Flynn
June 9th, 2005, 01:18 PM
Good afternoon, All,
It's my understanding that the limited license proposed by Hunter and Marc will be finalized over the next few months. (The last word we had from Hunter on it was that is would happen, but the exact details required ironing out. I imagine there's a number of legal issues that are having to be dealt with before it is finally announced.)
I know there's a lot of us that are eager about what this could mean for Traveller. Even though nothing can be done in the OTU, there's still the opportunity to see products that support different aspects of the Traveller systems, including new adventures, settings, technologies, etc.
I'm curious, though. I know what I'd like to see published under the Limited License, but what would you guys like to see? To be fair, I'll start off with my own personal list. Remember, the Limited License can't be used to do anything in the OTU.
* New Traveller campaign models (i.e. an ATU) that demonstrates Traveller's rules used in alternate settings, since we can't use the OTU. (Perhaps even a "small ship, small empire" ATU...)
* Worldbooks written generically enough to be dropped into any campaign setting.
* New adventures, either set in an ATU or written to be generic enough to be usable by a Referee in almost any campaign setting.
* New character options, such as new races, careers, etc.
* New technologies, hopefully written to be integrated into T20 (or MT/CT, failing that.)
These sound cool to me. What sounds cool to you?
Enjoy,
Flynn
It's my understanding that the limited license proposed by Hunter and Marc will be finalized over the next few months. (The last word we had from Hunter on it was that is would happen, but the exact details required ironing out. I imagine there's a number of legal issues that are having to be dealt with before it is finally announced.)
I know there's a lot of us that are eager about what this could mean for Traveller. Even though nothing can be done in the OTU, there's still the opportunity to see products that support different aspects of the Traveller systems, including new adventures, settings, technologies, etc.
I'm curious, though. I know what I'd like to see published under the Limited License, but what would you guys like to see? To be fair, I'll start off with my own personal list. Remember, the Limited License can't be used to do anything in the OTU.
* New Traveller campaign models (i.e. an ATU) that demonstrates Traveller's rules used in alternate settings, since we can't use the OTU. (Perhaps even a "small ship, small empire" ATU...)
* Worldbooks written generically enough to be dropped into any campaign setting.
* New adventures, either set in an ATU or written to be generic enough to be usable by a Referee in almost any campaign setting.
* New character options, such as new races, careers, etc.
* New technologies, hopefully written to be integrated into T20 (or MT/CT, failing that.)
These sound cool to me. What sounds cool to you?
Enjoy,
Flynn
Evo Plurion
June 9th, 2005, 02:38 PM
I wonder if a "Universe Builder's Handbook" might be worthwhile? You know, an exploration of different campaign setting types (hard SF, space opera, etc.) and how T20 can be used to portray them.
I love your idea about universally-adaptable worldbooks. Many could focus on worlds which have yet to be discovered by any major space-faring civilization. It would then be easy to use them in any ATU.
I love your idea about universally-adaptable worldbooks. Many could focus on worlds which have yet to be discovered by any major space-faring civilization. It would then be easy to use them in any ATU.
Malenfant
June 9th, 2005, 03:45 PM
Evo - that sounds very much like GURPS Space or Star HERO or d20 Future.
clementk
June 9th, 2005, 04:03 PM
All I can remember right now from what I said last time on this is variants of existing rules sans OTU references if possible. Anything from a MT with the errata corrected smile.gif to a CT+ or BESM Traveller. :cool:
Flynn
June 9th, 2005, 04:42 PM
I remember coming across a reference to a doc file some five or six years ago where someone had typed in all of MT without the OTU references, and had entered errata. I think the person that made it got special permission from Marc to distribute it to ten people, or something like that. I think it was mentioned on the TML in '99 or '00.
But at that time, MT wasn't available on PDF like it is now. However, it would make an excellent place to start on a corrected MT sans OTU, if you can find someone that has that rare and difficult-to-locate file.
Of course, it may have only been the Player's Manual, since the creator did it for his ATU game and his gamers.
-Flynn
But at that time, MT wasn't available on PDF like it is now. However, it would make an excellent place to start on a corrected MT sans OTU, if you can find someone that has that rare and difficult-to-locate file.
Of course, it may have only been the Player's Manual, since the creator did it for his ATU game and his gamers.
-Flynn
LordVince
June 10th, 2005, 01:19 AM
I'd be interested in something along the lines of a "Traveller Techbook". Something that that gives rules for dealing with different Tech Levels, perhaps eve giving a discussion of what might be found at each Tech Level. Sorta like the GURPS Techbooks (Low Tech, High Tech, Ultra Tech) do.
I am so tired of playing "1970's Tech in Space"...
I am so tired of playing "1970's Tech in Space"...
kafka47
June 10th, 2005, 10:52 AM
Dark, violent adventures which the moral ground is rupturing under the players feet. Bold new technology that reinvokes the wonder in SF (like the article in SR about RNA transplants). Detailling different cultural regions of the Imperium. A deep and thoughtful examination of the Solomani Sphere and a treatment of Lost Colonies Rimward.
Flynn
June 10th, 2005, 11:40 AM
Remember, Kafka, that the OTU can't be touched by the Limited License, so your last two sentences wouldn't be possible to address... directly.
Perhaps projects presented in a generic non-OTU fashion that could be transplanted into the OTU with minimal effort might be the way to go with that one. ;)
Just some thoughts,
Flynn
Perhaps projects presented in a generic non-OTU fashion that could be transplanted into the OTU with minimal effort might be the way to go with that one. ;)
Just some thoughts,
Flynn
Liam Devlin
June 10th, 2005, 12:10 PM
Flynn, I'm all fer this idea. As fer new technologies...well, I can rustle up a few more things fer this if need be.
