Disqualifications strike the 2015 ENnies

The list of official 2015 ENnie nominations can be found below or at EN World. The list is a little different today as one nomination from the Best Electronic Book, Best Free Product and Product of the Year has been removed.

The game in question is the unofficial Mass Effect RPG written by Don Mappin and was based on Galileo Games’ Bulldogs! — a Fate Core based game. Mass Effect is a popular BioWare computer RPG set in a far future where aliens combine forces to try and confront a cosmic threat. The problem? The Mass Effect RPG is entirely unlicensed.

Indeed, the Mass Effect RPG is not available at DriveThruRPG and as of today Don has removed the files from Mass Effect RPG.org writing;

A quick update: I have taken the Files section offline of my own accord and intend to do so permanently. I will post more details in the coming days.

It sounds like attack lawyers have been involved.

Back at EN World Morrus writes;

For future years, starting in 2016, we will be adding a new eligibility requirement for the ENnies. This will simply ask a publisher or creator to affirm that all contents of a product are their own property, public domain, or used under license or with permission, and will mean that any products not within the boundaries of IP law are subject to disqualification at any time. This rule will not apply to blogs, podcasts, or other specifically fan-creation award categories. We will provide more information about this eligibility requirement later, once the exact details have been hammered out and the potential pitfalls covered.

For this year, we have decided to disqualify the fan-created Mass Effect RPG on the basis of IP violations. The creator of the product, after discussion with him, has already been notified. Don Mappin, the creator of the product, has additionally told us that “Based on this outcome I will be removing the work and its associated files.” We appreciate Don’s understanding, and his willingness to work with us and provide us with information when asked.

Replacement games have been selected for where Mass Effect RPG once stood in the nominations. As a result the judges spotlight winners and nominations now look like.

Judges’ Spotlight Winners

• Dragons in the Stacks: A Teen Librarian’s Guide to Tabletop Role-Playing (Libraries Unlimited) – Annah Madrinan
• Wicked Lies and Alibis (Imaginary Empire) – Stacy Muth
• Posthuman Pathways (Genesis of Legend Publishing) – Jakub Nowosad
• Firefly Echoes of War: Thrillin’ Heroics (Margaret Weis Productions) – Kayra Keri Küpçü
• East Texas University (Pinnacle Entertainment Group) – Kurt Wiegel

Best Adventure

• Cake Walk (Fabled Environments)
• East Texas University: Degrees of Horror (Pinnacle Entertainment Group)
• Horror on the Orient Express (Chaosium)
• Hoard of the Dragon Queen (Wizards of the Coast)
• A Red & Pleasant Land (Lamentations of the Flame Princess)

Best Aid/Accessory

• DungeonMorph Dice: Explorer Set (Inkwell Ideas)
• D&D Dungeon Master’s Screen (Wizards of the Coast)
• Syrinscape’s Rise of the Runelords Mega SoundPack (Syrinscape)
• Black-green Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition RPG Dice Set (Q-Workshop)
• Pathfinder Cards: Deluxe Harrow Deck (Paizo Inc.)

Best Art, Cover

• Iron Kingdoms Full Metal Fantasy Monsternomicon (Privateer Press)
• MUTANT: Year Zero – The Roleplaying Game (Modiphius Entertainment Ltd)
• Freeport: The City of Adventure for the Pathfinder (Green Ronin Publishing)
• Achtung! Cthulhu: Terrors of the Secret War (Modiphius Entertainment Ltd)
• Rise of Tiamat (Wizards of the Coast)

Best Art, Interior

• D&D Monster Manual (Wizards of the Coast)
• Interface Zero 2.0: Full Metal Cyberpunk (Gun Metal Games)
• Trail of Cthulhu: Dreamhounds of Paris (Pelgrane Press)
• The Strange (Monte Cook Games, LLC)
• Iron Kingdoms Unleashed Core Rules Hardcover (Privateer Press)

Best Blog

• ConTessa – Tabletop gaming by women for everyone!
• DMDavid Blog
• Gnome Stew
• House Rule Gaming
• NERD TREK

Best Cartography

• MUTANT: Year Zero – The Roleplaying Game (Modiphius Entertainment Ltd)
• The Guide to Glorantha (Moon Design Publications)
• Distant Outposts Deluxe Poster Map Set (Christopher West’s Maps of Mastery)
• Horror on the Orient Express (Chaosium)
• Ninth World Guidebook (Monte Cook Games, LLC)

Best Electronic Book

• Dragon Age Core RuleBook (Green Ronin Publishing)
• Basic Rules for D&D (Wizards of the Coast)
• Ken Writes About Stuff Volume 2 (Pelgrane Press)
• Cake Walk (Fabled Environments)
• Valiant Universe RPG Digital Initiative (Catalyst Game Labs)

Best Family Game

• Atomic Robo: The Roleplaying Game (Evil Hat Productions)
• D&D Starter Set (Wizards of the Coast)
• Infestation, An RPG of Bugs and Heroes (Third Eye Games)
• Doctor Who: Adventures in Time and Space – Limited Edition Anniversary Rulebook (Cubicle 7 Entertainment Ltd.)
• Adventure Maximus RPG Starter Set (Eden Studios)

