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The Cauldron Awards 2020
With 950 entries across 58 categories (1,538 before vetting), and 12,220 votes lodged by 147 voters, the 2020 Cauldron Awards showcase Cauldron's favorites of all the myriad fanworks that our fandom created throughout the year — as well as the many people, events, and moments within the Cauldron community that deserve a little honoring.
The 2020 Awards showcases 12 new categories, such as "Favorite Characterization of a Canon Character" and "Favorite Favorite Romantic Relationship in a Fic" and "Favorite Power in a Fic" and many more, thanks to some wonderful suggestions from the Awards channel on Discord. This year also marks an increase in nominees, votes, and overall voter engagement, nearly doubling that of the 2019 Awards!
Thanks to everyone for taking part in the nominations and voting process, and many congratulations to the winners, runners-up, and all the nominees. See you in 2021!
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Fanfiction
38 categories | 658 entries | 7882 votes | 143 voters
Description & Tags
The cream of the crop: the best fics of 2020.Impurity
EarthScorpion & Aleph
with 32 votes (26% of voters)
The Parahumans Fanzine
TheSleepingKnight & nil
with 31 votes (25% of voters)
Felix Fortuna
Chartic (with maroon_sweater & Pericardium & tearlessNevermore)
with 29 votes (23% of voters)
Description & Tags
There's little sadder than a dead fic, and little happier than a revival.Nemesis
BeaconHill
with 36 votes (32% of voters)
Constellations
UnwelcomeStorm
with 33 votes (29% of voters)
Taylor Costa-Brown
Omega_93
with 27 votes (24% of voters)
Description & Tags
Community-driven, semi-interactive stories.ERIC Quest
maroon_sweater & Pericardium
with 23 votes (33% of voters)
Brockton Baby
RecursiveMontage
with 19 votes (27% of voters)
The Cold Shoulder
Melody/Foxtail
Magical Girl Escalation Taylor
Silently Watches
Projection Quest
Bowler Hat Guy
with 15 votes (22% of voters)
Description & Tags
One-off stories, short and sweet.Valleyxandria! The Rebecca California-Brown Story
glowspider
with 30 votes (39% of voters)
I don't sell Regent body pillows because I want God to hesitate before he sends me to Hell
Discreet
with 20 votes (26% of voters)
We Are Brockton [We Are Robin]
TheSleepingKnight
with 15 votes (20% of voters)
Description & Tags
Another year, another thousand fics we'll get around to at some point. What great fics began publication in 2020?The Parahumans Fanzine
TheSleepingKnight & nil
with 33 votes (28% of voters)
Impurity
EarthScorpion & Aleph
with 31 votes (26% of voters)
The Great Escape
ColossalMistake
with 24 votes (20% of voters)
Description & Tags
Not many fics make it to the finish line. But of those that did in 2020, what's your favorite?The Parahumans Fanzine
TheSleepingKnight & nil
with 36 votes (32% of voters)
Impurity
EarthScorpion & Aleph
with 34 votes (31% of voters)
In Golden Armour
ParticularlyLargeBear
with 33 votes (30% of voters)
Description & Tags
Podcasts, interactive fanfic experiences, comics, animations, poetry, music: any fanworks created in alternate mediums.The Parahumans Fanzine
TheSleepingKnight & nil
with 57 votes (60% of voters)
EMBOAR - A Worm Fanfiction Podcast
EtchJetty
with 32 votes (34% of voters)
"Killers" | Worm Animation
GrahamasaurusRex
with 21 votes (23% of voters)
Description & Tags
Which fics have the best titles? They don't need to be from 2020. Nominate anything.I don't sell Regent body pillows because I want God to hesitate before he sends me to Hell
Discreet
with 62 votes (52% of voters)
My Bullies are Secretly the Endbringers and Not-So-Secretly in Love With Me!?
