2014 Winter Awards: Voting Thread

[AceTrainer14]

Hello again, and welcome to the big reveal of the nom nom nominations!!!

Though not as huge as last time, we still have around fifty nominations in all the categories this year, which is fantastic and amazing and all those sorts of words. It is great to see so many people get involved and so many piece of work and amazing characters get the chance to shine in this biggest of stages for us. While the lack of love for certain categories is disconcerting, these things come and go and I am sure next time there will be more stories to fill the gaps.

As with last time, any category with four or more stories (this time that is just Journey and Alternate) requires THREE votes to move on to the Judging Round. Dark and the character categories only require two. As there are only two stories nominated in these categories, Expansion and Non-Pokémon automatically move on.

When a story has received the necessary votes, it will be bolded to show it has moved on and does not need any more votes. If the story/character receives further votes, I will put +number next to the title. For example, if RandomKantoJourney has 5 votes, I will put a +2 sign next to it. This can be a note to anyone who may wish to change one of their votes and help another story move on, but have the knowledge that their original choice can still move on without their support. Just make sure you double check in case three people change their votes, then RandomKantoJourney ends up with just two and doesn’t move on after all.

Without further ado, here are the nominees!

Journey
Through Sapphire Skies: A New Journey by @LightningTopaz
The Long Walk/ +1 by @Beth Pavell
Unpredictable by @AetherX
Wonders of Unova by @FullMoon
Love and Other Nightmares by @diamondpearl876
But Thou Must! by @VTP-Dawkins93
Vaira: The Legacy of Cyrus by @Rediamond
How to Conquer Kanto in Eight Easy Steps +1 by @AceTrainer14

Dark
Survival Project by diamondpearl876
Galactic (+1) by AceTrainer14
Poison Touch v2.0 by @Life

Expansion
Dawn of Darkness by AceTrainer14
Deep Space by @yugoslavia

Non-Pokémon
Origin: The Rising by @Barfing Ogres
{some of its hearts} by @kintsugi

Alternate
Vivillon Writes Poems by @Vivillon
Andrea's Scattered Words, by @lovandra
Storm Island by @Caitlin and @Andrea Prescott
Pokemon Academy Year II: Second Year Rhapsody by @Flaze
Odds and Evens by Life
Poetry of Life by Life
Communication by @Sike Saner
Hard Reset by Rediamond
Epic Adventure of Unspoken Destiny by @Vubberth

Protagonist
Joshua Cook from The Long Walk +1
Evelina Joy from The Long Walk +1
Scar from {some of its hearts}
Andrea Dennison from Storm Island
Sai from Survival Project
The Narrator from Hard Reset
Keith Anders from Unpredictable
Viktor Fischer from Dawn of Darkness
Cynthia Carter from Dawn of Darkness
Mike from Epic Adventure of Unspoken Destiny
Azura from Fire Emblem: Dawn of Darkness by @Kelleo
Kelli from The Legend of Zelda: The Ancient Power by Kelleo

Antagonist
Kevin Samuels from Pokemon Academy Year II: Second Year
Shigo from Fire Emblem: Dawn of Darkness
Dark Kelli from The Legend of Zelda: The Ancient Power
Gideon from How to Conquer Kanto in Eight Easy Steps
Arnold Adiem from Dawn of Darkness
Reese Walker from Unpredictable

Supporting
Evyrus from Vaira: The Legacy of Cyrus by Rediamond
Miko from Pokemon Academy Year II: Second Year Rhapsody +1
Senori from Survival Project
Kuiora from Survival Project
Bryan from Fire Emblem: Dawn of Darkness
The Director from Hard Reset
Criss from Unpredictable
Charlotte from Dawn of Darkness
Sandy Samson from How to Conquer Kanto in Eight Easy Steps +1
Amando from Epic Adventure of Unspoken Destiny

Pokémon
Screwball from The Long Walk
Kephi from Love and Other Nightmares (+1)
Paige the Pidgeotto from How to Conquer Kanto in Eight Easy Steps +1
Spiritomb from Galactic
Solonn the Snorunt from Communication
Kyurem from Love and Other Nightmares
Crime Fighter Chinchou from Epic Adventure of Unspoken Destiny
Square from Poison Touch
Geoffry from A New Life - For Better or Worse by @The Roach

You may vote for two stories/characters per category. If you wish to change your votes after your original post, please mention me in a NEW post and in your original in some way make a note of what you’re new or altered votes are.