New races...
Hmmm seems to me a hand full of OTU ones that only ever got a name, and nothing else to my recollection..plenty of room just filling those in fer starters.
Adventures that can be dropped anywhere...
that takes a little homework for the writer, and some scanning about of the sectors folks like to do, but seems reasonable enough a challenge.
New races...
Hmmm seems to me a hand full of OTU ones that only ever got a name, and nothing else to my recollection..plenty of room just filling those in fer starters.
Adventures that can be dropped anywhere...
that takes a little homework for the writer, and some scanning about of the sectors folks like to do, but seems reasonable enough a challenge.
Flynn
June 10th, 2005, 12:39 PM
Liam,
Bear in mind that race names are typically considered Product Identity, as well as part of the OTU. Hence, my suggestion for new races, so that there's no violation of the Limited License.
And if they're done relatively genericly, with only a skeletal background, they can be dropped into whatever TU the Referee would like to use them in, even the OTU. The product itself couldn't contain notes on that, however.
People like Martin, who have a Full License instead of a Limited License, can take advantage of the OTU things being sought here and elsewhere. Limited Licensers will have to walk a much more narrow line.
-Flynn
Bear in mind that race names are typically considered Product Identity, as well as part of the OTU. Hence, my suggestion for new races, so that there's no violation of the Limited License.
And if they're done relatively genericly, with only a skeletal background, they can be dropped into whatever TU the Referee would like to use them in, even the OTU. The product itself couldn't contain notes on that, however.
People like Martin, who have a Full License instead of a Limited License, can take advantage of the OTU things being sought here and elsewhere. Limited Licensers will have to walk a much more narrow line.
-Flynn
Liam Devlin
June 10th, 2005, 01:15 PM
OH.
Well...
2 out of 3 ideas is still okay though. TY!
Well...
2 out of 3 ideas is still okay though. TY!
Evo Plurion
June 11th, 2005, 06:09 AM
Bold new technology that reinvokes the wonder in SF (like the article in SR about RNA transplants).SR? What's that? The article you refer to sounds interesting.
mike wightman
June 11th, 2005, 06:58 AM
SR is the free Stellar Reaches PDF fanzine, which supports Traveller T20 and Classic Traveller.
Follow the link in Flynn's signature above.
The article is in issue 2.
Follow the link in Flynn's signature above.
The article is in issue 2.
Evo Plurion
June 11th, 2005, 09:48 AM
Thanks, Sig!
kafka47
June 11th, 2005, 11:12 AM
Originally posted by Flynn:
Remember, Kafka, that the OTU can't be touched by the Limited License, so your last two sentences wouldn't be possible to address... directly.
Perhaps projects presented in a generic non-OTU fashion that could be transplanted into the OTU with minimal effort might be the way to go with that one. ;)
Just some thoughts,
Flynn Damn, just when I was hoping to see Firefly as the Browncoats transplanted into 3I setting with the Solomani playing the role of those pesky rebels.
Would it be a violation, however, if the setting merely let it be known as the Sphere or the Confederation...allowing gamers in the know, to easily pull out the concepts and refer to the Imperium merely as the Empire.
Remember, Kafka, that the OTU can't be touched by the Limited License, so your last two sentences wouldn't be possible to address... directly.
Perhaps projects presented in a generic non-OTU fashion that could be transplanted into the OTU with minimal effort might be the way to go with that one. ;)
Just some thoughts,
Flynn Damn, just when I was hoping to see Firefly as the Browncoats transplanted into 3I setting with the Solomani playing the role of those pesky rebels.
Would it be a violation, however, if the setting merely let it be known as the Sphere or the Confederation...allowing gamers in the know, to easily pull out the concepts and refer to the Imperium merely as the Empire.
Flynn
June 11th, 2005, 01:58 PM
Kafka,
So long as you provide a general statement at the beginning that identifies these elements in such a way as to indicate they are not part of the OTU, I think you'd be fine.
For my limited license work, I'll probably refer to a somewhat sketchy generic background, backed up with some UWPs and a sector or two written up (not sure yet, though), but with general concepts from Golden Age sci-fi that could be adapted to any other Traveller setting if the Referee so chooses. As soon as I finish up my One-Page treatment of the generic setting, I'll probably include it in any of my products just to make sure people understand what it is that I'm referencing. If it is done correctly, I should have no issues with Product Identity. If there's enough interest, I can always expand on the generic background and create more detail, but that'll be based on what I perceive as demand. smile.gif
But a lot of that work will have to wait until the Limited License is further defined.
Hope this helps,
Flynn
So long as you provide a general statement at the beginning that identifies these elements in such a way as to indicate they are not part of the OTU, I think you'd be fine.
For my limited license work, I'll probably refer to a somewhat sketchy generic background, backed up with some UWPs and a sector or two written up (not sure yet, though), but with general concepts from Golden Age sci-fi that could be adapted to any other Traveller setting if the Referee so chooses. As soon as I finish up my One-Page treatment of the generic setting, I'll probably include it in any of my products just to make sure people understand what it is that I'm referencing. If it is done correctly, I should have no issues with Product Identity. If there's enough interest, I can always expand on the generic background and create more detail, but that'll be based on what I perceive as demand. smile.gif
But a lot of that work will have to wait until the Limited License is further defined.