Pachycephalosauria
Note: this fic has been deleted by its author.
with 32 votes (27% of voters)
Golf Morning
glowspider
with 26 votes (22% of voters)
Description & Tags
Some fics travel far beyond the pale with original concepts. What are the best?It Starts With One
Discreet
with 37 votes (33% of voters)
The Parahumans Fanzine
TheSleepingKnight & nil
with 32 votes (28% of voters)
The Countess
Husr
with 31 votes (27% of voters)
Description & Tags
What fic do you wish had updated in 2020, but didn't? Perhaps 2021 will surprise you!NEW CATEGORY
Diary of a Professional Knockoff
keira
with 27 votes (28% of voters)
Remnant of a Worm
Half Masked
with 23 votes (24% of voters)
Oops
Angush
NSFW
with 21 votes (22% of voters)
Description & Tags
For every fic with a thousand views, there are two with none. What are some great fics not widely read?Rank
The_Incorruptible
Peer
ManMagnificent
with 21 votes (23% of voters)
Luminous
Relyet
Life Bends Down
Pericardium
NSFW
with 16 votes (17% of voters)
Golf Morning
glowspider
Valleyxandria! The Rebecca California-Brown Story
glowspider
Peel
ManMagnificent
Timesnatch
keira
with 13 votes (14% of voters)
Description & Tags
Everyday life doesn't have to be boring. Slice of Life brings fun to the mundane.COLLECTION: GENRE
Felix Fortuna
Chartic (with maroon_sweater & Pericardium & tearlessNevermore)
with 40 votes (41% of voters)
I Need Some Space
misha906 (BoopPhysics)
with 39 votes (40% of voters)
Life Bends Down
Pericardium
NSFW
with 22 votes (23% of voters)
Description & Tags
You know you're reading something good when it manages to make us cry.COLLECTION: GENRE
Mixed Feelings
Kittius
with 26 votes (33% of voters)
The Parahumans Fanzine
TheSleepingKnight & nil
with 22 votes (28% of voters)
Life Bends Down
Pericardium
NSFW
with 15 votes (19% of voters)
Description & Tags
Whether it's crack or comedy, some fics are built for laughs.COLLECTION: GENRE
Taylor Has a Strange Hobby
BlueNine
with 37 votes (35% of voters)
Valleyxandria! The Rebecca California-Brown Story
glowspider
with 23 votes (22% of voters)
Felix Fortuna
Chartic (with maroon_sweater & Pericardium & tearlessNevermore)
with 21 votes (20% of voters)
Description & Tags
Kisses and canoodling galore. Romance and shipping are fanfic staples.COLLECTION: GENRE
Taylor Has a Strange Hobby
BlueNine
with 32 votes (46% of voters)
Life Bends Down
Pericardium
NSFW
with 28 votes (40% of voters)
Luminous
Relyet
with 9 votes (13% of voters)
Description & Tags
Any and all fics with Cauldron-appropriate sexual content.COLLECTION: GENRE
Life Bends Down
Pericardium
NSFW
with 23 votes (68% of voters)
Pleading the Fourth
maroon_sweater
NSFW
with 11 votes (33% of voters)
Sweet Treats
MarcoFro5
with 8 votes (24% of voters)
Description & Tags
Worm fics mostly focus on powers, but what are some great 2020 fics following unpowered characters?COLLECTION: GENRE
Taylor Costa-Brown
Omega_93
with 33 votes (42% of voters)
Rank
The_Incorruptible
with 24 votes (31% of voters)
Life Bends Down
Pericardium
NSFW
with 22 votes (28% of voters)
Description & Tags
Giving Taylor new powers is the bread and butter of Worm fic. What stories do the most with their altpowers?COLLECTION: GENRE
Impurity
EarthScorpion & Aleph
with 38 votes (42% of voters)
Dominion
Materia-Blade
with 24 votes (27% of voters)
Trailblazer
3ndless
Tinker Taylor Super Soaker
Rouge Rogue
with 22 votes (24% of voters)
Description & Tags
Some stories twist the world to their whims, or even create worlds anew. What are the best AUs fics?COLLECTION: GENRE
It Starts With One
Discreet
with 34 votes (34% of voters)
Impurity
EarthScorpion & Aleph
with 29 votes (29% of voters)
The Countess
Husr
Taylor Costa-Brown
Omega_93
with 21 votes (21% of voters)
Description & Tags
Mixing multiple different settings together is a hallmark of transformative fiction. What are the best?COLLECTION: GENRE
Felix Fortuna
