Its been a long time since we've had a thread talking about those people who have made this game the great game and community that it is.

So I thought I'd start a thread bringing to light the ten people who I think make up the GoT Hall of Fame. My criteria for putting someone in the hall is primarily based on their overall influence upon the game and community. If you feel like contributing to the thread or debating on who should or should not be on the list please explain the criteria you are using.

So, on to my top 10, in NO particular order:

1) Tzumainn Chen

Mainn created the #1 website for the game, probably considered by most a website more important than FFG's site itself. Mainn is also the 2008 Overall World Champion and an incredibly nice guy as well. I remember meeting him for the first time at Gencon 2004, and I will never forget how modest he was.

2) Eric Lang

Original co-designer of the game, Eric served as lead designer for several years, and even after that still worked in support roles. Without Eric the game we all know and love would have never existed as is.

3) Christian Peterson

With Eric, helped co-develop the invention of the game. CP is the CEO of FFG, so over the years he has had to make decisions that have dictated the direction of the game. Probably most well known through the community as the driver to the LCG era. While many disagreed with rotation issues related to it, he made a decision to try and keep the game profitable (to FFG) and thus alive to its players.

4) Luke Reed (Maester_LUke)

Beginning as a player and continuing into his hired role at FFG as Community Support Associate, Luke became near Varys-like by his interwoven nature with the community. The social “togetherness” of the GoT community saw unprecedented heights with Luke crisscrossing across the country, becoming the bridge between playgroups hours away from each other. He was the cog in the social wheel, and in my opinion the organized play program was at its best with him in the middle of that wheel.

5) Kevin Tomczyk (ktom)

For many years now, ktom has held the unofficial title of rules guru, spending hours upon hours answering the many rules questions asked by the community. He has served as official TO at Gencon for many years, sacrificing his own ability to play in order to run the events. He helped plan Chicon for 3 straight years, the best player organized tournament in the states. Kevin has also worked behind the scenes, often being asked to provide his thoughts on maintaining the balance and integrity of the game.

6) Nate French

Our current lead developer who has now held that position for almost three years, and been working for FFG for 3 ½. Nate has had the most influence on the current direction of the game play itself, including the implementation of many new mechanics and card designs. Many of the current layers of tactics and depths of strategies involved in playing the game are due to Nate’s innovations. Prior to working at FFG, Nate placed second at the very first World Champions, won numerous regional championships, and helped organize several online groups to help prepare and sharpen others for their own involvement in high level competition.

7) Casey Galvan

Casey was the first ever GoT World Champion (2004) and a year later was hired by FFG as the lead developer of the game, which he held for over a year.

8) John Bruno (Mathlete)

John is probably one of the most respected and highly thought of players in the community. Though currently focusing on other ventures in life, John has won a World Championship (2005), placed second in another (2007), won more regionals than I can count, helped organize many regionals and larger scale events in California, and was largely responsible for a thriving meta in his area for a long time.

9) Mark Melnick

What’s the difference between famous and infamous? There has probably been nobody more polarizing to the community than Mr. Melnick. While I wouldn’t say all his contributions are positive, there is probably no name that evoked as much emotional response as his did for a three year period of 2004-2006. The term “smoke break” has a different meaning to anyone who was around at Gencon or around on the boards in 2004.

10) George R. R. Martin

I don’t know if he has actually ever played the game, but without the Song of Ice and Fire Books, there is no game. There is no Tyrion, Jon Snow, Eddard Stark or Littlefinger for us to stare at across the table. For many of us, it is the story that brought us to the card game, and it is his books that brought us the story.

Very interesting post, thanks for taking the time.

And a "Melnick88" just posted on the NYC meta's site, pretty much openly questioning our collective ability to play. That seems to fit the description you gave.

Wow! I love this thread. All of these people belong on this list.

