I wanted to let my readers know about a recent appearance that Ben Wynniatt-Husey (aka B G P Hughes) and I just made on Episode 39 of the Neverwinter Nights Podcast, to talk about the newly formed Academy for Modding Excellence (or AME). The Academy for Modding Excellence is a volunteer organization dedicated to finding and recognizing the best community built content for Neverwinter Nights 1 & 2, by giving a series of annual awards in a variety of categories. As AME Chairman and Vice-Chairman (respectively), and we discussed a variety of topics, such as the formation and goals of the Academy and plans for the Academy’s awards and categories. We also had an interesting “off-line” discussion following the interview about some general topics related to NWN modding in general.

I’m very pleased to take this opportunity to tell you about a new project for the Neverwinter Nights community that I’ve become involved with over the last six months: The Academy for Modding Excellence.

The Academy for Modding Excellence (or AME) is a voluntary organization dedicated to finding and recognizing the best community built content for the Neverwinter Nights and Neverwinter Nights 2 Computer Role-Playing Games. It was conceived to provide a kind of “Academy Awards” for module and custom content development, and will give annual awards — called the “Golden Dragon” — in a variety of different categories. Members of the Academy are selected for their knowledge and seriousness about NWN “modding,” whether as module builders, custom content designers, reviewers, or experienced players. I was very privileged to have been asked to join this effort early on, and to have been involved in helping to turn this idea into reality. (You can see my AME member biography here.)

I’m very excited about this new effort, and I hope that you will be too. Keep an eye out on the Neverwinter Nights Vault in the near future for announcements regarding our first award activities!