Chartic (with maroon_sweater & Pericardium & tearlessNevermore)
with 34 votes (31% of voters)
Ghost in the Flesh
Redcoat_Officer
with 25 votes (23% of voters)
Point Me At The Skyrim
Ridtom
with 24 votes (22% of voters)
Description & Tags
A staple of fanfiction; self-inserts are numerous. What are the best?COLLECTION: GENRE
Seer
ellfangor8
with 26 votes (57% of voters)
Paper Tiger - A Siberian SI
ABitToTheWest
with 18 votes (40% of voters)
Infinitesimal
x50413
with 9 votes (20% of voters)
Description & Tags
Fics with original casts are few and far between. What are the best ones out there?COLLECTION: GENRE
The Parahumans Fanzine
TheSleepingKnight
with 33 votes (36% of voters)
Mixed Feelings
Kittius
with 31 votes (34% of voters)
Brockton's Celestial Forge
Lord Roustabout
with 22 votes (24% of voters)
Description & Tags
Brockton Bay might be the standard setting, but the world of Worm is wide. What are some great fics that explore outward?COLLECTION: GENRE
The Parahumans Fanzine
TheSleepingKnight & nil
with 28 votes (31% of voters)
The Great Escape
ColossalMistake
with 27 votes (30% of voters)
It Starts With One
Discreet
with 22 votes (24% of voters)
Description & Tags
Most fics are set early, but a post-Gold Morning world allows many opportunities. What fics do it best?COLLECTION: GENRE
Felix Fortuna
Chartic (with maroon_sweater & Pericardium & tearlessNevermore)
with 42 votes (48% of voters)
Timeslip
Omega_93
with 33 votes (38% of voters)
Point Me At the Skyrim
Ridtom
with 31 votes (35% of voters)
Description & Tags
The line between Worm and Ward is often fuzzy, but 2020 saw its fair share of Ward fics. What are the best?COLLECTION: GENRE
Timeslip
Omega_93
with 32 votes (43% of voters)
Point Me At The Skyrim
Ridtom
with 31 votes (42% of voters)
Peer
ManMagnificent
Larva
Omega_93
with 22 votes (30% of voters)
Description & Tags
What fics make best use of Wildbow's other universes? Crossovers permitted.COLLECTION: GENRE
NEW CATEGORY
Peer
ManMagnificent
with 24 votes (47% of voters)
The Cold Shoulder
Melody/Foxtail
Familiar
ManMagnificent
with 20 votes (39% of voters)
Abyssal Plain
ManMagnificent
with 19 votes (37% of voters)
Description & Tags
Taylor, Taylor, Taylor! By far the most common protagonist in Worm fic. Which fic had your favorite version of her in 2020?COLLECTION: CONTENT
NEW CATEGORY
Starlight
in EarthScorpion & Aleph's
Impurity
with 35 votes (35% of voters)
Taylor Hebert
in BlueNine's
Taylor Has a Strange Hobby
with 24 votes (24% of voters)
Taylor Hebert
in misha906 (BoopPhysics)'s
I Need Some Space
with 21 votes (21% of voters)
Cauldron Awards 2020Favorite Characterization of a Canon Character
30 entries | 372 votes | 104 votersDescription & Tags
We read a lot about canon characters, but which fic does the most justice to one specific character? Taylor not included.COLLECTION: CONTENT
NEW CATEGORY
Fortuna / Contessa
in Chartic (with maroon_sweater & Pericardium & tearlessNevermore)'s
Felix Fortuna
with 31 votes (30% of voters)
Eidolon
in Colossal Mistake's
The Great Escape
with 28 votes (27% of voters)
Mr. Gladly
in Pericardium's
This Won't Be Graded: A Memoir by Mr. G
Clockblocker
in keira's
Timesnatch
with 20 votes (20% of voters)
Description & Tags
Lots of fics feature original characters, but which of these characters are the best?COLLECTION: CONTENT
NEW CATEGORY
Astrid Berklow
in Kittius's
Mixed Feelings
with 29 votes (32% of voters)
Carrie Kobayashi
in The_Incorruptible's
Rank
with 23 votes (25% of voters)
Garment Gloves
in Lord Roustabout's
Brockton's Celestial Forge
with 19 votes (21% of voters)
Description & Tags
Plenty of fics have romance, but which romantic relationships from this year were your favorite?COLLECTION: CONTENT
NEW CATEGORY
Lisa x Corey
in ParticularlyLargeBear's
In Golden Armour
with 30 votes (37% of voters)
Taylor x Sophia
in BlueNine's
Taylor Has a Strange Hobby
