The Indie RPG Awards are annual, creator-based awards for Indie role-playing game products. The creator of the Awards is Andy Kitkowski. It was established in 2002.
For the purposes of the Awards, there exists a following "definition" of an Indie role-playing game:
A game where the creator is the person who has written at least 50% of the actual game content.A game where the creator has full control of content and publishing. They can say, "I'd like to print 200 more copies" or "I'll drop the price by 50%", "I think this game needs more ninjas..." and do so without asking permission or checking with anyone else.A game where the creator is the publisher: They alone are responsible for paying all the costs of printing, art, advertising, etc. They also have full executive receipt and full control over the disbursement of profits.The following categories for nominations were used throughout the awards history:
Indie Game of the Year - main award for Indie Games.Indie Supplement of the Year - sub-award for best Supplements of Indie Games.Best Free Game - sub-award for free Indie Games.Best Support - sub-award for publisher who displayed best support for previously published game or supplement.Best Production - sub-award for best written and most attractive Indie Games.Most Innovative Game - sub-award for games that stretch the RPG experience in new ways.Andy's Choice Award - Awards creator personal award; presented only in 2002, 2003 and 2004.People's Choice Award - sub-award decided by popular vote rather than by peers for best game and best supplement; presented only in 2004.Best Synergy - sub-award for a game for which the game rules have been tailor-made to reflect the setting they take place in, and the setting is clearly reflected in the rules; presented only in 2002 and 2003.Indie RPG "Human of the Year" - sub-award for Indie RPG creators and supporters rather than games; presented only in 2002 and 2003.Best Use of the d20 License - presented only in 2002Indie RPG Zine of the Year - presented only in 2002Indie Game of the Year: Dust DevilsRunners-up: The Riddle of Steel (2nd), Cartoon Action Hour (3rd)Finalists: Children of the Sun, Cartoo Action Hour, Lightspeed, InSpectres, DonjonIndie Supplement of the Year: Charnel GodsRunners-up: JAGS C-13: The Colonies (2nd), Vendetta (3rd)Finalists: Demon Cops, InSpeckersBest Free Game: Nicotine GirlsRunners-up: Active Exploites (2nd), Shadows (3rd)Finalists: Metal Opera, ConsoleBest Use of the d20 License: The Kid's Colouring Book o Critters - Celebrity EditionRunners-up: Deeds not Words (2nd), 101 Mundane Treasures (3rd)Finalists: Thee Compleat Librum ov Gar'Udok's Necromantic Artes, d20Zine!Best Production: Children of the SunRunners-up: Dust Devils (2nd), octaNeFinalists: The Colonies, TrollbabeBest Support: The Riddle of SteelRunners-up: Cartoon Action Hour (2nd), InSpectres (3rd)Finalists: Mean Streets, TrollbabeBest Synergy: Dust DevilsRunners-up: Kayfabe (2nd), InSpectres (3rd)Finalists: Nicotine Girls, The Riddle of SteelMost Innovative Game: UniversalisRunners-up: Soap: The Game of Soap Opera Mayhem (2nd), Donjon (3rd)Finalists: Dust Devils, Trollbabe,Indie RPG "Human of the Year": Ron EdwardsRunners-up: Brett Bernstein (2nd), Clinton R. Nixon (3rd)Finalists: Jared A. SorensenIndie RPG Zine of the Year: The Shadowrun SupplementalRunners-up: Places to go, People to meet (2nd), Critical Miss (3rd)Finalists: Roleplaying Tips Weekly, d20Zine!Andy's