Hope this helps,
Flynn
Golan2072
June 20th, 2005, 02:42 AM
Originally posted by Flynn:
Good afternoon, All,
* New Traveller campaign models (i.e. an ATU) that demonstrates Traveller's rules used in alternate settings, since we can't use the OTU.
* New character options, such as new races, careers, etc.
* New technologies, hopefully written to be integrated into T20 (or MT/CT, failing that.)
I intend to submit my Solar Triumvirate ATU for limited license; It's a low-tech (TL12, though higher genetics/electronics/computer tech than usual TL12), small-empire, small-ship universe. I do not have T20 (hopefully, if I'll have a limited license, I will be able to finance it's purchase), though all stats will be CT.
Included will be:
1) A detailed overview of the Solar Triumvirate universe: outlook, atmosphere and history.
2) A detailed discussion of the Solar Triumvirate polity, extended from what I've posted on the IMTU forum, including government, society/culture, military (including ATLEAST a Marine TO&E, maybe even that of certain Army units), economy, technology and Megacorporations.
3) The Solar Triumvirate's fleet, in LBB2 (extended) format (I have Sigg Oddra's permission to use his house rules).
4) A short overview of each of the other polities in the SolTrim universe: the Serpentis Quadrant Alliance, the Consortium, the Post Planetary Matriarchate and the Coreward Autonomous Zone.
5) A subsector-by-subsector map of the SolTrim universe (which is about 18 subsectors total) with UWPs of all worlds.
6) Detailed description of several important worlds, possibly including even biota.
7) Modified game rules (see my house rules thread in the IMTU forum) including many new weapons and equipment (about 60% done on draft paper). Includes several applications of the LBB8 Robotics rules and additional Chargen options ("Political Advisors", extended Belter generation, extended Colonist career, extended Rogue career and extended Scientist career).
Total estimate will be around 30-50 pages, including maps. About 20 of these are already written as draft.
Where do I submit it? And, if accepted, how do I publish it online?
If I won't recieve a limited license for this, I'll release it one-part-at-a-time either on Stellar Reaches or as a Stellar Reaches addon (if Flynn will agree).
Good afternoon, All,
* New Traveller campaign models (i.e. an ATU) that demonstrates Traveller's rules used in alternate settings, since we can't use the OTU.
* New character options, such as new races, careers, etc.
* New technologies, hopefully written to be integrated into T20 (or MT/CT, failing that.)
I intend to submit my Solar Triumvirate ATU for limited license; It's a low-tech (TL12, though higher genetics/electronics/computer tech than usual TL12), small-empire, small-ship universe. I do not have T20 (hopefully, if I'll have a limited license, I will be able to finance it's purchase), though all stats will be CT.
Included will be:
1) A detailed overview of the Solar Triumvirate universe: outlook, atmosphere and history.
2) A detailed discussion of the Solar Triumvirate polity, extended from what I've posted on the IMTU forum, including government, society/culture, military (including ATLEAST a Marine TO&E, maybe even that of certain Army units), economy, technology and Megacorporations.
3) The Solar Triumvirate's fleet, in LBB2 (extended) format (I have Sigg Oddra's permission to use his house rules).
4) A short overview of each of the other polities in the SolTrim universe: the Serpentis Quadrant Alliance, the Consortium, the Post Planetary Matriarchate and the Coreward Autonomous Zone.
5) A subsector-by-subsector map of the SolTrim universe (which is about 18 subsectors total) with UWPs of all worlds.
6) Detailed description of several important worlds, possibly including even biota.
7) Modified game rules (see my house rules thread in the IMTU forum) including many new weapons and equipment (about 60% done on draft paper). Includes several applications of the LBB8 Robotics rules and additional Chargen options ("Political Advisors", extended Belter generation, extended Colonist career, extended Rogue career and extended Scientist career).
Total estimate will be around 30-50 pages, including maps. About 20 of these are already written as draft.
Where do I submit it? And, if accepted, how do I publish it online?
If I won't recieve a limited license for this, I'll release it one-part-at-a-time either on Stellar Reaches or as a Stellar Reaches addon (if Flynn will agree).
Flynn
June 20th, 2005, 09:24 AM
2-4601,
The work you've got sounds interesting so far, and I look forward to seeing what you do with it once the limited license becomes available. Once it is announced that the limited license is open, Hunter and/or Marc will provide details on how you can apply for it, and what the restrictions are.
It is my understanding that, once you have been accepted for the limited license, all you have to do is create the PDF product (or pay someone else to transform your files into a PDF for you), and then use whatever automated process will be set up for you to make it available for sell. There's no need to submit it anywhere if you have the license, since you'll be the final arbitrator on what goes in your own products.
If, for whatever reason, you are not able to get a limited license to release it, I would gladly consider helping you get it out there piecemeal through Stellar Reaches, or offer guidance and suggestions on how you can create your own PDF documents to release it yourself through the file library here or posting it on your own website.
Traveller fans may have rather staunch opinions about things, but they are also the most helpful fanbase I've ever seen, so I'm sure you could get assistance in your projects, if needed.
Hope this helps,
Flynn
The work you've got sounds interesting so far, and I look forward to seeing what you do with it once the limited license becomes available. Once it is announced that the limited license is open, Hunter and/or Marc will provide details on how you can apply for it, and what the restrictions are.
It is my understanding that, once you have been accepted for the limited license, all you have to do is create the PDF product (or pay someone else to transform your files into a PDF for you), and then use whatever automated process will be set up for you to make it available for sell. There's no need to submit it anywhere if you have the license, since you'll be the final arbitrator on what goes in your own products.
