[RQ-Rules] Re: New RQ

[Peter Maranci]

Thanks, Steve. That clears up a lot for me; it pretty much confirms my fears 
and suspicions.

I hate when that happens.

So Greg/Mongoose are using the copyright/trademark loophole (i.e. you can't 
copyright a game system, only the specific wording used to describe it) to 
make their own copy of BRP, which they will market as "RuneQuest". This will 
compete with Chaosium's new DBRP. And all of this is probably the 
continuation of a feud between Greg and Chaosium.

Interesting.

It does seem kind of unfair! At the least both systems should credit Steve, 
and probably include a plug for SPQR as well.

The implications are also kind of disturbing; if Greg can use the BRP system 
without Chaosium's permission, then so can anyone else. *I* could. And the 
same applies to any other RPG. Sounds, well, chaotic. In a way, it's like 
forcing BRP to become open source, at least until someone with lawyers gets 
involved.

The whole thing bothers me. If the Mongoose RQ is being made against the 
will of the creators and owners of BRP, then I don't know if I could support 
it in good conscience - even if it IS a well-made version (which I don't 
know, since I haven't seen it).

Damn. Stupid political infighting. Why the hell do people always have to 
screw everything up with their personality issues? 

-- 
Peter Maranci - pmaranci at gmail.com
Pete's RuneQuest & Roleplaying! http://www.runequest.org/rq.htm