Choice: Charnel GodsNod: PaladinIndie Game of the Year: My Life with MasterRunners-up: Unbidden (2nd), Fate (3rd)Finalists: vs Monsters, WushuIndie Supplement of the Year: JAGS Have-NotRunners-up: Island Nations & Daedalus (2nd; tie), Sex & Sorcery (3rd; actually 4th but listed as 3rd)Finalists: Smuggler's Run, A Cast of ThousandsBest Free Game: FateRunners-up: The Basic System (2nd), Active Exploites, 2nd edition (3rd)Finalists: vs Monsters, The Valedictorian's Death,Best Production: My Life with MasterRunners-up: vs Monsters(2nd), UnbiddenFinalists: Orbit, Daemon Codex, DaedalusBest Support: FateRunners-up: Active Exploits, second edition(2nd), Pax DraconisFinalists: Wushu, My Life with Master,Best Synergy: My Life with MasterRunners-up: Promised Sands (2nd), Wushu(3rd)Finalists: Orbit, The Valedictorian's DeathMost Innovative Game: My Life with MasterRunners-up: Orbit(2nd), Tooth and Claw (3rd)Finalists: Wushu, The Valedictorian's DeathIndie RPG "Human of the Year": Luke Crane (spelled as Power of the Year)Finalists (no runners-up): Matt Snyder, Cynthia Celeste Miller, Phil Reed, Ron Edwards, Jay Libby, S. John Ross, Jason L Blair, Paul Czege, Mike Holmes, Andy Kitkowski, Samantha Downing, Todd Downing, Steve Darlington, Paul Tucker, Marco Chacon, Jared Sorenson, Matt Forbeck, Mike Rennaker, Jay Carpio AKA Carpio Dregg, Jeremy McHugh, Sandy Antunes, Justin Dagna, Dan Bayn, Chad Underkoffler, Nicole Lindross, Ann Dupius, Otto Blix, Andrew Kenrick, James MatheAndy's Choice: FateNods: Barbarians of Lemuria, WushuIndie Game of the Year: Dogs in the VineyardRunners-up (in order): Primetime Adventures, Dead Inside, The Shadow of Yesterday, Cat, A/State, Hardnova II, Wyrd is Bond, Lacuna, Nine Worlds, Iron Gauntlets, Pulp Fu, Book of Jalan, Conspiracy of ShadowsIndie Supplement of the Year: Monster BurnerRunners-up (in order): Places to go, people to be, Inside, Cold Hard World, Fuzion Forum Yearbook 2003, Rune Companion, La Famiglia Amalfi, The Hidden Temple, The Lostfinders Guide to Mire EndBest Free Game: The Shadow of YesterdayRunners-up (in order): JAGS-2, Battleaxe, Basic System, Roleplaying Game Designate: Robots, Formless, Have-a-go HeroesPeople's Choice - Best Game: Dead InsideRunners-up: Primetime Adventures(2nd), Dogs in the Vineyard(3rd)Finalists (not in order): A/State, No Press RPG Anthology, Conspiracy of Shadows, Monkey Ninja Pirate Robot, the farmPeople's Choice - Best Supplement: Monster BurnerRunners-up: Cold, Hard World(2nd), Fuzion Forum Yearbook 2003(3rd)Finalists (not in order): Rune Companion, PTGPTBBest Production: A/StateRunners-up (in order): Nine Worlds, Dogs in the Vineyard, Monster Burner, The Shadow of Yesterday, Battleaxe, No Press RPG Anthology & Lacuna & Wyrd is Bond (tie), Primetime Adventures, Code of UnarisBest Support: Monster BurnerRunners-up (in order): Dogs in the Vineyard, A/State, The Shadow of Yesterday, JAGS-2 & Conspiracy of Shadows (tie), Dead Inside, Iron Gauntlets, Battleaxe & Basic System (tie), Hardnova IIMost Innovative Game: Dogs in the VineyardRunners-up (in order): Primetime Adventures, Lacuna, Code of Unaris, Dead Inside, The Shadow of Yesterday, Fastlane, Bones, No Press RPG Anthology, Wyrd is Bond, Cat, Nine WorldsAndy's Choice: Primetime AdventuresNods (not in any order): The Shadow of Yesterday, Infinite Legends, LACUNA PART I, Battleaxe, Roma Imperious, Cat: Little Game About Little Heroes, Pie Shop, Dog Town: Core Rules, Dead