If, for whatever reason, you are not able to get a limited license to release it, I would gladly consider helping you get it out there piecemeal through Stellar Reaches, or offer guidance and suggestions on how you can create your own PDF documents to release it yourself through the file library here or posting it on your own website.
Traveller fans may have rather staunch opinions about things, but they are also the most helpful fanbase I've ever seen, so I'm sure you could get assistance in your projects, if needed.
Hope this helps,
Flynn
Golan2072
June 21st, 2005, 05:13 AM
Is there any estimation on when the limited lisence will be available? I'm tending more and more towards releasing MTU for free in Stellar Reaches or a Stellar Reaches Special Edition (you guys deserve it, and besides, I like to discuss MTU and my house rules on the forum in details, so asking for money for something which is freely available on the forum seems absurd). I'm thinking about building a certain adventure in the near future which I'll probably release through limited lisence.
Baron Saarthuran
June 21st, 2005, 06:16 AM
This is a rough overview of what Products I would like to do for Traveller, (aside from doing work for Stellar Reaches, Oh Editor!)
This of course depends on how agreeable the Limited Licsense is. The Baroness is insistant that I do more work that involves the generation of Credits, and I must agree with her wisdom on this.
Currently, I am in the process of creating a "cottage" company called Cambridge Gameworks, a company dedicated to the production of high-quality game materials for the d20 System and others.
Cambridge Gameworks does NOT produce PDF Documents intended for print (though I want to leave that open to possibility) it produces Web Enhancements (hereafter: WE) for games. I make the distinction because one form is limited to the availability of print facilities, and the limits of Production Cost in that arena, and one does not. We believe that the Computer is as important in use to RPGs as pencil, paper, and dice are, and want to bridge the gap of functionality. I intend a printer freindly version with each copy, for those that love paper!
I want to focus on quality of these projects. Quality of Art, Quality of Writing, and Quality of Ideas. I am dedicated to the presentation of the highest quality materials, to ensure that the gaming dollar is well spent, and giving the most value for the cost.
For Traveller, I want to do:
1. Maintain a "News" Blog of generated and simple adventure seeds in the form of News written in the Traveller Style. The Independent Interstellar News (IIN). This is a "freebie" and is more of an exercise in formatting and content.
2. Release a series of 10-page low cost W.E. called "Starships in Focus", each one about a particular ship and its many variants, histories, and plans. All ships are to be new designs and have representative artwork.
3. A series of Planetary and Cultural WE focusing on Specific (non-canonized, I assume) Worlds and the various factors that shape them. These would be from 10-15 pages. This is called the "Logbook" series for now. Artwork
4. A series of Starship WE that present a Catalog of Species-Specific Ships, like the types represented in Book 2, but the ships presented would be the alien equivalents of the "stock types", All new designs here to, with plans, stats, and suchlike. This will include a species specific deckplan symbology system that I have been working on for a bit. Artwork.
Campaign WE Releases:
These are larger WEs, presenting detailed campaigns and everything needed to play them. I propose four, probably the size of one of the gurps offerings.
"Sidur Starhawks" (PCs are astrobatic fighter pilots, in service to a driven Subsector Duke. A Cross between the Three Musketeers and Top Gun.
"Z-Gun" (PCs are all high tech Artillerists, manning the dreaded Z-Gun) This is a miltary Campaign, start to finish, and it blends Characterization with large scale battles and Tactics.
"Traveller 1500" (PCs live in the the Imperial Year 1500. This would be an alternate timeline)
This one should be large, and take a long time to do.
"Bradbury Colony" (PCs work for a development agency that expands into the distant Storr/Hanstone Sectors)
"Topical WEs" These are WEs that I want to do because the topics interest me
"Ten Weeks to Capital" another WE about places, this time ten systems are outlined, A Class Starports on the way to the Captial of the Third Imperium.
"The Young Person's Guide to Charted Space"
This is a mock-children's book about "our" place in the universe. It will be image and vague map heavy, and written simply, as if it were written for children, but not in a condescending manner.
Its a book written for TL 15 kids...
"The Chronicle of Ral Ranta"
This book focuses on our version of the fringe government in the Hinterworlds.
"The Anubian Trade Coalition"
As Above.
Also, it couldn't hurt to do a few books about robots and aliens, of course!
I am not doing any of these under an illusion. I know that Traveller is not my property, but I do like it and like the backgrounds presented, but I sort of need a "GO" signal from the powers that be.
I would like some sort of idea what the Licsencing thing is all about before I commit to production, of course. I have pettitioned several times with request for information on the subject, and so far have heard little on it, aside from what is said here.
At the moment, I am working at legitimizing the company administratively, in addition to covering the asthetics and formatting of the releases, basically laying out pages. I currently lack Acrobat, but I may have to bite the bullet and get it. I have to weigh the economics and practicality of this. I am also gathering the materials (most of it byproduct waste scraps from my day job) to do the Artwork with.
Bear in mind that the above is a rough market plan, and not anything finalized of course.
This of course depends on how agreeable the Limited Licsense is. The Baroness is insistant that I do more work that involves the generation of Credits, and I must agree with her wisdom on this.
Currently, I am in the process of creating a "cottage" company called Cambridge Gameworks, a company dedicated to the production of high-quality game materials for the d20 System and others.
Cambridge Gameworks does NOT produce PDF Documents intended for print (though I want to leave that open to possibility) it produces Web Enhancements (hereafter: WE) for games. I make the distinction because one form is limited to the availability of print facilities, and the limits of Production Cost in that arena, and one does not. We believe that the Computer is as important in use to RPGs as pencil, paper, and dice are, and want to bridge the gap of functionality. I intend a printer freindly version with each copy, for those that love paper!