with 28 votes (34% of voters)
Contessa x Rebecca
in Pericardium's
Life Bends Down
NSFW
with 24 votes (29% of voters)
Description & Tags
No character survives in a vacuum. Which characters had the best friendships, rivalries, family relationships, etc. this year?COLLECTION: CONTENT
NEW CATEGORY
Flavia & Fortuna
in Chartic (with maroon_sweater & Pericardium & tearlessNevermore)'s
Felix Fortuna
with 26 votes (33% of voters)
Contessa & Number Man
in Pericardium's
Life Bends Down
NSFW
with 17 votes (22% of voters)
Astrid & Lance
in Kittius's
Mixed Feelings
with 16 votes (20% of voters)
Description & Tags
Whether it's another city, another Earth, or a wholly new world that we've been transported into, which fics had the best original settings?COLLECTION: CONTENT
NEW CATEGORY
France
in Husr's
The Countess
with 24 votes (44% of voters)
The Simulation
in Backseat Reader's
Limbo: The Undersiders' Strange Summer
with 15 votes (28% of voters)
The Gimel Region
in MarcoFro5's
Clear As Day
with 12 votes (22% of voters)
Description & Tags
The joy of AUs lies in the boundless room for creativity. What fic had the coolest or most creative detail/element?COLLECTION: CONTENT
NEW CATEGORY
Near-seamless fusion of Worm, Napoleonic France, and Twig
in Husr's
The Countess
It's just a really interesting setting and I loved reading about it.
with 33 votes (48% of voters)
The Cauldron backstory changes
in 3ndless's
Trailblazer
And the impact they have on the world at large.
with 20 votes (29% of voters)
The portrayal of Pact's magic system
in ManMagnificent's
Familiar
It's spot-on, canon.
with 19 votes (28% of voters)
Description & Tags
Worm's supporting cast is huge. Which fics make the best use of them?COLLECTION: CONTENT
NEW CATEGORY
The Parahumans Fanzine
TheSleepingKnight & nil
The Great Escape
ColossalMistake
with 25 votes (29% of voters)
Ghost in the Flesh
Redcoat_Officer
with 20 votes (23% of voters)
I Need Some Space
misha906 (BoopPhysics)
with 19 votes (22% of voters)
Description & Tags
Worm fics see an endless glut of new powers, but which are the most creative and Wormy?COLLECTION: CONTENT
NEW CATEGORY
Radiant / Amy Dallon
in EarthScorpion & Aleph's
Impurity
For a few minutes a day, she can turn into a "mini-Endbringer"; a three metre tall crystaline 'idealised self' that can manifest a single extra power to deal with her current situation. However the power is a metaphor for her envy, and so when in her human form she can drain blood by touch to recharge her time in her super form.
with 21 votes (36% of voters)
Astrid Berklow
in Kittius's
Mixed Feelings
Molecular bond manipulation.
with 20 votes (34% of voters)
Portent
in EarthScorpion & Aleph's
Impurity
Precognition of worst-case scenarios
with 18 votes (31% of voters)
Description & Tags
Some authors just have a way with words. What fics can turn a phrase like no other?COLLECTION: CONTENT
The Parahumans Fanzine
TheSleepingKnight & nil
with 28 votes (35% of voters)
Life Bends Down
Pericardium
NSFW
It Starts With One
Discreet
with 21 votes (26% of voters)
The Great Escape
ColossalMistake
with 16 votes (20% of voters)
Description & Tags
Punches, kicks, whams and bams; there's fight scenes aplenty in Worm fics. What fics do them best?COLLECTION: CONTENT
Ghost in the Flesh
Redcoat Officer
with 23 votes (30% of voters)
Impurity
EarthScorpion & Aleph
with 19 votes (25% of voters)
It Starts With One
Discreet
with 17 votes (23% of voters)
Description & Tags
The best worldbuilding, for those deep dives into the unknown.COLLECTION: CONTENT
The Parahumans Fanzine
TheSleepingKnight & nil
with 26 votes (36% of voters)
It Starts With One
Discreet
with 21 votes (29% of voters)
The Great Escape
Colossal Mistake
The Countess
Husr
with 19 votes (26% of voters)
Artwork
5 categories | 136 entries | 2241 votes | 111 voters
Description & Tags
What were the best pieces of fanart from 2020?
