Chaosium Releases Basic Role Playing SRD

Chaosium has released the Basic Roleplaying System Reference Document (SRD).



The Basic Roleplaying SRD is based on Basic Roleplaying, the simple, fast, and elegant skill-based percentile system that is the core of most Chaosium roleplaying games, including Call of Cthulhu, RuneQuest, SuperWorld, and others.

Under the provisions of the Basic Roleplaying Open Game License (OGL), designers can create their own roleplaying games using the Basic Roleplaying rules engine, royalty-free and without further permission from Chaosium Inc.

For further details and to download the SRD document, see our Basic Roleplaying SRD information page.

This uses an opening gaming license, but not THE Open Gaming License (the commonly used one published by WotC nearly 20 years ago). It is based on similar concepts, but this uses the BRP Open Game License. A notable difference is that instead of "Product Identity") (which in the original license typically includes trademarks, proper names, a handful of iconic monsters, etc.), this license used "Prohibited Content" which expands that to include mechanics, or "substantially similar" mechanics to some selected features of the rules system. For example, part of the prohibited list includes:

"Augments: The use of one ability — whether skill or characteristic — to augment another ability of the same or a different type, in a manner substantially similar to those of the RuneQuest: Roleplaying in Glorantha rules."

Obviously you can make similar mechanics without using this license, but if you use this license you agree not to use mechanics similar to those in the prohibited content list.

The prohibited content list also contains Le Morte D'Arthur, and the Cthulhu Mythos.

 

[aramis erak]

That was done at the request of one (or more) publishers to DTRPG.

Good. I know Marc is fine with that.

 

[aramis erak]

All that tells me that you have an axe to grind....
[...]

If I wanted to play Classic Traveller, I’d play Classic Traveller, not Cepheus.

No axe other than the pursuit of accuracy.

Stated goal of Jason Kemp was to reincorporate much of CT's CGen, so as to move the feel more toward that of CT.

 

[TrippyHippy]

No axe other than the pursuit of accuracy.

Stated goal of Jason Kemp was to reincorporate much of CT's CGen, so as to move the feel more toward that of CT.

Tell Jason from me, if I want to play Classic Traveller, I’ll play Classic Traveller. If I want a cheap knock off, which can’t be bothered to pay royalties, I’ll let him know.

 

[dragoner]

Maybe numong can pay reparations for forcing Marc to pull the licenses on GURPS Interstellar Wars, Classic Traveller TNE2 1248, and Hero Games; all gamers lost those settings and rules sets because of mongoose. With the GURPS Interstellar Wars (Earth vs the Imperium), being considered one of the best written for Traveller ever; which in replacement we get numong's goofy tone like a 50 year old teenager:

 

[TrippyHippy]

Maybe numong can pay reparations for forcing Marc to pull the licenses on GURPS Interstellar Wars, Classic Traveller TNE2 1248, and Hero Games; all gamers lost those settings and rules sets because of mongoose. With the GURPS Interstellar Wars (Earth vs the Imperium), being considered one of the best written for Traveller ever; which in replacement we get numong's goofy tone like a 50 year old teenager:

You do understand that Marc Miller chooses who he gives his license to, no? You do realize that it is merely an opinion what constitutes ‘best written for Traveller ever', yes? This is the most idiotic criticism on this thread to date.

 

[Independence Games]

Tell Jason from me, if I want to play Classic Traveller, I’ll play Classic Traveller. If I want a cheap knock off, which can’t be bothered to pay royalties, I’ll let him know.

I'll be glad to tell him. It won't bother him. He's a pretty mellow guy who understands that everyone has different tastes.

You do understand that Marc Miller chooses who he gives his license to, no? You do realize that it is merely an opinion what constitutes ‘best written for Traveller ever', yes? This is the most idiotic criticism on this thread to date.

You do understand that Marc chooses who he gives his license to, no?

You do realize that Marc (and Mongoose) made the rules open source and, thus, there is not a need to pay royalties, right? And that when 2e came around and royalties were requested from Mongoose that no one objected to that part of it?

 

[TrippyHippy]

I'll be glad to tell him. It won't bother him. He's a pretty mellow guy who understands that everyone has different tastes.

