Announcement: The Zenobia Award

Announcement: The Staff at NDNG is proud to inform you about a new award that focuses on diversity in gaming.

Click “Continue Reading” for the press release

Underrepresented Designers, Underrepresented Topics History is big. So big that it belongs to everybody. Every individual, no matter their background or identity, connects to history in unique and important ways.

So why do historical board game designers seem to fit into the same mold? You know the type. White, male, straight, usually academic, often a part-time dabbler in spurious facial hair.

We’ve wondered the same thing. Which is why we’re pleased to announce the Zenobia Award, a board game design contest for underrepresented groups.

That could mean you! Whether you’re a woman, a person of color, LGBTQ+, or otherwise underrepresented, the Zenobia Award is all about helping you break into
the tabletop game industry.

That can mean boards, cards, dice, tiles, miniatures— whatever your game requires, if it’s about a historical setting, we want to help your voice be heard.

How will we do that? Good question. The Zenobia Award is more than a fancy name. It’s a mentorship, intended to pair you with industry veterans who will help
develop your game into its best form. It’s an entry point, with partner publishers standing by to discover the most interesting titles and help bring them to print.

And it’s a contest, complete with a cash prize, public celebration, and genuine wooden trophy analog—that’s right a plaque!

Is there a hitch? Nope. There’s no cost of entry, no obligation to list your mentor as a co-designer, and you keep the rights to your game—unless you sign a contract
with a publisher, of course. That’s entirely up to you. Being a game designer, you know the importance of the little rules. So take a look at the fine print over at , and welcome to the Zenobia Award.