InsideIndie Game of the Year: PolarisRunners-up (in order): Truth & Justice, The Mountain Witch, Breaking the Ice, With Great Power..., Artesia, Coyote Trail, Bacchanal, Cold SpaceIndie Supplement of the Year: Burning Sands: JihadRunners-up (in order): JAGS Wonderland, Conspiracy of Shadows Companion, The Fringe, Dial S for SuperhumansBest Free Game: Perfect20Runners-up (in order): Burning Sands: Jihad, JAGS Wonderland, Bacchanal, Dial S for Superhumans, Basic VBest Production: ArtesiaRunners-up (in order): The Mountain Witch, PolarisBest Support: Truth & JusticeRunners-up (in order): With Great Power..., Cold Space, Breaking the Ice, Polaris, Burning Sands: Jihad, The Mountain WitchMost Innovative Game: PolarisRunners-up (in order): Breaking the Ice, The Mountain Witch, Bacchanal, With Great Power..., Truth & JusticeIndie Game of the Year: Spirit of the CenturyRunners-up (in order): Burning Empires, The Zorcerer of Zo, Lacuna Part 1 (second attempt), Don't Rest Your Head, A Thousand and One Nights, Shock: Social Science Fiction, Faery's Tale & The Shab-al-Hiri Roach & In Harm's Way: A Napoleonic Naval Roleplaying Game (tie)Indie Supplement of the Year: Dictionary of MuRunners-up (in order): Push Volume 1, Steampunk MushaBest Free Game: JAGS RevisedRunners-up (in order): EABAlite, Mexican Standoff, Unistat, Simple20, Beat the Clock, Inntil vi synker, Chimaera, Kazekami Kyoko Kills Kublai KhanBest Production: Burning EmpiresRunners-up (in order): Spirit of the Century, Dictionary of MuBest Support: Burning EmpiresRunners-up (in order): Spirit of the Century, The Zorcerer of Zo, JAGS RevisedMost Innovative Game: Lacuna Part 1, second attemptRunners-up (in order): Don't Rest Your Head, A Thousand and One Nights, Shock: Social Science Fiction, AgonIndie Game of the Year: Grey RanksRunners-up (in order): Reign, Steal Away Jordan, Beast Hunters and Bliss Stage, Forward... To Adventure!, Classroom Deathmatch, Dirty Secrets and The Princess Game, The Committee for the Exploration of MysteriesIndie Supplement of the Year: The Blossoms are FallingRunners-up (in order): Cold City Companion, Engines of War, Ave Molech, Elemental GemstonesBest Free Game: Classroom DeathmatchMicrocosm, Labyrinth Lord, The DeadBest Production: ReignThe Blossoms are Falling, Alpha Omega, Cold City Companion, Grey RanksBest Support: The Blossoms are FallingReign, Cold City Companion, Grey Ranks, Fae Noir, Labyrinth LordMost Innovative Game: Grey RanksSteal Away Jordan, Dirty Secrets, Bliss Stage, The Princess Game, Beast HuntersIndie Game of the Year: Mouse GuardRunners-up (in order): 3:16 Carnage Among the Stars, Hot War, Starblazer Adventures, Sweet Agatha and Zombie Cinema, In a Wicked Age: sword & sorcery roleplaying, Barbarians of Lemuria, Desolation and Houses of the Blooded, A Flower for Mara, A Dirty World, Duty & Honour and Story Cards, It's Complicated and Sea Dracula and Serial Homicide UnitIndie Supplement of the Year: Don't Lose Your MindRunners-up (in order): Magic Burner, Obsidian Portal, Archipelago, Forbidden Tiger ManualBest Free Game: Sea Dracula and Sufficiently Advanced (tie)Runners-up (in order): Mutant Future, Gates & Gorgons and Shell ShockBest Production: Mouse GuardRunners-up (in order): 3:16 Carnage Among the Stars, Hot War, Hellas: Worlds of Sun and Stone, Starblazer Adventures, Desolation, Houses of the Blooded and Sweet Agatha, Alpha Omega and Serial Homicide UnitBest Support: Mouse