Not an issue of taste.

You do understand that Marc chooses who he gives his license to, no?

You do realize that Marc (and Mongoose) made the rules open source and, thus, there is not a need to pay royalties, right? And that when 2e came around and royalties were requested from Mongoose that no one objected to that part of it?

People have indicated their objection already on this thread. The details of each contract signed for each respective license were signed off by Marc, not just Mongoose, and if people have issues with the nature of changes between each edition's license, they should remember that.

 

[Independence Games]

Not an issue of taste.

So you're just angry and running him down because he used something that was given to him by Marc and Mongoose to create a game? I'll be sure to explain that to him too. As I say, he's a class act and it likely won't bother him but I'll be happy to tell him. We tend to get a good laugh out of things like that.

People have indicated their objection already on this thread. The details of each contract signed for each respective license were signed off by Marc, not just Mongoose, and if people have issues with the nature of changes between each edition's license, they should remember that.

Yes, quite so.

Perhaps you should remember that both Marc and Mongoose signed off on not only making the Mongoose 1e rules OGL but also were consulted by Jason concerning the Cepheus Engine. You're really quite wrong and more than a little uninformed when you start making implications that CE is somehow less legitimate because they are not required to pay royalties to either Marc or Mongoose.

 

[TrippyHippy]

So you're just angry and running him down because he used something that was given to him by Marc and Mongoose to create a game? I'll be sure to explain that to him too. As I say, he's a class act and it likely won't bother him but I'll be happy to tell him. We tend to get a good laugh out of things like that.

I’m not angry. I am pointing out to people on this thread that their views about Mongoose Traveller are misguided. If they are going to use the Cepheus Engine as a stick to beat Mongoose Traveller with, then it is perfectly reasonable to point out that the Cepheus Engine wouldn’t exist without Mongoose Traveller and that all it is, is a clone of other people’s work. If that amounts to a class act on your terms, and you can have a laugh about it, all power to you. Doesn’t change the fact.

Yes, quite so.

Perhaps you should remember that both Marc and Mongoose signed off on not only making the Mongoose 1e rules OGL but also were consulted by Jason concerning the Cepheus Engine. You're really quite wrong and more than a little uninformed when you start making implications that CE is somehow less legitimate because they are not required to pay royalties to either Marc or Mongoose.

Cepheus is not legitimately “Traveller", and they cannot use that moniker because they haven’t paid royalties. The Mongoose 1e rules were open license, and people can do what they want with them - including Cepheus. The 2nd Edition rules were produced under a different license and different licensing arrangements, and there is no cause for people to complain about them. I have no problem either way, but I haven’t seen anything in the products you produce that inspires me to buy them rather than the official Traveller material produced by Mongoose. And that is that.

 

[Independence Games]

I’m not angry. I am pointing out to people on this thread that their views about Mongoose Traveller are misguided. If they are going to use the Cepheus Engine as a stick to beat Mongoose Traveller with, then it is perfectly reasonable to point out that the Cepheus Engine wouldn’t exist without Mongoose Traveller and that all it is amounts to a clone of other people’s work. If that amounts to a class act on your terms, and you can have a laugh about it, all power to you. Doesn’t change the fact.

You are angry. Why would anyone carry this grudge across multiple forums were it otherwise? One might think Jason shot your dog for all the vitriol you spew.

I don't think anyone who knows the history of these products would claim that CE isn't using the open rules provided by Marc and Matt. Indeed, I just stated it again myself. You're the one who, again here, is implying that doing so is somehow underhanded.

Are you under some impression that using open source rules, made open by the creator of the game, is somehow underhanded?

The 2nd Edition rules were produced under a different license and different licensing arrangements, and there is no cause for people to complain about them.

Again, you seem rather ignorant of what transpired.

I have no problem either way, but I haven’t seen anything in the products you produce that inspires me to buy them rather than the official Traveller material produced by Mongoose. And that is that.

Thank goodness you don't have a problem. One would think that approval of CE by Marc Miller and by Mongoose would be enough but this, oh, this approval will change everything. LOL.

That's fine. My products aren't for everyone. None are. However, we're doing quite well without you. Enjoy your evening.