Description & Tags
What pieces of fanart most accurately portrayed (or attempted to portray) a scene from canon?
Description & Tags
What pieces of fanart best portrayed our favorite characters in 2020?
Description & Tags
Some fanart is created for fics instead of for canon. What are the best of these?
Description & Tags
What pieces of fanart best made us laugh or smile in 2020? Memes and image macros welcome!
Community
15 categories | 156 entries | 2097 votes | 115 voters
Description & Tags
Whether they were the most productive or just had the best fics, the criteria is up to you. Must have been active in 2020.COLLECTION: PEOPLE
TheSleepingKnight
with 26 votes (32% of voters)
Man Magnificent
with 23 votes (28% of voters)
maroon_sweater
with 22 votes (27% of voters)
Description & Tags
Maybe they had the most output, or maybe just the coolest style. The criteria is up to you. Must have been active in 2020.COLLECTION: PEOPLE
glowspider
with 38 votes (46% of voters)
Pericardium
with 36 votes (44% of voters)
Hanky tanky badonkadankey
Cyrix
with 25 votes (31% of voters)
Description & Tags
Another year, another wave of new authors and artists alike. Who were the best fandom creators to debut in 2020?COLLECTION: PEOPLE
Colossal Mistake
with 33 votes (42% of voters)
Redcoat_Officer
with 32 votes (41% of voters)
Hanky tanky badonkadankey
with 24 votes (31% of voters)
Description & Tags
The most approachable and friendly of Cauldron members.COLLECTION: PEOPLE
Juff
with 39 votes (53% of voters)
glowspider
tackeart
with 22 votes (30% of voters)
Ridtom
with 18 votes (25% of voters)
Description & Tags
Those who have helped the most with your stories, snips, and other writing projects.COLLECTION: PEOPLE
Juff
with 49 votes (78% of voters)
Pericardium
with 12 votes (20% of voters)
JoesAlot
with 11 votes (18% of voters)
Description & Tags
Those who have helped the most with the generation of Wormy powers.COLLECTION: PEOPLE
MarcoFro5
with 21 votes (70% of voters)
Ashley of 8's
with 16 votes (54% of voters)
Foxtail
Lemon Jesus
with 9 votes (30% of voters)
Description & Tags
Those who have helped the most with all manners prose, characters, and plot.COLLECTION: PEOPLE
Juff
with 28 votes (69% of voters)
tmthesaurus
with 18 votes (44% of voters)
Pericardium
with 15 votes (37% of voters)
Description & Tags
Those who have helped the most with keeping canon canonical and fanon... fanonical.COLLECTION: PEOPLE
Juff
with 50 votes (82% of voters)
Kyakan
with 26 votes (43% of voters)
Ridtom
with 15 votes (25% of voters)
Description & Tags
What were your favorite liveblogs run on Cauldron in 2020?Description & Tags
What were your favourite events hosted on Cauldron in 2020?Cauldron Awards
with 27 votes (45% of voters)
The Give-a-Fic-a-Thon
Juff's Cauldron Verification Quiz
with 18 votes (30% of voters)
Inktober
Cauldron Cup
with 12 votes (20% of voters)
Description & Tags
Of all the resource channels Cauldron offers, which were your favourites in 2020?#fact-checking
with 27 votes (47% of voters)
#art
with 18 votes (32% of voters)
#workshopping
#feedback
with 11 votes (19% of voters)
Description & Tags
Which of Cauldron's myriad community channels were your favourites in 2020?#worm-fanfiction
with 35 votes (54% of voters)
#the-cult
with 19 votes (30% of voters)
#bestseller-list
with 15 votes (24% of voters)
Description & Tags
What were the year's best reviews and essays about the fandom and its fanworks? Analysts deserve some recognition too!NEW CATEGORY
Description & Tags
Who was the coolest cat? (or dog, or fish, or bird, or..)Harbinger and Contessa
maroon_sweater
with 42 votes (59% of voters)
Manton
Chartic
with 30 votes (42% of voters)
Tubby
Juff