As always, you cannot vote for yourself and please do not ask others to vote for you - if someone does ask you to vote for them, than alert me or another moderator. You can promote the fact your nominees within your story threads so your readers are aware and can help you out, but no direct asking and no whining if you aren't getting votes - it ruins the fun for everyone else and does not paint you in the best picture. Just enjoy the ride and see what happens

Also with this round, it is the time when we nominate the users who can win awards in our three User Voted Categories! You may nominate two users per category (so six in total) and all names will be listed here, but please be aware you are NOT VOTING yet – if a name appears here that means they have already nominated, so you nominating them as well does not do anything. Save your support for a week’s time when you do need to vote on them, but for now we are SIMPLY NOMINATING
Best Reviewer: Beth Pavell, Rediamond, Flaze, AetherX
Best Newcomer: Airt, VTP-Dawkins93, diamondpearl876, Sike Saner, FullMoon
Best Contributor to the Written Word: LightningTopaz, AceTrainer14, Rediamond, Beth Pavell, Andrea Prescott

(The users you nominate should have posted their first story/reviewed a piece of your work/posted something intelligent in the Written Word sometime since June 8th. Explanations of this categories may be found in the Hall of Fame)

You have a week to get your votes in/nominate your users, so this thread will close on the 16th. So get reading, got voting, and let’s see how many we can move on! Note that you may still update your stories, but any chapters posted once this thread closes will not count.
And if you want to judge, we could use a few more back ups, so let me know!
(And if I have missed something please let me know)

 

[Persephone]

FIRST (v3)

Best Journey:
Love and Other Nightmares
How to Conquer Kanto in Eight Easy Steps

Best Dark:
Have not read any of them. Horror fans can fill these out.

Best Alternate:
Storm Island
Pokemon Academy: Second Year Rhapsody

Best Protagonist:
Viktor Fischer
Cynthia Carter

Best Antagonist:
Reese Walker
Arnold Adiem

Best Supporting Character:
Sandy Samson
Charlotte

Best Pokemon:
Kyurem
Kephi

Best Newcomer:
Airt

Best Reviewer:
Beth Pavell

Best Written Word Contributor:
LightningTopaz

Spoiler

Version History:
v2 changes:

Drop The Long Walk nomination, replace with How to Conquer Kanto in Eight Easy Steps
Add Pokemon Academy Year Two: Second Year Rhapsody nomination
Drop Evelina Joy nomination, replace with Viktor Fischer
Drop Gideon nomination, replace with Reese Walker
Add Arnold Adiem nomination
Drop Screwball nomination, replace with Kyurem

v3 changes:
Drop Criss nomination, replace with Sandy Samson nomination.

 

[Beth Pavell]

Okay, here's most of mine. I still have a second vote to cast on Best Pokémon, but I'll post that seperately

Best Journey
Unpredictable
But Thou Must!

Best Dark
Survival Project
Galactic

Best Alternate
Odds and Evens
Communication

Best Protagonist
Andrea Dennison
Cynthia Carter

Best Antagonist
Kevin Samuels
Gideon

Best Supporting
Evyrus
Miko

Best Pokémon
Solonn the Snorunt

Best Reviewer
Rediamond

Best Newcomer
VTP-Dawkins93

Best Contributor
Lightning Topaz

 

[AceTrainer14]

It is very disappointing to see that there has been such little voting: usually the first two days are the busiest times when everyone rushes in to vote. These awards have been rather surprising so far, but this is not a very positive surprise. I urge everything who nominated something to at least vote, and if you didn't nominate anything or anyone else's work, then get reading and get voting!

 

[Kelleo]

@AceTrainer14; Well, I've a feeling that the holiday season has factored in. People are pretty busy this time of year. Some people travel, many people go shopping and decorate, etc. It's also a time where people do finals for college or high school or whatever. There just isn't a lot of time to read at this time of year.

