David Johansen
Legendary Pubber
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Did we get Dallas?
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And a very strange publication it was. I have it, and got a fair bit of use out of it as source material years ago - but there’s not quite a game there. I was never really sure who the intended audience was.1970's - 1980's
Flash Gordon & The Warriors of Mongo (1977) is the earliest licensed RPG I know of
Is this the one that came with the solo adventures? Man, the nostalgia. I actually got another copy of that book recently.The Lost World: Jurassic Park RPG (1997)
There was a big discussion about it on TBP. I remember some quote that someone else said captured her feelings on the topic. I interpreted it as crapping on folks who like to play in others ip as lesser writers or hacks. I think working within the constraints of someone else's rules can take more work. It's part of the reason despite really liking Marvel and DC I don't really want to play in their worlds. I don't want to comply with all the lore.She felt rpgs were about archetype and stories were about character. There's some truth to that sometimes I suppose.
So there were quite a few.
I actually wouldn't have that problem with comic books. Both Marvel and DC have canon alternative timelines and they retcon stuff all the time anyway, so you can actually do almost anything you want.There was a big discussion about it on TBP. I remember some quote that someone else said captured her feelings on the topic. I interpreted it as crapping on folks who like to play in others ip as lesser writers or hacks. I think working within the constraints of someone else's rules can take more work. It's part of the reason despite really liking Marvel and DC I don't really want to play in their worlds. I don't want to comply with all the lore.
So the problem I had was others knowing various lore and trying to play into that in various ways. It didn't have to have attitude on annoyance either. Like someone makes a comment about X from the characters past that I just don't get because I just like the character. I don't love it and read everything about it. Not related necessarily to the GM either. It's just dealing with folks who love comics showing there love but it can be a bit much for those of us just kinda into them.I actually wouldn't have that problem with comic books. Both Marvel and DC have canon alternative timelines and they retcon stuff all the time anyway, so you can actually do almost anything you want.
Now, Forgotten Realms on the other hand... if I ever run a full campaign set there, I'm going to go back to the 1e box set and pretend nothing else ever got published.
Is this the one that came with the solo adventures? Man, the nostalgia. I actually got another copy of that book recently.
There was a big discussion about it on TBP. I remember some quote that someone else said captured her feelings on the topic. I interpreted it as crapping on folks who like to play in others ip as lesser writers or hacks. I think working within the constraints of someone else's rules can take more work. It's part of the reason despite really liking Marvel and DC I don't really want to play in their worlds. I don't want to comply with all the lore.
I actually wouldn't have that problem with comic books. Both Marvel and DC have canon alternative timelines and they retcon stuff all the time anyway, so you can actually do almost anything you want.
Now, Forgotten Realms on the other hand... if I ever run a full campaign set there, I'm going to go back to the 1e box set and pretend nothing else ever got published.
Well to be fair I don't know if that quote was directed specifically at RPGs or at writing in other IP in general. Even that I felt was pretty insulting to a lot of authors. Michael Stackpole is an author who has written in several different IPs. I don't think that makes those works lesser works just because he accepted some limitations. And if that isn't what she meant then what was the point of the comment? As usual over at TBP it rapidly devolved from a question of why can't we get an Earthsea RPG to anyone questioning the author is wrong.These writers seem to have a fundamental misunderstanding of RPGs, insisting on seeing them as a writing or storytelling exercise. When they're primarily about the gameplay experience, with the story just being incidental. People who want to play games based on their IPs just want to immerse themselves into their worlds—get a taste of "living" within them—not write amateur fan fiction.
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Teenagers from Outer Space 3rd ed (1997, licensed the anime Lum for this edition)
Rowlings objection was definitely about the creation of IP outside of her control -whether that's fanfic or whatever. She just wants control so no licensed game. Ironically of course you end up with a million knockoffs. And it's not like anyone who read The Books of Magic would think that Harry Potter was so fricken original.Well to be fair I don't know if that quote was directed specifically at RPGs or at writing in other IP in general. Even that I felt was pretty insulting to a lot of authors. Michael Stackpole is an author who has written in several different IPs. I don't think that makes those works lesser works just because he accepted some limitations. And if that isn't what she meant then what was the point of the comment? As usual over at TBP it rapidly devolved from a question of why can't we get an Earthsea RPG to anyone questioning the author is wrong.
I don't think that's correct. It's certainly not in the legal information block in the book.
The 3rd edition in particular is a homage to Urusei Yatsura, but the Lum-like characters are definitely inspired-by and not licensed versions.
I believe there were roleplaying games for Dallas and Neighbours in the 80's. I even have a fanzine which had created a scenario for Neighbours which was a bit of a Dusk til Dawn type twist - you start playing it straight then there is an attack by ravening weresheep - the ewepocalypse.
