Although the original Diana Jones Award for Excellence in Gaming trophy is thought to be gone – it was lost in the mail in 2019 – the show must go on: a winner must be chosen from five nominees who have shown excellence in their field of gaming .
According to the organization’s FAQ, the prize can go to anyone or anything: concepts, publishers, products and people. The extent of that scope is on display for this year’s nominated class: Adepticon, the Midwest miniature games convention hosting the North American Golden Demons; Ami Baiogame designer from Pink Tiger Games; Fastfall, an RPG and board game convention held in Denmark; TTRPGs for trans rights in Florida, an itch.io bundle which raised $283,977 for transgender advocacy and support groups in Florida; and the United Paizo Workers, the first tabletop gaming employee union.
“The United Paizo Workers are thrilled and honored to be a finalist for this year’s Diana Jones Award,” Alex Spiedel, United Paizo Workers steward and Paizo-organized games coordinator, told Polygon. “To be recognized among such industry luminaries is a testament to the power and importance of worker solidarity in this sector. We hope this nomination shows others in the industry that not only is self-advocacy and collective action possible in the workplace, but it is a badge of honor among your peers.”
Spiedel also mentioned that United Paizo Workers member Rue Dickey has actually been nominated twice; Dickey led the TTRPGs for the Trans Rights in Florida charity anthology. “We would also like to recognize the tremendous achievements of one of our members, Rue Dickey, who was nominated alongside us for their advocacy and charity work for the transgender community,” Spiedel said.
A winner will be chosen at an awards ceremony on July 31 in Indianapolis, Indiana, prior to the GenCon tabletop gaming convention. Who chooses? That’s actually a secret. The commission is keeping it that way to “make it impossible for a manufacturer or publisher to stuff the ballot or disrupt the vote.” according to the frequently asked questions about the price. The committee is “largely anonymous,” although several people have made their involvement public, including game designer Matt Forbeck.
As for the trophy, a new one debuted in 2022 – it’s pointy! The original trophy is the last of the unpopular and poorly received example The Adventures of Indiana Jones roleplaying game, published in 1984 by TSR. The game was set on fire and then immortalized in acrylic.
Last yearrole play Coyote & Crow took home the top prize; “Coyote & Crow is an RPG created by Cherokee designer Connor Alexander. In the game, Alexander cleverly imagines an alternate universe that exists beyond the horrors of colonialism,” the prize committee wrote on its website. The first Diana Jones Award went to Wizards of the Coast founder Peter Adkison.