I want to focus on quality of these projects. Quality of Art, Quality of Writing, and Quality of Ideas. I am dedicated to the presentation of the highest quality materials, to ensure that the gaming dollar is well spent, and giving the most value for the cost.
For Traveller, I want to do:
1. Maintain a "News" Blog of generated and simple adventure seeds in the form of News written in the Traveller Style. The Independent Interstellar News (IIN). This is a "freebie" and is more of an exercise in formatting and content.
2. Release a series of 10-page low cost W.E. called "Starships in Focus", each one about a particular ship and its many variants, histories, and plans. All ships are to be new designs and have representative artwork.
3. A series of Planetary and Cultural WE focusing on Specific (non-canonized, I assume) Worlds and the various factors that shape them. These would be from 10-15 pages. This is called the "Logbook" series for now. Artwork
4. A series of Starship WE that present a Catalog of Species-Specific Ships, like the types represented in Book 2, but the ships presented would be the alien equivalents of the "stock types", All new designs here to, with plans, stats, and suchlike. This will include a species specific deckplan symbology system that I have been working on for a bit. Artwork.
Campaign WE Releases:
These are larger WEs, presenting detailed campaigns and everything needed to play them. I propose four, probably the size of one of the gurps offerings.
"Sidur Starhawks" (PCs are astrobatic fighter pilots, in service to a driven Subsector Duke. A Cross between the Three Musketeers and Top Gun.
"Z-Gun" (PCs are all high tech Artillerists, manning the dreaded Z-Gun) This is a miltary Campaign, start to finish, and it blends Characterization with large scale battles and Tactics.
"Traveller 1500" (PCs live in the the Imperial Year 1500. This would be an alternate timeline)
This one should be large, and take a long time to do.
"Bradbury Colony" (PCs work for a development agency that expands into the distant Storr/Hanstone Sectors)
"Topical WEs" These are WEs that I want to do because the topics interest me
"Ten Weeks to Capital" another WE about places, this time ten systems are outlined, A Class Starports on the way to the Captial of the Third Imperium.
"The Young Person's Guide to Charted Space"
This is a mock-children's book about "our" place in the universe. It will be image and vague map heavy, and written simply, as if it were written for children, but not in a condescending manner.
Its a book written for TL 15 kids...
"The Chronicle of Ral Ranta"
This book focuses on our version of the fringe government in the Hinterworlds.
"The Anubian Trade Coalition"
As Above.
Also, it couldn't hurt to do a few books about robots and aliens, of course!
I am not doing any of these under an illusion. I know that Traveller is not my property, but I do like it and like the backgrounds presented, but I sort of need a "GO" signal from the powers that be.
I would like some sort of idea what the Licsencing thing is all about before I commit to production, of course. I have pettitioned several times with request for information on the subject, and so far have heard little on it, aside from what is said here.
At the moment, I am working at legitimizing the company administratively, in addition to covering the asthetics and formatting of the releases, basically laying out pages. I currently lack Acrobat, but I may have to bite the bullet and get it. I have to weigh the economics and practicality of this. I am also gathering the materials (most of it byproduct waste scraps from my day job) to do the Artwork with.
Bear in mind that the above is a rough market plan, and not anything finalized of course.
Flynn
June 21st, 2005, 10:01 AM
Good morning, All,
To my knowledge, the Limited License will be a go, but there's no news as to when all the legal and marketing details are going to be worked out. Those things take time, and I'm not privvy to any of that information. (All I know is what's been released here on the boards, so your sources of info are as good as mine. Better, if you know someone on the inside...)
I do know that the Limited License will not allow publishers to use the OTU in any fashion, so some of the good Baron's suggestions won't fly as they currently stand. Remove any OTU references and you've got a strong list of products. I would advise you to be careful about promising more than you can deliver, as that is the bane of many PDF and print game publishers alike. (It's also a big part of the reason why I'm not going into details about what I would like to do with the Limited License.)
For those that wish to contribute to the OTU, the Fair Use policy for both QLI and FFE allow you to do so, much as I am with Stellar Reaches, but you cannot make any money from the action. While your work is never officially sanctioned for appearing in such a fanzine or publication, the past has shown that quality work often results in requests to work on official products that may legitimize your efforts, so long as they fit the official view of the OTU.
If/when the Limited License comes to pass, I will investigate what it will take to become involved, and will most likely give it a try. I won't stop publishing Stellar Reaches to do so, unless doing both becomes too burdensome. The fanzine will always consider helping quality work see the light of day. I can't say at this time how FLTGames (the name of my gaming group since 1997 as well as my future LL imprint) will handle the Limited License work, without knowing more specific details about the license. For that, we'll just have to wait and see.
Hope this helps,
Flynn
To my knowledge, the Limited License will be a go, but there's no news as to when all the legal and marketing details are going to be worked out. Those things take time, and I'm not privvy to any of that information. (All I know is what's been released here on the boards, so your sources of info are as good as mine. Better, if you know someone on the inside...)
I do know that the Limited License will not allow publishers to use the OTU in any fashion, so some of the good Baron's suggestions won't fly as they currently stand. Remove any OTU references and you've got a strong list of products. I would advise you to be careful about promising more than you can deliver, as that is the bane of many PDF and print game publishers alike. (It's also a big part of the reason why I'm not going into details about what I would like to do with the Limited License.)
