022, following Wizards of the Coast proposing the termination of the Open Game License[17] the A5E System Reference Document[18] was released, enabling third party publishers to create and sell their own content for the Level Up game system.
A Starter Box was released for the game system in 2023.[19]
History
editEN World was founded in 2000. It grew from the earlier "Eric Noah's Unofficial D&D 3rd Edition News" site, which was active from 1999 to 2001 and was the primary source of information about the third edition of the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game before its release by Wizards of the Coast.
In 2005, the EN World GameStore was launched as a platform for selling downloadable RPG products. The GameStore allowed sellers to use their profits to purchase other products or transfer the money to PayPal. Buyers could transfer funds from PayPal or a similar service to purchase any non-free product. However, the GameStore was sold to DriveThruRPG in 2006.[20]
EN World began experimenting with media content in 2012, starting with a six-episode animated show 'The Perturbed Dragon',[21] video coverage of DragonMeet and the Battle of the Bards[22] music competition.
In 2018, the site launched its official podcast, "Morrus' Unofficial Tabletop RPG Talk," a weekly program that provides insight into tabletop role-playing game news.[23]
References
edit- ^ "Circvs Maximvs: Everything and Nothing". Circvmaximvs.com. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
- ^ "Krynn Returns: A Preview of Dragonlance". EN World | Dungeons & Dragons | Tabletop Roleplaying Games. 7 November 2022. Retrieved 2023-02-20.
- ^ "ENnie Awards". Ennie-awards.com. Archived from the original on 4 December 2021. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
- ^ "Announcement: New Business Manager!". Ennie-awards.com. 24 January 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
- ^ "ENnies Leadership Change Announcement". ENnie Awards. 2019-02-15. Archived from the original on 2019-04-21. Retrieved 2019-02-17.
- ^ "RPG Publisher Spotlight: EN Publishing". Geek Native. 18 February 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
- ^ "What's OLD is NEW". What's O.L.D. is N.E.W. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
- ^ "New Judge Dredd and 2000 AD Tabletop Adventure Games announced!". 2000ad.com. 15 February 2017. Retrieved 2019-02-17.
- ^ "metacomment.io". www.enworld.org.metacomment.io.[dead link]
- ^ "Staff Changes At EN Publishing". 19 August 2019.
- ^ "Awfully Cheery Engine is a fast, flexible, beginner-friendly RPG releasing in comic book issues". 12 October 2020.
- ^ "EN World Announces Advanced Take On 5th Edition D&D Rules". 15 August 2020.
- ^ "The 10 Best Tabletop Roleplaying Books Of 2022". www.kotaku.com. 27 July 2022.
- ^ "Level Up 5th Edition adds extra complexity to 5th edition Dungeons & Dragons". www.polygon.com. 26 July 2022.
- ^ "Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition Could Be D&D 5e's Pathfinder". www.screenrant.com. 22 October 2021.
- ^ "Level Up: A5E Gate Pass Gazette Annual 2023 Unveils a Cornucopia of RPG Delights on Kickstarter". www.tabletopgamingnews.com. 15 January 2024.
- ^ "D&D's stricter licensing rules might impact some beloved RPGs". www.polygon.com. 5 January 2023.
- ^ "'Level Up' A5E Launches A New SRD Full Of Feats, Archetypes, & More". www.belloflostsouls.net/. 2 February 2023.
- ^ "'Level Up' With The 'Advanced 5th Edition' Starter Box Now On Kickstarter". Bell of Lost Souls. 13 September 2023.
- ^ "EN World GameStore Closing". EN World | Dungeons & Dragons | Tabletop Roleplaying Games. 26 October 2006. Retrieved 2023-02-20.
- ^ "The Perturbed Dragon". Theperturbeddragon.com. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
- ^ "Battle of the Bards – FINAL!". Theperturbeddragon.com. 3 December 2012. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
- ^ Development, PodBean. "#1: Waterdeep Dragon Heist & Dungeon of the Mad Mage". morrus.podbean.com. Retrieved 2021-05-16.