Mongoose's new RPG License - speculation?

[Scribble]

It already exists.
D20 Future
D20 Modern

In that case, you'd still need a setting book...

 

[AnonymousOne]

Oblivion?

 

[Raptor]

It already exists.
D20 Future
D20 Modern

So does any other setting of the modern and future genre if you want to go that route....

 

[Rykion]

People keep saying this, though it's worth pointing out that Trail of Cthulhu (the GUMSHOE CoC-ish endeavor) did require a license. . . and I'm pretty certain that anything similar to CoC would require such a license to avoid an infringement lawsuit (Cthulhutech, of course, isn't remotely similar to CoC, so I doubt that this was an issue).

As has been mentioned, Chaosium does have some Trademarks relating to the Cthulhu Mythos. The question of Lovecraft's works being in the public domain is tough. It appears that the interested parties failed to act when they could have extended the copyrights. Arkham House's attorney testified in the 1970's that the stories were in the public domain so that they wouldn't have to pay royalties to August Dereleth's partner. I found this info here: http://www.aetherial.net/lovecraft-copyright.php
Anyone claiming to have the copyright to Lovecraft's work would have a big problem proving it, but it wouldn't be worth the legal fight for most RPG companies.

 

[HeinorNY]

In that case, you'd still need a setting book...

Not really. You don't need a RPG book, just a good source for the setting's material.
For halo go to http://halo.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page
For Ghost Recon, I recommend reading the actual novels, a much better reading than any rpg book.

It works very well for Star Wars games, LotR games, CoC games... the real deal is always a better way to get familiar with the game, IMO.

 

[Raptor]

Not really. You don't need a RPG book, just a good source for the setting's material.
For halo go to http://halo.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page
For Ghost Recon, I recommend reading the actual novels, a much better reading than any rpg book.

It works very well for Star Wars games, LotR games, CoC games... the real deal is always a better way to get familiar with the game, IMO.

Reading the novels and all that are great but having a Corebook handy for those who are not familiar with the series or the setting is even better.

 

[Felon]

Wow, here I thought I was gonna be the first guy to suggest Fallout.

I'd actually just bought the game earlier this week (it hasn't arrived yet) after reading Wikipedia's entry on how it is so many top 10 and top 20 "games of all time" list, so it would be a weird coinkydink if that turned out to be the case.

Heck, re-reading the announcement's reference to "a new system which will be utilised for many different settings" it actually sounds more like it wouldn't be Fallout per se, but the SPECIAL system. This sounds like a 3rd-party manufacturer acting on the widespread suspicion that 4e will be announced at GenCon. If that were true, now would be the time to start rallying support for a new OGL system.

 

[BigFreekinGoblinoid]

You may be right - it could mean that it has been a previously popular RPG in the past. Traveller and CoC or similar would qualify under this definition if Dr. Who wouldn't.

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