In writing StarCluster 3, I have rolled almost everything that was a supplement in SC 2 into the main book - Robots, Aliens, Created Creatures, Vehicle Design, Spaceship Design, Weapon Design, Religion, Biotech, and more. So some of the playtesters who were familiar with SC 2 have asked me what I was planning on making available as support.

Thing is, I'm going through a big change in attitude with regard to supplements. I want to make SC 3 completely capable of standing alone, with only the core rulebook necessary. Towards the end of SC 2's effective lifetime, the core book alone would *not* give you the full StarCluster experience. When I recruited a new player for an online game, I sometimes sent half a dozen different gamebooks just so they could create a character will all options "on". That was a pain in the butt for me, let alone someone who wasn't the designer! The rules were scattered over a ton of optional materials, and it was hard to remember just where the relevant stuff was. I'm really happy with this aspect of SC 3 - you really do have everything you need.

So, supplements you need are out. Supplements you might want are in. Timesavers, or kickstarts to your imagination.

One fertile area would be pre-made sectors. Sets of connected star systems, areas you could adventure in. They would be set up so that you could connect them together as required, or use one as a base and expand it yourself, or tack one onto a self-created Cluster.

Systems and Worlds might also be available. Things like Glorianna and Chariot, which you could place anywhere in your own sectors.

Sets of pre-created ships, vehicles, and/or weapons would be cool too. Specialty items for specific purposes.

Expansions would also be cool, so long as they expand and not re-create. A Psionics book that gave some rare PSI skills, along with professions to obtain them. Books on Backwards (Tech Level 5-7) or Primitive (Tech Level 0-4) worlds with education, professions, equipment, and cultural overviews would rock, and are most probable to be forthcoming from us.

That leaves what you all will come up with.

What will be different is that I'm opening up the system and setting for development by others. Not only am I perfectly OK with non-commercial development, I'll be putting a commerical RPG development package containing SC 3 and a license to create and sell anything you like for SC 3 up for purchase, for $1 more than the standard DL. So, if I sell SC 3 in pdf for $12, as is very likely, for $13, you can get the SC 3 pdf and the license, with an official logo you can put on your product. All you have to do is register it after purchase. The only reason you need to register it is some people hide their names in pdf shopping, and without registering, I can't verify if you have a license or not.

How's that sound?

-clash

You're the King of cool, Clash.

Quote from: One Horse Town;398240You're the King of cool, Clash.

Thanks, Dan!

-clash

The more I play around with the rules (i'm making my own sector right now) the more I can see this game as a toolkit for whatever you want to do.   I am thinking of making a one-world cyberpunk game.

Quote from: gonster;398279The more I play around with the rules (i'm making my own sector right now) the more I can see this game as a toolkit for whatever you want to do.   I am thinking of making a one-world cyberpunk game.

Hi gonster!

Glad you are enjoying it! That's really what I had in mind - a SF toolkit that you can make your own.

-clash

From today's blog post:


I've had some nice feedback from folks from various fora on my plans for SC 3 licensing. Here's some ideas put forward:

• Tailor the Developer's Game Book to Developers
• Supply some illos and discuss formatting so that the licensed stuff has the right "look"
• Vet the licensees to ensure quality
• Charge more for the license. The cost is too low
• Tailor the licenses, giving some guidance to the licensees
• As Bill said, "Nebuleon: StarCluster"

Tailoring the Developer's Book is a great idea. I'm first of all moving the Design Notes out of the standard book and into the Developer's Book. Design Notes in a game have always struck me as utterly useless. I did them for StarCluster 2, at the advice of a coupe of friends who happen to be game designers. I realize now that they were representing their own point of view, not that of the regular game group. I will be expanding the Notes as well, and channeling them towards Licensee use. I also will be explaining how to design a mechanic to fit the drop-in interface.

I have some extra illos that didn't make it into SC 3, along with some I could possibly do before the game is released. As the illustrator, I can't pass the buck on this one, and it's a matter of time. Nobody will want the layout specs. On my best days, I can aspire to ugly but clear. Any yahoo off the streets caould probably do better.

I can't both vet the Licensees and keep the cost low. I want to draw hobbyists and guys doing it for fun as well as more established types. I will also not be publishing this under my own game company - these will all be self published. I will be publishing my own supplements as well, so folks can rely on the quality they expect from Flying Mice Games. Anyone else's works they will have to take their chances.

Like I said before, I want anyone to be able to afford this license. If you came up with a cool idea for your own game group, why not publish it? You don't have to pay anything if you keep it non-commercial, but if you want to test the waters of ecommerce, you can do so without a huge investment. The more the merrier, because - as Stalin said, quantity has a quality all of its own.

Tailoring the license is a neat idea. I gave some boundaries of what I am looking for in my original post, and I should maybe expand on this.

As for Nebuleon: StarCluster, it would work just dandy. SC 3 is an Anything Machine for Science Fiction. Adapting existing settings for the game would be a matter of describing things in terms SC 3 understands. Nebuleon actually has a lot of commonality with StarCluster in the back story - refugee humans fleeing a catastrophe that has engulfed their lost homeworld and establishing themselves in a new place - so it would be a sweet fit.

Be back with more once I've thought all this through. Please keep coming up with comments!

-clash

By the way, gonster, were you thinking of publishing your cyberpunk rules, either for free or for pay? I, for one, would love to see what you come up with!

-clash

Kick ass brother! When and where can I buy the print version?

Quote from: Sigmund;398551Kick ass brother! When and where can I buy the print version?

Hi Sigmund!

As of right now, the end of September/beginning of October on Lulu, Amazon, and B&N. If I can find a distribution partner, I will get it into the shops.

-clash

I was just gonna do it for myself at first -- if it shapes up to something decent, I'll let you see a copy.

By the way, how would you stat up a late 21st century earth?

Quote from: gonster;399418I was just gonna do it for myself at first -- if it shapes up to something decent, I'll let you see a copy.

That would rock!

QuoteBy the way, how would you stat up a late 21st century earth?

Depends on your feelings about how things were going.

Being optimistic, I'd give it "Earthlike - wet, Independent, TL 8, State, Billions, Human. Conditions: Crowded, Wet, Steamy. Cultural Traits: Fractious 3, Hot-tempered 2, Greedy 2. Political Traits: Burdensome 2, Paternalistic 2, Bureaucratic 2, Popular 1"

-clash