 

[GoneGuy]

Ok, seo linn!!



Best Journey:
How to Conquer Kanto in Eight Easy Steps
The Long Walk

Best Dark:
Galactic

Best Alternate:
Vivillion Writes Poems
Pokémon Academy Year II: Second Year Rhapsody


Best Protagonist:
Evelina Joy
Scar

Best Antagonist:
Gideon
Kevin Samuels

Best Supporting Character:
Miko
Charlotte

Best Pokemon:
Screwball
Paige

Best Reviewer:
Beth Pavell

Best Written Word Contributor:
LightningTopaz

 

[Barfing Ogres]

My finals are done, which means I spent most of the last 12 hours reading most of these!

Best Journey Fic:
The Long Walk
Unpredictable

Best Dark Fic:
Poison Touch V2.0

Best Alternate:
Pokemon Academy Year II: Second Year Rhapsody
Vivillon Writes Poems

Protagonist:
Evelina Joy changed to Joshua Cook
Kelli

Antagonist:
Kevin Samuels changed to Arnold Adiem
Reese Walker

Supporting:
Evyrus
Miko changed to Criss

Pokemon:
Screwball changed to Kephi
Square

Best Reviewer:
Flaze

Best Newcomer:
Bugger if I know, I'm still a fairground scrub...

Best Written Word Contributor:
AceTrainer14

 

[Vivillon]

I am baffled. 2 votes so far??? Love you guys.
*ahem* Time to vote.

Best Journey
The Long Walk
But Thou Must!

Best Dark
Galactic

Best Alternate
Storm Island
Hard Reset

Best Protagonist
Evelina Joy
Scar

Best Supporting
The Director

Best Pokemon
Screwball

 

[Persephone]

Now that everyone is voting... for the same fics... I'm going to switch some of my nominations around to add the possibility of more things moving on. Also added a second Alernate and antagonist nomination because I settled on them. You're welcome.

@AceTrainer14

A summary of what I did:

Drop The Long Walk nomination, replace with How to Conquer Kanto in Eight Easy Steps
Add Pokemon Academy Year Two: Second Year Rhapsody nomination
Drop Evelina Joy nomination, replace with Viktor Fischer
Drop Gideon nomination, replace with Reese Walker
Drop Screwball nomination, replace with Kyurem
Add Arnold Adiem Nomination

Might have to do another of these if people keep piling onto the same fics/characters. It's OK to spread the love once something reaches two or three votes (depending on the category).

 

[AceTrainer14]

@AceTrainer14; Well, I've a feeling that the holiday season has factored in. People are pretty busy this time of year. Some people travel, many people go shopping and decorate, etc. It's also a time where people do finals for college or high school or whatever. There just isn't a lot of time to read at this time of year.

That's not really a great excuse since the last awards were six months ago, meaning that people have had six months to read stories being posted. It is not as though these stories all just popped up over night and you only have a chance to read them now.

And thank you for those that have voted now, nice to see things picking up a bit. And thanks @Rediamond for spreading the love around. Have updated the top post to reflect the changes: we now have four characters with an extra vote each, so if you want to swap and vote someone else on feel free to

And remember, we are NOT voting on the User Voted categories yet: if someone else has already nominated someone, nominating that same person does nothing but waste your vote.

 

[Flaze]

All right i's finaly time to give my own votes! I might edit later depending on how things move around.

Best Journey

Unpredictable by @AetherX;
Vaira: The Legacy of Cyrus by @Rediamond;

Best Dark

Survival Project by @diamondpearl876;
Poison Touch V0.2 by @Life;

Best Alternate (you kind of wonder why I vote for my opposition)

Communication by @Sike Saner;
Storm Island by @Caitlin; and @Andrea Prescott;

Best Protagonist

Andrea from Storm Island
Keith Anders from Unpredictable

Best Supporting

Criss from Unpredictable
Senori from Survival Project

Best Pokemon Character

Kephi from Love and Other Nightmares
Solonn from Communication

Best Reviewer
@Beth Pavell;

Best Newcomer
@diamondpearl876;

Best Contributor
@Rediamond;

 

[Barfing Ogres]

I'll be changing around some nominations as well since there is some excess.