For those that wish to contribute to the OTU, the Fair Use policy for both QLI and FFE allow you to do so, much as I am with Stellar Reaches, but you cannot make any money from the action. While your work is never officially sanctioned for appearing in such a fanzine or publication, the past has shown that quality work often results in requests to work on official products that may legitimize your efforts, so long as they fit the official view of the OTU.
If/when the Limited License comes to pass, I will investigate what it will take to become involved, and will most likely give it a try. I won't stop publishing Stellar Reaches to do so, unless doing both becomes too burdensome. The fanzine will always consider helping quality work see the light of day. I can't say at this time how FLTGames (the name of my gaming group since 1997 as well as my future LL imprint) will handle the Limited License work, without knowing more specific details about the license. For that, we'll just have to wait and see.
Hope this helps,
Flynn
Jame
June 21st, 2005, 11:09 AM
I had something which I PMed to Hunter, but he never replied. Then I lost interest...
Flynn
June 21st, 2005, 11:21 AM
Focus and follow-through are the only way to make something like this work. Stellar Reaches is good practice for me, as I often have issues with both of those elements, and I want to make sure I can consistently deliver if I'm going to tackle something like this.
Hasta,
Flynn
Hasta,
Flynn
Baron Saarthuran
June 21st, 2005, 12:02 PM
I'm not promising anything, but I am starting a game company, with or without Traveller. I have no choice. I must apply the things I have trained all my life to do, it is a question of when. I intend to bite, chew and rend off way more than I can, But it is what I want to do for a living. I find it less productive to look too closely at what other PDF companies are doing, and focus more on what I'm doing. From what I have seen so far, there is indeed a great many companies producing materials, but many of them lack the value for the cost.
No references to the OTU will be severely limiting, and asks the question why should these products have the name Traveller on them at all? It forces writers to develop thier own ideas, yes, but it also dilutes the attention to the topic as much time will be spent reinventing the wheel, (or grav module as the case may be.) on things like character classes and the other stuff that gets repetitive coverage.
Does this also cover use of the design systems, as in we won't be able to use them?
I can understand the Peerage not wnating chaps writing volumes about powerful aliens that unbalance the flow of the OTU. (and I would personally avoid such stuff) A proper Writer's guide would solve this, but then you have to write the writer's guide.
I am at an age and an inclination to find out if my lifelong fascination with robots, aliens, and starships (and games, what?) is going to amount to anything, or if it is a dream best left unrealized, or some sort of delusion. I know that everyone and their grandmother is doing pdfs, but I see a niche, and my instincts tell me to go for it.
Pardon my impatience, but I have officially built my last set for the excreable play "Our Town" for the umpteenth time, and now want to get to something I actually enjoy.
No references to the OTU will be severely limiting, and asks the question why should these products have the name Traveller on them at all? It forces writers to develop thier own ideas, yes, but it also dilutes the attention to the topic as much time will be spent reinventing the wheel, (or grav module as the case may be.) on things like character classes and the other stuff that gets repetitive coverage.
Does this also cover use of the design systems, as in we won't be able to use them?
I can understand the Peerage not wnating chaps writing volumes about powerful aliens that unbalance the flow of the OTU. (and I would personally avoid such stuff) A proper Writer's guide would solve this, but then you have to write the writer's guide.
I am at an age and an inclination to find out if my lifelong fascination with robots, aliens, and starships (and games, what?) is going to amount to anything, or if it is a dream best left unrealized, or some sort of delusion. I know that everyone and their grandmother is doing pdfs, but I see a niche, and my instincts tell me to go for it.
Pardon my impatience, but I have officially built my last set for the excreable play "Our Town" for the umpteenth time, and now want to get to something I actually enjoy.
Flynn
June 21st, 2005, 12:21 PM
To some, Traveller is a set of assumptions for a sci-fi environment, not the OTU (hence the designation ATU). For others, Traveller is a system (although which one is always a matter of friendly and not-so-friendly debate.) For many, Traveller is the OTU.
In order to protect his intellectual property, MWM has said that the OTU is off limits. I can't blame him at all for that.
Hunter has already marketed the idea that ATUs are viable for product lines, based on his marketing strategy for 2320AD and the Honorverse product lines.
What the Limited License will let you do is use the Traveller rules systems (accept for GT) in an ATU. This means you get to use High Guard or T20 or TNE's FS&S to create starships, etc., without any complications, and use the published combat rules, etc., for characters.
There is another way, but probably much harder without developing a rep among Traveller fans first: you can approach MWM directly for a Full License and do work for the OTU.
For example, if I thought that Stellar Reaches was of sufficient quality for me to, say, charge a few bucks per issue, I'd have to go to Marc and convince him that I'm an okay person to let have a Full License.
But I don't have much in the way of a rep among Traveller fans except for a few articles on Freelance Traveller, some PDFs in the QLI file library, a few listings in the credits of a handful of QLI and Avenger products, and an article on a minor race that supplements the Sydymic Cluster Sourcebook. There are guys here that have written full supplements and are listed in more magazines and books than I have in my Traveller collection, which is only somewhat extensive. So I don't know if I have what it takes to approach MWM with a plan to do Full License work in the OTU. (I may, and I may not, but it's not my decision, ultimately.)
So, in short, here's what it'll boil down to:
* Limited License: Full use of Traveller rules systems (except for GT), with no OTU or Product Identity.
* Full License: As Limited License, but can include OTU and Product Identity.
Hope that helps,
Flynn
In order to protect his intellectual property, MWM has said that the OTU is off limits. I can't blame him at all for that.
Hunter has already marketed the idea that ATUs are viable for product lines, based on his marketing strategy for 2320AD and the Honorverse product lines.
