What’s the draw of licensed games?

[jdrakeh]

For me, in most cases, the draw is getting a fairly comprehensive overview of the IP under one cover (or in one box set). All of the various treatments of Thieves World, for instance, satisfy this quality. The two editions of the Discworld RPG (and I'm assuming the forthcoming new edition), as well. I mean, I could attempt to read all of the very many novels and parse all of the information therein into gameable fiction, but that's a lot of work. If others can do it for me, I'll let them do it.

 

[overgeeked]

For me, it's about lore and fluff. Official stuff does heavy lifting with world building and adds extra lore to IP.

The one example of that I’m aware of is the old WEG Star Wars game. Do a lot of other licensed games fill out the world like that?

 

[Scribe]

Yeah. That. Not sure it needs to be unhealthy. But definitely attached.

Yeah I wont speak for anyone else, but I feel (for myself and what I observe) they are pretty tightly linked.

 

[darjr]

Absolutely. To me, any more, that’s a reason to use a close enough game rather than a licensed game.

Like Mothership vs Alien. Both great games that do the exact same thing. Only one costs more and is an officially licensed game.

Not knocking Alien, or fans of the game, but I can’t think of a single reason to use Alien over Mothership. Legit the only thing I keep coming back to is it’s official.

I prefer Mothership but if I really want an Alien game Im getting the Alien RPG.

The art and the writing directly related and from the movies and comics and fiction. Especially at the table with books open, adventure, monster and even occasionally a rule book. And a rule system potentially fit to the license. Gimme that.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

A stamp of approval, which implies some quality control, as well.

Boy, that is not my experience with licensed products.

 

[overgeeked]

For me, in most cases, the draw is getting a fairly comprehensive overview of the IP under one cover (or in one box set). All of the various treatments of Thieves World, for instance, satisfy this quality. The two editions of the Discworld RPG (and I'm assuming the forthcoming new edition), as well. I mean, I could attempt to read all of the very many novels and parse all of the information therein into gameable fiction, but that's a lot of work. If others can do it for me, I'll let them do it.

Absolutely. And they already have in the various free wikis. I’ve run the new Discworld RPG for several sessions and the lore hounds at the table didn’t spot that I’ve only read 5 of the novels. And this was before the PDF was released to backers. That was all down to the free wikis and pulling on interesting sounding threads.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Absolutely. To me, any more, that’s a reason to use a close enough game rather than a licensed game.

Like Mothership vs Alien. Both great games that do the exact same thing. Only one costs more and is an officially licensed game.

Not knocking Alien, or fans of the game, but I can’t think of a single reason to use Alien over Mothership. Legit the only thing I keep coming back to is it’s official.

I actually decided to unload my Alien in favor of Mothership because I don't want everyone to be waiting for the xenomorph to show up every adventure.

With Mothership, players are on notice that they don't know what is going to happen, just that their characters aren't likely to enjoy it.

 

[overgeeked]

Boy, that is not my experience with licensed products.

That is unfortunately true as well. Depends on the game, but yeah.

 

[jdrakeh]

Absolutely. And they already have in the various free wikis. I’ve run the new Discworld RPG for several sessions and the lore hounds at the table didn’t spot that I’ve only read 5 of the novels. And this was before the PDF was released to backers. That was all down to the free wikis and pulling on interesting sounding threads.

True, but I don't care for online resources because I'm terminally online for my part-time work as a proofreader and game developer. I like to pick up a physical book when it comes to reading (PDFs and wikis are fine for reference at the game table, though).

 

[overgeeked]

I actually decided to unload my Alien in favor of Mothership because I also don't want everyone to be waiting for the xenomorph to show up every adventure.

With Mothership, players are on notice that they don't know what is going to happen, just that their characters aren't likely to enjoy it.

Yeah. And if a xeno shows up, it’s a real “Oh, @&$%!” moment.