The Willow game was released in April, 1988. Did some image searching on eBay. Written by Greg Costikyan, so it might be interesting.1990's
Aliens (1990)
Buck Rogers: XXVc (1990)
Cadillacs & Dinosaurs (1990)
Adventures of Luther Arkwright (1991)
Amber Diceless Role-Playing (1991)
Timelord (1991)
Superbabes (1992)
Wizards (1992)
Albedo (1993)
Bram Stoker's Dracula (1993)
Elric! (1993)
Prime Directive (1993)
World Wrestling Federation RPG (1993)
Pirates of Dark Water (1994)
Street Fighter: The Storytelling Game (1994)
World of Indiana Jones (1994)
Project A-Ko (1995)
Species (1995)
Tank Girl (1995)
World of Aden (1995)
World of Necroscope (1995)
Tales from the Crypt (1996)
Bubblegum Crisis (1997)
The Lost World: Jurassic Park RPG (1997)
Men in Black (1997)
Teenagers from Outer Space 3rd ed (1997, licensed the anime Lum for this edition)
Usagi Yojimbo (1997)
Armored Troopers VOTOMS (1998)
Dragonball Z (1998)
Hercules & Xena (1998)
Marvel Superheroes Adventure Game ("SAGA", 1998)
Sailor Moon RPG (1998)
Star Trek: The Next Generation RPG (1998)
DC Universe RPG (1999)
Demon City Shinjuku (1999)
Dominion Tank Police (1999)
Jack Vance's Lyonesse RPG (1999)
Ranma 1/2 (1999)
Star Trek (1999)
Ones I haven't found dates for: I know there was a Willow RPG boxed set, I'm guessing early 90's, also this list is only published core gamelines, not licensed supplements, I know there were Conan, Red Sonja, and Lankhmar modules published by TSR, and numerous licensed GURPs supplements, and probably other more obscure ones, like the Elvira supplement for Chill
The Willow game was released in April, 1988. Did some image searching on eBay. Written by Greg Costikyan, so it might be interesting.
In this specific instance, it's a good demonstration that big games like Pathfinder, Shadowrun, Rifts, WFRP, SLA Industries et al are actually two completely separate properties - the mechanics and the setting. Roleplayers have been hacking licensed settings into other game systems since time immemorial - imagine the amount of Star Wars hacks out there! - and this is basically just the same thing gone corporate; Paizo realising that there's an audience out there for their settings even if they're not interested in the rules.And speaking of Savage Worlds, that reminds me that we're now seeing different RPG companies licensing each other, which is a great example of David Johansen's point.
JKR doesn't want other people playing with her toys; she's incredibly hands-on even down to micromanaging the content of the rides at the theme parks.Such a missed opportunity, cuz unlike many IPs, Potter Universe actually lends itself to making your own characters and playing in that world. The existence of Hogwarts itself already implies there's a wizarding factory popping out wizards every year, other than just the main characters. So there's an inbuilt reason to make new ones.
On the flip side RPGs into films doesn't go so well. Not looking forward to another mess of a D&D film. Maybe if they mess it up they could really harm the D&D brand.
That said, I'm not sure this would be as much of a moneyspinner nowadays as people think -
MERP was amazing for the sheer volume and depth of material plus Angus McBride (RIP) art. Can't ever say I enjoyed much playing the Middle Earth gameworld and the NPCs were eye popping with their abilities and magic gear and overshadowed the PCs in every way pretty much. had the most fun ditching the ME part of MERP and dungeon delving with the rules.
What have been the best licensed RPGs - not just in rules or presentation, but support and sheer enjoyment that they give for playing in that particular universe?
Oh yes - I think it would have a very good quarter or two, but would then rapidly sink. It wouldn't be perpetually hanging around the tops of the sales charts like the Star Wars or even Alien games, whereas a lot of people think it would become a fixture up there.Even now, with 10 movies in the franchise across multiple time periods, it would be only ideology to suggest that an official Harry Potter RPG wouldn't be the best selling game of the year, briefly eclipsing D&D.
What have been the best licensed RPGs - not just in rules or presentation, but support and sheer enjoyment that they give for playing in that particular universe?
And the worst?
Where could they have gone right, changed things, done more/less/different and they generally wasted the IP?
The legacy of Star Wars is three awful prequels and still the fandom are in step.The big test of whether a Harry Potter RPG would sell or not is likely to be Hogwarts Legacy I think.
Hogwarts Legacy is a specific upcoming computer game!The legacy of Star Wars is three awful prequels and still the fandom are in step.
(Though I worry how much the protagonisation of Darth Vader has helped with populist notions)
Heh, which shows how much attention I pay toHogwarts Legacy is a specific upcoming computer game!
It's decent but unexciting. (Which is pretty much how I'd describe all of the Lego games).Not to metion the Lego Harry Potter computer game
LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
Build the adventure from Privet Drive to the Triwizard Tournament and experience the magiwww.gog.com
Never played it, no idea what it's like, I don't even like Harry Potter, but it is on sale if anyone does.
One other fun MC fact, originally John Carpenter was going to make Mutant Chronicles and made Ghosts of Mars instead.
One of my complaints about running licensed games is that too many players desperately want to meet, fight, or fuck the characters from the story.
And then my tea exploded out of my nostrils.It was ONE hobbit. Sheesh.