What the Limited License will let you do is use the Traveller rules systems (accept for GT) in an ATU. This means you get to use High Guard or T20 or TNE's FS&S to create starships, etc., without any complications, and use the published combat rules, etc., for characters.
There is another way, but probably much harder without developing a rep among Traveller fans first: you can approach MWM directly for a Full License and do work for the OTU.
For example, if I thought that Stellar Reaches was of sufficient quality for me to, say, charge a few bucks per issue, I'd have to go to Marc and convince him that I'm an okay person to let have a Full License.
But I don't have much in the way of a rep among Traveller fans except for a few articles on Freelance Traveller, some PDFs in the QLI file library, a few listings in the credits of a handful of QLI and Avenger products, and an article on a minor race that supplements the Sydymic Cluster Sourcebook. There are guys here that have written full supplements and are listed in more magazines and books than I have in my Traveller collection, which is only somewhat extensive. So I don't know if I have what it takes to approach MWM with a plan to do Full License work in the OTU. (I may, and I may not, but it's not my decision, ultimately.)
So, in short, here's what it'll boil down to:
* Limited License: Full use of Traveller rules systems (except for GT), with no OTU or Product Identity.
* Full License: As Limited License, but can include OTU and Product Identity.
Hope that helps,
Flynn
Fritz_Brown
June 21st, 2005, 01:16 PM
And, Flynn, things like character classes are part of the rules system, not the OTU.
Flynn
June 21st, 2005, 01:32 PM
That's right, Fritz. smile.gif The only thing you can't touch with the Limited License is the OTU and Product Identity. Everything else, from characters and combat to starships and world generation, would be available.
I strongly suggest others interested in the Limited License to develop at least a simple generic background, if not a full-blown ATU setting, from which to hang their work.
Aside from the setting products themselves, however, the more generic the background, the better, particularly if you are planning on releasing books on ships, vehicles, cybernetics, etc. Those kind of things should be developed with a plug-and-play mentality. Locking them to any setting means that they are less likely to used outside of that setting, and you lose some of your audience.
These are things I've noticed from the 3E PDF market, at any rate.
Hope they help,
Flynn
I strongly suggest others interested in the Limited License to develop at least a simple generic background, if not a full-blown ATU setting, from which to hang their work.
Aside from the setting products themselves, however, the more generic the background, the better, particularly if you are planning on releasing books on ships, vehicles, cybernetics, etc. Those kind of things should be developed with a plug-and-play mentality. Locking them to any setting means that they are less likely to used outside of that setting, and you lose some of your audience.
These are things I've noticed from the 3E PDF market, at any rate.
Hope they help,
Flynn
Flynn
June 21st, 2005, 01:44 PM
One Final Note, His Excellency,
I'd suggest that, even if you are going to create your own game company, please don't give up your day job until it's meeting your needs. Some people, like Hunter, are lucky enough to be doing what they love, but they have to juggle that with home and family life, at the risk of not making any of it work.
Joe Fugate wrote on these boards that DGP almost cost him his marriage and his family. He's not alone.
The creative force behind BITS are so busy with their day jobs that they can't work on much BITS stuff at this time, despite their huge success in the past. (They're still out there, though.)
Most people in the business don't make enough money at it to make ends meet, which is why the few that do are held to such high esteem. I am definitely going to look at the Limited License as something I do to bring in a little extra money while doing something I really enjoy, but I'm not quitting my day job over it. (I enjoy Traveller, but I love my family more.)
The more work you put in, and that's required for quality, the less you earn to compensate for that. Many part-timers in the industry usually bring in less than a hundred or two a month, and full-timers rarely make enough to support anyone above college student levels. One guy I read about makes more money painting miniatures and selling them on eBay, but he writes and publishes because it's a dream of his.
The moral of this story: Don't do it expecting to make a living at it, and don't do it for the money. If you're going to do it, do it for the love of the game, and don't rely on it for your rent.
Hope that helps,
Flynn
I'd suggest that, even if you are going to create your own game company, please don't give up your day job until it's meeting your needs. Some people, like Hunter, are lucky enough to be doing what they love, but they have to juggle that with home and family life, at the risk of not making any of it work.
Joe Fugate wrote on these boards that DGP almost cost him his marriage and his family. He's not alone.
The creative force behind BITS are so busy with their day jobs that they can't work on much BITS stuff at this time, despite their huge success in the past. (They're still out there, though.)
Most people in the business don't make enough money at it to make ends meet, which is why the few that do are held to such high esteem. I am definitely going to look at the Limited License as something I do to bring in a little extra money while doing something I really enjoy, but I'm not quitting my day job over it. (I enjoy Traveller, but I love my family more.)
The more work you put in, and that's required for quality, the less you earn to compensate for that. Many part-timers in the industry usually bring in less than a hundred or two a month, and full-timers rarely make enough to support anyone above college student levels. One guy I read about makes more money painting miniatures and selling them on eBay, but he writes and publishes because it's a dream of his.
The moral of this story: Don't do it expecting to make a living at it, and don't do it for the money. If you're going to do it, do it for the love of the game, and don't rely on it for your rent.
Hope that helps,
Flynn
Baron Saarthuran
June 21st, 2005, 07:37 PM
Sound advice, and I second it, though I must point out that every venture has risks. I have heard (and already gone through) many horror stories of the gaming industry, and most of it comes down to RL sidetracking and geek-on-geek flimflammery. Life is full of many such pitfalls. Now that these obstacles are identified, they can be more easily avoided.
I have an ethical structure that makes it impossible for me to screw anyone in a businesslike manner, and it comes from years of being the screwed.
