Game system for a game question by SigmaNunki

FIREFLY UNIVERSE

Game system for a game question

POSTED BY: SIGMANUNKI
UPDATED: Wednesday, October 11, 2006 09:59
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VIEWED: 3608
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Tuesday, October 3, 2006 1:06 PM

Ok, I'm heading up a project to make a FF game (free and open source) and we've run into something that we agree should be a question to those who we are writing the game for i.e. You're the ones we're making it for, so you should have a say in how it plays (the OB will also be polled).

A bit of vague background is that the game is going to be an RPG in the style of Fallout.

Keeping this in mind, we basically have 3 options with regards to the RPG system used in the engine:

1) Use the fan made d20 RPG ( http://www.fireflyfans.net/thread.asp?b=17&t=9618)
2) Use the official Serenity RPG w/o asking ( http://www.serenityrpg.com/)
3) (2) but w/ asking

The consequences being:

W/ (1) we are free and in the clear.

W/ (2) we get a system that more (?) people will be familiar with but might get in trouble for it later.

W/ (3) IF they say yes, we're in the clear. BUT if they say no then we might get shut down for using someone else's "intellectual property" w/o permission (i.e. by F*X/Universal).

The above assumes that the license of the official Serenity RPG requires permission to use (typical of comercial products, verify?).

So, with all this in mind, please post and let us know what your preference/advice is. Or questions if you got any.

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Wednesday, October 4, 2006 8:41 AM

SIGMANUNKI

Does anyone care what system we use?

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Wednesday, October 4, 2006 9:26 AM

PUMAMANREDUX

Not familiar with either game system, really ...

I'm more used to doing free form Firefly based games over forums ... thats more interesting than rolling up/ designing a character .. rolling for everything ...

From what I have seen of d20 it has become a big entity with tons of official supplements and genres and ...

lets just say I'd like to see the official game used ... if you don't decide to free form things ...

By the way .. this was just posted recently .. perhaps people need a few hours to form a coherent answer ....

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Wednesday, October 4, 2006 10:46 AM

SIGMANUNKI

Quote:
Originally posted by PumamanRedux:

I'm more used to doing free form Firefly based games over forums ... thats more interesting than rolling up/ designing a character .. rolling for everything ...

From what I have seen of d20 it has become a big entity with tons of official supplements and genres and ...

Well I assumed that people would recognize that open source = computer game (probably a very bad assumption when people aren't developers

). So, all the rolling will be hidden from the user. But since how the stats/game mechanics/etc work will have a direct impact on game play, that is why I asked the question.

Also, the d20 in question has no supplements or any such thing and any future change in the game mechanics will probably end up in a vote situation like what I'm doing here.

Quote:
Originally posted by PumamanRedux:

lets just say I'd like to see the official game used ... if you don't decide to free form things ...

Thanks for the vote, but specifically option 2 or 3?

Quote:
Originally posted by PumamanRedux:

By the way .. this was just posted recently .. perhaps people need a few hours to form a coherent answer ....

Please note that this was not posted a few hours ago, it was posted about 7pm CST yesterday. So, when I don't get a response from people by the next day in the afternoon, I assume that they either don't care, or haven't seen it. Thus I posted the question which acted as a bump as well.

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I am on The List. We are The Forsaken and we aim to burn!
"We don't fear the reaper"

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Wednesday, October 4, 2006 12:39 PM

TOBEDOG

I think you should just go for it. Either way, but I'd like to see the major backing from a marketing arm that can handle the load. My opinion is option 3. Whats the worst they are going to say, "No!" Big deal, then go make it anyway with the other options. But what happens if they say, "Yes!"

My point being, try the legal channels first but if that doesn't work, then look for a different route. I know I didn't quit when I was told I couldn't do something.

"Six men came to kill me one time. The best of 'em carried this. It's a Killhan full-bore autolock, customized trigger, double cartridge, thorough-gage. This is my very favorite gun."

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Wednesday, October 4, 2006 12:43 PM

MIRAMEL

i kinda liked the official system (d12 finally gets some use!) but i admit i dont even know about the other system.

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Thursday, October 5, 2006 9:14 AM

SIGMANUNKI

Ok, everybody is pointing us to ask the Serenity RPG people for permission to use that in our engine. Anyone else want to chim in with an agree/disagree?

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I am on The List. We are The Forsaken and we aim to burn!
"We don't fear the reaper"

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Thursday, October 5, 2006 9:20 AM

FLATTOP

d20. Free and clear w/a CopyLeft.
Avoid imperial entanglements whenever possible.

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Awww hell, I'm a big fan of all seven.

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Thursday, October 5, 2006 9:40 AM

STORYMARK

I don't see how you're worried that TPTB might have a problem with you useing their game system, yet are not afraid of FOX/Universal going after you for useing Firefly/Serenity.

But if you're not charging for the game, you have a lot less to worry about on either front.

And I could be wrong here, but I don't think the D12 system the Serenity game uses is owned by Universal, but by game designer/author Margaret Weiss.

She's always seemed like a cool, fan-freindly lady, so it can't hurt to ask.

"I thoroughly disapprove of duels. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet place and kill him."

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Thursday, October 5, 2006 10:45 AM

SIGMANUNKI

Quote:
Originally posted by Storymark:

I don't see how you're worried that TPTB might have a problem with you useing their game system, yet are not afraid of FOX/Universal going after you for useing Firefly/Serenity.

Well I'm not worried as this project exists:

http://www.intotheblack.ca/

And they don't seem to be having any problems.

Basically, I'm using the 'verse (how it's structured, etc), but not anything directly FF/S (no copyrighted pics, etc). Using someones system that is copyrighted by them is rather different legally... I think anyway.

Any lawyers around?

Quote:
Originally posted by Storymark:

And I could be wrong here, but I don't think the D12 system the Serenity game uses is owned by Universal, but by game designer/author Margaret Weiss.

She's always seemed like a cool, fan-freindly lady, so it can't hurt to ask.

Well, from the polls so far, it looks like we'll find out just how fan-friendly a lady she is

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I am on The List. We are The Forsaken and we aim to burn!
"We don't fear the reaper"

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Tuesday, October 10, 2006 3:56 AM

TEACHDAIRE

It is possible to use a combination of the D20 games. Modern and Sci-fi spring to mind, possibly even mixed with a wild west one if there's one been released.

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Wednesday, October 11, 2006 9:59 AM

SIGMANUNKI

Quote:
Originally posted by Teachdaire:

It is possible to use a combination of the D20 games. Modern and Sci-fi spring to mind, possibly even mixed with a wild west one if there's one been released.

Although this certainly is true, it isn't the purpose of our project. We just want to make a 'verse for people to tell tales in (computer game), not an entirely new system that people will have to learn (though it would be an interesting thing to do in and of itself

).

So, we'll ask for permission, and failing that, we'll use the ready made d20 system.

We thank everyone for there input

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I am on The List. We are The Forsaken and we aim to burn!
"We don't fear the reaper"

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