I just wanted to add some personal experiences that involve a few of these individuals:

Tzumainn: I've had a lot of time on my hands the past couple of weeks at work, and without the latest cards on Tzumainn's site, it's dificult to build decks with my down time. In an effort to entertain myself, I decided to start reading up on web design and what exactly it would take to make an LCG site similar to Tzumainn's (Yes, I'm that desperate). Needless to say, my pea-sized brain is much to small to learm such a task quickly enough. However, I now understand how much of his own personal time he dedicated to building a tool we all use.

ktom: Funny story. So my friend used to think ktom was a know-it-all that made up his own rules on the boards. After meeting ktom at western regionals a while back, I was pleased to inform my friend all about the real ktom. At least from my perspective, I saw a guy who really truely loved helping people out. He helped everyone because he could. Honestly, how could anyone put up with all of our questions over and over again if they didn't really enjoy helping others? A humble and helpfull man, that ktom.

mathlete: I wouldn't know any of you if it wasn't for this man, and I don't think there's a better person to learn how to play AGot with. I've never had somebody kick my butt so many times, all the while making me feel like he wanted nothing more than to see me win. There are a lot of people like him in the community, but he's got the biggest heart of all.

I think i wold only inlcude players on the list - I wouldn't include Eric Lang, Christian peterson or George Martin on the list - unless myabe in a separate category. I think i would add Dobbler to the list as world chapion and constant advocate for the game, and I woudl probably also add OldBen and maybe Ingsve as multiple european chanpions (though i'm not sure how many Europen titles ingsve won - i think it was two.

Stag Lord said:

Yes a list of "players only" would be different. I wouldn't include myself, but players like Madkasel, yourself, or Rings who have been eternal board presences as well as organizers of large scale tournaments and helping to drive your local metas for long periods of time. I'm not entirely interested in who has won what championship, as much as who influenced the game and community in positive ways.

How about Luke who proved that a house everyone thought was utter dust could not only win, but took the joust championships with them.

... Are they still doing the champion cards... haven't heard anything about them yet.

Stag Lord said:

Many thanks! Honestly the first player to be on that list from europe should be Thorondor, while he hasn´t been accumulating wins in bigger tournaments in the past, he´s the one to organize those tournaments and setting up something like a european meta. If everything goes well and the expectations are met the austrian nationals tournament next weekend will become a big event again. I heard that players are also willing to travel there from Italy and the Czech Republic. Well, we´ll see.

~ How about a "Hall of Infamy?"

bloodycelt said:

That would be #4, Mr. Reed. A great guy, and a great player, who doesn't make it to my neck of the woods that much anymore.

ktom said:

OOoo!!! Brilliant! A list that I coule be a member of!

Kennon said:

:-)

I think also George R.R. Martin could make it to that list if he manages to push the release date of the next book further and further in the future again. Just imagine how many fleshed out unique Martell, Targ and Greyjoy charachters we could have with the next book. ;-)

Old Ben said:

There are probably a few of people on Dobbler's "Hall of Fame" list that would also make a "Hall of Infamy" list. Myself and Melnick come to mind....

ktom said:

Well, lets see. Casey was Melnicks opponent in the famous "Smoke break" game.

Christian Peterson and Nate French.have taken their fair share of hate mail, message board flaming, criticism and the like for their decisions over the years. I am a fan of theirs, but I know many others who aren't fond of them.

Melnick and Martin have already been mentioned for the Hall of Infamy.

Yep, thats half of my original list right there.

Let me offer a belated thank you for my inclusion... promote the 3 suggested removals (CTP, GRRM & ELang) to the emeritus list, and substitute Greg/Matt/Sam to fill one spot as the remaining ex-Champs, the Source Crew (akodo, hosejuan, qhorin, etc.) for the 2nd... and hrmm... have to think of a 3rd) Dobbler said:

I'd like to point out that as a student of Littlefinger's Advice, he's totally infamous, but manages to deflect the infamy. I'll just say that I've earned a place on the list, but don't need to appear on it.