Protagonist:
Change from Evelina Joy to Joshua Cook

Antagonist:
Change from Kevin Samuels to Arnold Adiem

Supporting:
Change from Miko to Criss

Pokemon:
Change from Screwball to Kephi

 

[AceTrainer14]

List has been updated. Only two characters now with bonus votes, so feel free to swap them around All Dark stories have moved on as well, so thanks for voting there! We could do with getting a few more Journey and Alternate fics over the line, so keep voting there!

 

[Life]

Due to how voting went, I only had to read 19 chapters (thankfully reading those other 68 chapters never happened xD) in total before I could make some gutsy choices, but more or less, I believe I have my votes figured out.

Journey:
Vaira: The Legacy of Cyrus
How to Conquer Kanto in Eight Easy Steps

Alternate:
Communication
Hard Reset

Protagonist:
Joshua Cook
Kelli

Antagonist:
Shigo
Dark Kelli

Supporting:
Senori
Sandy Samson

Pokémon:
Paige the Pidgeotto
Geoffry

Best Reviewer:
AetherX

Best Newbies:
Sike Saner & FullMoon

Best Contributors:
Beth Pavell & Andrea Prescott

 

[Persephone]

@AceTrainer14

Third time is the charm and stuff.

Moving my Criss nomination to Sandy Samson.

 

[FullMoon]

Best Newbies:
Sike Saner & FullMoon

Me for best newbie? Well, thank you!

As for myself... The only story I've read here is The Long Walk, and voting for it right now would be kind of redundant =P

 

[AceTrainer14]

You have about 30 hours left to submit your votes - it would be nice to see if we can get some more stories and characters into the judging round.

If your story or character has already moved on, now would be the time to start contemplating what chapters you will submit as a recommended reading. Also, you have until this thread closes to update your stories: chapters submitted afterwards will not be considered in judging.

 

[kintsugi]

I'm a bit late to the party, so I ended up withholding/shuffling my votes to reflect the fact that a lot of stories already moved on. So much new reading to do ^^

Journey
But Thou Must! leaving this note to self here to review VTP lol
Vaira: The Legacy of Cyrus and basically everything else that I've stalk-read but not reviewed[/s]

Alternate
actually nope I haven't read any of the ones in this category; I'll try to catch up for next season

Protagonist
Sai from Survival Project (I'm not sure if it's cheating if I'm also counting my reflections of him from the previous iteration; if so, I haven't read more than one chapter of the most recent re-write of this fic and can't really speak) Actually, jokes, I stand by this nomination whole-heartedly regardless of what version

Supporting
Kuiora from Survival Project (ditto from above)

Pokemon
haven't read enough of the remainder to count

all of my nominations for Best Reviewer/Newcomer/Contributor have already been put forward by others as well



Really promising lot this year, guys! I don't think I'm participating in anything, but it'll be a pleasure to watch! ^^

 

[AetherX]

I realize a lot of these have gone through already, but I haven't read as much as I usually do so I guess this lets people change their votes if they want.

Journey
The Long Walk by @Beth Pavell
How to Conquer Kanto in Eight Easy Steps by @AceTrainer14

Alternate
Vivillon Writes Poems by @Vivillon
Hard Reset by Rediamond

Protagonist
Joshua Cook from The Long Walk
Viktor Fischer from Dawn of Darkness

Antagonist
Gideon from How to Conquer Kanto in Eight Easy Steps

Supporting
Miko from Pokemon Academy Year II: Second Year Rhapsody
Sandy Samson from How to Conquer Kanto in Eight Easy Steps

Pokémon
Square from Poison Touch
Geoffry from A New Life - For Better or Worse by @The Roach

 

[AceTrainer14]

I would just like to say to people: please do not vote for something that you have not read simply so it moves on. There is a reason why we have a voting round, because the judges simply cannot read and judge everything that gets voted on. Currently, we have one of the lowest amount of judges we have had for some time, which will make things difficult come tomorrow. I not telling you not to change your votes or vote: if it is a story you really want to get through, then that is great and I am glad people are supporting things. However, please only vote for things you have actually read and feel truly deserve to move on.