GuardRunners-up (in order): Don't Lose Your Mind, 3:16 Carnage Among the Stars, Houses of the Blooded, Starblazer Adventures, Desolation, Somers, Mutant Future, Arsenal of Heaven and Duty & Honour and In a Wicked Age: sword & sorcery roleplaying and Magic Burner, Hot War (role-playing game)Most Innovative Game: Sweet AgathaRunners-up (in order): In a Wicked Age: sword & sorcery roleplaying, 3:16 Carnage Among the Stars and Zombie Cinema, A Flower for Mara and Sea Dracula, Serial Homicide Unit, It's Complicated, Barbarians of Lemuria, A Dirty World and Duty & Honour, Hot War, Poison'd and The Cog Wars: Zero EditionIndie Game of the Year: KagematsuFiasco, Beat to Quarters and Little Fears Nightmare Edition, Diaspora, Swashbucklers of the 7 Skies and Montsegur 1244, On Her Majesty's Arcane Service and A Penny for My Thoughts and 44: A Game of Automatic Fear, Chronica Feudalis: A Game of Imagined Adventure in Medieval Europe, Ganakagok, Escape from Tentacle City, Hellcats and Hockeysticks: A Role-Playing Game of chaos, anarchy, and decidedly unladylike behavior and S/Lay w/Me, Lady Blackbird: Adventures in the Wild Blue Yonder, Shotgun Diaries: A Zombie Survival Roleplaying Game and Time & Temp, Atomic Highway - Post Apocalyptic Roleplaying and Slasher Flick, Norwegian Style and The Drifter's Escape and Umläut: Game of Metal
Indie Supplement of the Year: The Day after RagnarokThou Art But A Warrior: A Polaris Supplement, RPG = Role Playing Girl 2009, Tour de Lovecraft: The Tales, Bloodstained Stars, The World of Near
Best Free Game: Lady Blackbird: Adventures in the Wild Blue Yonder44: A Game of Automatic Fear, Last Train Out of Warsaw
Best Production: Lady Blackbird: Adventures in the Wild Blue YonderFiasco, Atomic Highway - Post Apocalyptic Roleplaying, A Penny for My Thoughts and Diaspora, Umläut: Game of Metal, The Drifter's Escape, 44: A Game of Automatic Fear, Ribbon Drive and Witch Girls Adventures and The Day After Ragnarok, Montsegur 1244, Kagematsu, Bloodstained Stars, Freedberg and The Dance and the Dawn and Chronica Feudalis: A Game of Imagined Adventure in Medieval Europe
Best Support: FiascoBeat to Quarters, Atomic Highway - Post Apocalyptic Roleplaying, Lady Blackbird: Adventures in the Wild Blue Yonder, Diaspora, Action Castle, The Day After Ragnarok, Time & Temp, Tour de Lovecraft: The Tales and On Her Majesty's Arcane Service
Most Innovative Game: A Penny for My ThoughtsRibbon Drive, Kagematsu and Fiasco and Ganakagok, S/Lay w/Me, Action Castle, Montsegur 1244, Misery Bubblegum and Little Fears Nightmare Edition, Hellcats and Hockeysticks: A Role-Playing Game of chaos, anarchy, and decidedly unladylike behavior and Lady Blackbird: Adventures in the Wild Blue Yonder, On Her Majesty's Arcane Service
Indie Game of the Year: Apocalypse WorldIndie Supplement of the Year: Hot War TransmissionBest Free Game: Stars Without NumberBest Production: FreemarketBest Support: Apocalypse WorldMost Innovative Game: Apocalypse WorldIndie Game of the Year: Do: Pilgrims of the Flying TempleIndie Supplement of the Year: Fiasco CompanionBest Free Game: Anima PrimeBest Production: Do: Pilgrims of the Flying TempleBest Support: Fiasco CompanionMost Innovative Game: Do: Pilgrims of the Flying TempleIndie Game of the Year: The Clay That WokeIndie Supplement of the Year: Deep Carbon ObservatoryBest Production: A Red and Pleasant LandBest Support: Deep Carbon ObservatoryMost Innovative Game: The Clay That Woke