William Beeson

Online Nickname: Sky King

Introduction 

Salutations, I’m Will also known in some circles as the Sky King!

With over 20 years of experience in tabletop RPGs (or “titterpigs,” as the kids say), I’ve run countless systems, dissected even more, and developed a keen eye for how mechanics evoke a game’s intended tone and atmosphere.

Beyond just running and playing, I’ve actively participated in the indie RPG space, including an itch.io game jam, which gave me firsthand insight into the creative challenges and innovations driving the industry. Whether it’s a polished flagship title or a scrappy passion project, I approach every game with curiosity and respect. Judging the ENNIES would be an honor and a chance to celebrate the incredible work shaping our hobby.

Why do you play/run RPGs?

The love of the game! Which game? All of them. I’ve had so many years of fun with friends around a table, building a narrative and letting math rocks indicate the twists and turns in the story. Everything from saving the world from looming intergalactic deities to sneaking into government archives to falsely accuse a desk worker of belt-theft.

Combined creativity and shared storytelling is a quasi-magical experience where a room full of people with very unique perspectives can explore the topography of one another’s ideas and find something truly memorable.

The ENNIES requires a major commitment of time and energy. What resources do you have that will help you discharge these responsibilities? Will your gaming group or other individuals be assisting you? Does your family support you?

Not only do a have a vast circle of friends who appreciate my borderline unhealthy obsession with TTRPGS, I’m also an officer in the local branch of the Adventurer’s Guild so I have no shortage of people willing to discuss systems and test insights. As if that wasn’t enough helping hands, I also can count on the love and support of my partner who, despite my self-doubts, insisted that I apply to be a judge.

Between my extensive coffee supply (whole bean, of course) and reliable time management skills I’m positive I can approach the ENNIES with the attention and energy it deserves.

Judging requires a great deal of critical thinking skills, communication with other judges, deadline management, organization, and storage space for the product received. What interests, experience, and skills do you bring that will make you a more effective judge?

I thrive on dissecting complex systems so much so that I mastered US tax law and became an Enrolled Agent in just nine months. This same focus applies to RPGs; as the host of my local Adventurer’s Guild’s Systems & Scrolls club, I facilitate monthly deep dives into different game systems, balancing critique with collaborative discussion.

I’m also a stickler for deadlines and have ample space for physical products including a recently renovated hobby room. Most importantly, I approach evaluation with both enthusiasm and fairness, ensuring every entry gets the attention it deserves.

What styles and genres of RPGs do you enjoy most? Are there any styles or genres that you do not enjoy? Which games best exemplify what you like? Do you consider yourself a fan of a particular system, publisher, or genre?

I’m fond of games where the focus is on the story of the player characters. Delta Green, Heart: The City Beneath and Brindlewood Bay are all examples where the storytelling and mechanics are seamlessly woven together. Tactical grid-based combat will always have a place in my heart, but lately I’m drawn to more narrative games.

My eternal soft spot will always lie with Superhero games, I make it a point to devour every one I come across. And while they haven’t published a superhero game (yet), Rowan Rook and Dekard is one of my favorite publishers.

List (up to 5) games you’ve played in the last 2 years. What drew you to playing them? Which did you like best and why?

As a forever GM, my opportunities to play have been limited, but in the last two years I’ve participated in:
Pathfinder 2e (one-shots) – A chance to experience its tight tactical combat from the player side.
Daggerheart (one-shot) – My group was excited to test-drive this hot new release.
What drew me to these games? The same thing that always does: collaborative storytelling and shared worldbuilding with friends.
Of these, Daggerheart stood out most. I loved its degrees-of-success system, which fuels the GM’s ‘Fear’ resource to escalate tension, and its abstract combat kept the action fluid and fast-paced. It’s a brilliant middle ground between narrative freedom and structured play.

Have you been a game master in the past 2 years? If yes, what games have you run? What made you decide to run those games?

I’m a proud Forever GM, and the past two years have been a whirlwind of one-shots and short campaigns to explore the breadth of my shelf. Here’s what I’ve run and why:
Dragonbane (Free League): Mirth & Mayhem personified. A trad RPG that cuts all the bloat (encumbrance rules and endless spell lists) for pure adventure.

Delta Green (Arc Dream): The antithesis of mirth, but a masterclass in tension. A tightrope walk between competent professionalism and cosmic horror with the Bonds system making the agent’s personal downfall as engaging as the investigations.

Sentinels Comics RPG (Greater than Games): This game is the closest to capturing the panel-to-panel engagements of comicbooks. Its also one of the only games where the street-level heroes and cosmic guardians can share the spotlight without concern over power-scaling.

LANCER (Massif Press): Tactical. Mech. Combat. Need I say more? The depth of mech customization and Tom Bloom’s stunning art kept my players (and myself) hooked for “just one more session.”

Jim Henson’s Labyrinth the Adventure Game: Accessible, whimsical and dripping with Henson charm. This game is perfect for new players and GMs alike in that beyond the roll of a humble d6, everything else is handled by the imagination.

Summarize the criteria you would use to determine if a game deserves to be nominated for Best Game.

For me, a game deserves Best Game nomination if it nails two key things: engagement and tone. Every RPG tries to evoke a specific atmosphere whether that’s cosmic horror, swashbuckling adventure, or something stranger and the best games bake that tone right into their mechanics. Everything from the art to the dice mechanics should be in service to pulling the players into the right headspace. The game needs to elicit challenges/goals and provide interesting tools to overcome them. When I put the book down I want to be itching to call up some friends and grab some dice.

How will you judge supplements or adventures for game systems whose core rules you are unfamiliar with or you believe are badly designed?

I’ll evaluate them based on the strength of their content. The uniqueness of new character/enemy options or the depth of an adventure is not solely reliant on the system it is intended for. They should be viewed as additions to a genre instead of in service to a specific system. Great adventures are composed of compelling scenarios, memorable NPCs, and gripping hooks. Supplements should be filled with new options/enemies/items that are enthralling even to someone who is unfamiliar with the system.

How would you like to see the ENNIEs change? What should remain inviolate?

This may be a bland answer, but I see no reason to change a thing. I love seeing big name publishers and indie darlings all having a chance to win the recognition they deserve.