From among 46 Proposals, we received 37 Prototypes. Some 30 Zenobia volunteer Judges divided these Prototype games among eight Panels to evaluate them for historical richness and fidelity (40% of score), originality of topic and mechanics (20%), and game system elegance and play experience (40%).
The Board and Chief Judges then met to select the eight Zenobia Finalists below—our top-rated games either by scores as received or modified to balance average Panel scores. Two additional games that stood out for either Historicity or Gameplay receive honorable mention here.
Finalists had the opportunity to revise prototypes by 15 September for evaluation and selection of three winners 15 October.
“A variety of unique historical women, institutions, and events … from actual historical documentation. Money, education, reputation, diversity, politics, and battle … modeling the balance of resources needed to drive this kind of change, [why] education is important and what roles women went on to play.” – The Judges
The map is clearly well researched and the cards include a rich sample of historical personages and groups. Card [effects] are logically tied to the personages, and [the mechanics] plausibly duplicate history with organic … rules.This is a topic whose effects are still reverberating today and is vastly under-served by the historical gaming community.” – The Judges
“This is a very different subject and expands the coverage of LGBTQIA history in a novel direction. It’s a successful model for the activity and history. There is a rich amount of work that is obvious in the card details and map. We learned something about the subculture playing.” – The Judges
“Great research [and] historical depth ….Very impressed with the direct link to the [designer], it … personalizes the event. It is a game that leaves you wanting to learn from your mistakes and choose a different path if a future game offers the same situation.” – The Judges
“The game is very well researched and cited and this research can be seen in all aspects of it.The spaces are historically relevant but also clearly tied to effects in game, and the placing of workers feels like a logical abstraction of available time. The representation of the lady as a deck of cards [is] also an intuitive model.” – The Judges
“Victory conditions and the asymmetry definitely tackle the [history] of caste as well as trade, military relations, colonialism.The caste focus elevates [it] in novelty relative to other designs on Indian social/colonial history. The Jati chart and the way the subsystems tie together as well as the ‘5th player’ British action are all quite novel.” – The Judges
“The perspective is very fresh. … [Games] about Machu Picchu … typically deal with the ‘Lost City’ [and] Spaniards. [Players] can ride on the coattails of other scientists, or boldly strike their own path forward … collaborate with others or bury them …. It really did feel like the experience that some of us had … in the academic world.” – The Judges
The history comes from the telling of a story using symbols, and the uncertainty of the Winter Rabbit (… an effect that all control). A powerful centuries-old narrative develops; the resulting story is a rather special gift from the Cherokee culture … a fable as tribal history [that] makes for a most interesting game.” – The Judges
Honorable Mentions
“The game aims to teach players about the establishment of the Singapore fishing industry and the impact of over-fishing. As the game progresses, your options open up through new buildings, Association advancement. Shallow water, deep water [and] potential damage from floods, over-fishing, and political changes add fun tweaks.” – The Judges
Incredible detail in the units, the order of battle, and the nature of warfare in the time. The use of primary and secondary sources is outstanding. This clearly models the dynamics of the French Intervention, [the] logistics [and] irregular conflict in the period. The use of blocks [evokes] the fog of war [and] incentives … are historically aligned.” – The Judges