Best Free Product

• Valiant RPG Digital Initiative (Catalyst Game Labs)
• Basic Rules for D&D (Wizards of the Coast)
• Doctor Who: Adventures in Time and Space – Arrowdown (Cubicle 7 Entertainment Ltd.)
• 13th Age: The Archmage’s Orrery (Pelgrane Press)
• East Texas University: Redneckromancer (Pinnacle Entertainment Group)

Best Game

• D&D Player’s Handbook (Wizards of the Coast)
• The Strange (Monte Cook Games, LLC)
• Firefly Roleplaying Game (Margaret Weis Productions)
• MUTANT: Year Zero – The Roleplaying Game (Modiphius Entertainment Ltd)
• Atomic Robo: The Roleplaying Game (Evil Hat Productions)

Best Miniature Product

• Gen Con Adventurer’s Tavern – Painted (Games and Gears)
• D&D Icons of the Realms: Elemental Evil Boosters (WizKids)
• Fantasy Pirate Goblin Lieutnant 28mm Miniature (Via Ludibunda)
• Pathfinder Pawns: Inner Sea Pawn Box (Paizo Inc.)
• Iron Kingdoms Unleashed Roleplaying Game Adventure Kit (Privateer Press)

Best Monster/Adversary

• D&D Monster Manual (Wizards of the Coast)
• 13th Age Bestiary (Pelgrane Press)
• The Strange Bestiary (Monte Cook Games, LLC)
• Iron Kingdoms Full Metal Fantasy Monsternomicon (Privateer Press)
• Achtung! Cthulhu: Terrors of the Secret War (Modiphius Entertainment Ltd)

Best Podcast

• Ken and Robin Talk About Stuff
• Miskatonic University Podcast
• Translating the Strange
• NPC Cast
• Grim Dark Podcast

Best Production Values

• Horror on the Orient Express (Chaosium)
• D&D Starter Set (Wizards of the Coast)
• The Guide to Glorantha (Moon Design Publications)
• Iron Kingdoms Unleashed Roleplaying Game Adventure Kit (Privateer Press)
• Shadowrun: Runner’s Toolkit: Alphaware (Catalyst Game Labs)

Best RPG Related Product

• Designers & Dragons: A History of the Roleplaying Game Industry (Evil Hat Productions)
• Chicks Dig Gaming: A Celebration of All Things Gaming by the Women Who Love It (Mad Norwegian Press)
• Shadowrun: Crossfire (Catalyst Game Labs)
• Temple of Elemental Evil (WizKids)
• Doctor Who: The Card Game 2nd Edition (Cubicle 7 Entertainment Ltd.)

Best Rules

• D&D Player’s Handbook (Wizards of the Coast)
• MUTANT: Year Zero – The Roleplaying Game (Modiphius Entertainment Ltd)
• Mindjammer – The Roleplaying Game (Transhuman Science-Fiction Adventure in the Second Age of Space) (Modiphius Entertainment Ltd)
• At the Hands of an Angry God (BlackWyrm Games)
• Monster of the Week (Evil Hat Productions)

Best Setting

• The Strange (Monte Cook Games, LLC)
• The Guide to Glorantha (Moon Design Publications)
• MUTANT: Year Zero – The Roleplaying Game (Modiphius Entertainment Ltd)
• A Red & Pleasant Land (Lamentations of the Flame Princess)
• Trail of Cthulhu: Dreamhounds of Paris (Pelgrane Press)

Best Software

• Roll20 (Roll 20)
• D&D Complete Core Monster Pack for Fantasy Grounds (SmiteWorks USA LLC)
• Hero Lab (Lone Wolf Development)
• Syrinscape’s Rise of the Runelords Mega SoundPack (Syrinscape)
• Eclipse Phase: Singularity Character Generator (Posthuman Studios & Snow Dog Labs)

Best Supplement

• D&D Dungeon Master’s Guide (Wizards of the Coast)
• Pathfinder RPG: Pathfinder Unchained (Paizo Inc.)
• Savage Worlds Science Fiction Companion (Pinnacle Entertainment Group)
• Doctor Who – The Fourth Doctor Sourcebook (Cubicle 7 Entertainment Ltd.)
• Shadowrun: Run Faster (Catalyst Game Labs)

Best Website

• Tabletop Audio
• Adventureaweek
• Age of Ravens
• The Escapist
• The Illuminerdy

Best Writing

• Ken Writes About Stuff Volume 2 (Pelgrane Press)
• D&D Player’s Handbook (Wizards of the Coast)
• The Strange (Monte Cook Games, LLC)
• A Red & Pleasant Land (Lamentations of the Flame Princess)
• Designers & Dragons: A History of the Roleplaying Game Industry (Evil Hat Productions)

Product of the Year

• MUTANT: Year Zero – The Roleplaying Game (Modiphius Entertainment Ltd)
• The Strange (Monte Cook Games, LLC)
• Horror on the Orient Express (Chaosium)
• A Red & Pleasant Land (Lamentations of the Flame Princess)
• The Guide to Glorantha (Moon Design Publications)
• D&D Player’s Handbook (Wizards of the Coast)
• Iron Kingdoms Unleashed Core Rules Hardcover (Privateer Press)
• Designers & Dragons: A History of the Roleplaying Game Industry (Evil Hat Productions)
• Firefly Roleplaying Game (Margaret Weis Productions)
• Mindjammer – The Roleplaying Game (Transhuman Science-Fiction Adventure in the Second Age of Space) (Modiphius Entertainment Ltd)