I do not intend to "quit my day job" as I am my own day job. The only way I could quit is when they hammer me into my pine box. I'll take any proper risk if it gets me farther away from schlocky musical theater. I know there is more to life than that.
Also, I am not scared by the risk. And I do not even see it as a risk. If my marriage were to go under for doing something I enjoy, then I married the wrong person. My wife accepted long ago that my true calling is doing "space stuff" and she encourages it, which is what she should do.
Besides, any woman that has Star Trek Videocassetes from her teenage years with the Original (1960s) airdates written on them has no room to crack! I lucked out in that regard, I have a hot wife who is almost as big a geek as I can be, in some cases even more so. (I cite the racks of Buffy DVDs as evidence.)
Many may see this as a thankless, frustrating venture, and I can see the point, but from where I sit, I have nothing to lose, and many things to gain aside from money. If I can create something out of nothing and sell it, even for a nickle, then that's something. Im my case I would be making something out of nothing and trash, what?
I will not be so arrogant as to say that I am out to "change the game" but I am out to bring a level of development to my products that defy some of the conventions of RPG stuff that keeps it RPG stuff.
I have an ethical structure that makes it impossible for me to screw anyone in a businesslike manner, and it comes from years of being the screwed.
I do not intend to "quit my day job" as I am my own day job. The only way I could quit is when they hammer me into my pine box. I'll take any proper risk if it gets me farther away from schlocky musical theater. I know there is more to life than that.
Also, I am not scared by the risk. And I do not even see it as a risk. If my marriage were to go under for doing something I enjoy, then I married the wrong person. My wife accepted long ago that my true calling is doing "space stuff" and she encourages it, which is what she should do.
Besides, any woman that has Star Trek Videocassetes from her teenage years with the Original (1960s) airdates written on them has no room to crack! I lucked out in that regard, I have a hot wife who is almost as big a geek as I can be, in some cases even more so. (I cite the racks of Buffy DVDs as evidence.)
Many may see this as a thankless, frustrating venture, and I can see the point, but from where I sit, I have nothing to lose, and many things to gain aside from money. If I can create something out of nothing and sell it, even for a nickle, then that's something. Im my case I would be making something out of nothing and trash, what?
I will not be so arrogant as to say that I am out to "change the game" but I am out to bring a level of development to my products that defy some of the conventions of RPG stuff that keeps it RPG stuff.
Malenfant
June 21st, 2005, 07:42 PM
Personally, I'm not sure why they don't just release all the Traveller systems (or whatever systems they want to make available for people to use - just not the settings) as OGL and leave it at that. Sounds like it's basically the same intent...
clementk
June 21st, 2005, 10:27 PM
Originally posted by Malenfant:
Personally, I'm not sure why they don't just release all the Traveller systems (or whatever systems they want to make available for people to use - just not the settings) as OGL and leave it at that. Sounds like it's basically the same intent... Except that OGL means no funds from products that use it go back to the original company. I don't believe this is the case with the limited license from what I've seen here on CotI.
I've said before that CT or some edit of it should have been released for free on pdf by now. With even Fudge now gone OGL and some similar methods out there now it's worth looking into for Traveller IMNSHO.
Personally, I'm not sure why they don't just release all the Traveller systems (or whatever systems they want to make available for people to use - just not the settings) as OGL and leave it at that. Sounds like it's basically the same intent... Except that OGL means no funds from products that use it go back to the original company. I don't believe this is the case with the limited license from what I've seen here on CotI.
I've said before that CT or some edit of it should have been released for free on pdf by now. With even Fudge now gone OGL and some similar methods out there now it's worth looking into for Traveller IMNSHO.
Golan2072
June 22nd, 2005, 04:09 AM
Ok, I've made up my mind: I will not charge even a penny for my Solar Triumvirate setting; I'll publish it for free via PDF; you all deserve it smile.gif
My current plan is to publish is piecemeal in Stellar Reaches and then, once complete, publish it as one big PDF with Flynn's help.
My current plan is to publish is piecemeal in Stellar Reaches and then, once complete, publish it as one big PDF with Flynn's help.
Flynn
June 22nd, 2005, 05:56 AM
2-4601,
Sounds like we have a plan. As you can, send me what you have, and we'll look it over.
Looking forward to working with you,
Flynn
Sounds like we have a plan. As you can, send me what you have, and we'll look it over.
Looking forward to working with you,
Flynn
Malenfant
June 22nd, 2005, 12:45 PM
Originally posted by Casey:
Except that OGL means no funds from products that use it go back to the original company. I don't believe this is the case with the limited license from what I've seen here on CotI.Well, apart from the fact that it should drive sales of the rules that it's based on (ie if the CT system goes OGL, then people would buy the CT rulebook). That's how it works for D&D I think. Though it may only work if you have a lot of sales of that to start with.
Except that OGL means no funds from products that use it go back to the original company. I don't believe this is the case with the limited license from what I've seen here on CotI.Well, apart from the fact that it should drive sales of the rules that it's based on (ie if the CT system goes OGL, then people would buy the CT rulebook). That's how it works for D&D I think. Though it may only work if you have a lot of sales of that to start with.
Flynn
June 22nd, 2005, 01:24 PM
Please bear in mind that the reason the SRD works like it does is that there are specific items in character creation/advancement that aren't detailed.
What would CT hold back that would require one to buy the core CT book?
-Flynn
What would CT hold back that would require one to buy the core CT book?
-Flynn
Antony
October 2nd, 2005, 05:49 AM
I was just wondering if there has been any further news regarding the Limited Licences?
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