Borrowing From...

Ghost Whistler · October 11, 2010, 10:18:41 AM

Unknown Armies, in its credits, lists that it borrows the Blast rules from Feng Shui. To be acciurate the author did have a part in the production of both games (iirc). Is this a good thing? Should more games borrow things that work rather than reinvent the wheel? Specifically not just basic mechanics; the Blast rules refer to magical attacks (as opposed to just a dice rolling mechanism).

ggroy · October 11, 2010, 10:51:38 AM

Quote from: Ghost Whistler;409136Unknown Armies, in its credits, lists that it borrows the Blast rules from Feng Shui. To be acciurate the author did have a part in the production of both games (iirc). Is this a good thing? Should more games borrow things that work rather than reinvent the wheel? Specifically not just basic mechanics; the Blast rules refer to magical attacks (as opposed to just a dice rolling mechanism).

Probably depends on how litigious the other party is, from whom one is "borrowing" things from.

For a very small operation, just hiring an attorney and the legal fees involved can put such a small operation out of business.

Novastar · October 11, 2010, 11:41:42 AM

Quote from: ggroy;409138Probably depends on how litigious the other party is, from whom one is "borrowing" things from.

For a very small operation, just hiring an attorney and the legal fees involved can put such a small operation out of business.

Or you know, they could work out some way the author could use the same mechanic in their game, whether a one-time licensing fee, or the author doing a book for the original owner.

There's lots of ways to work something like this out, without having to go to "FU, I'm stealing it!" and "I'll sue you!"

(but as you said, it depends on the people involved)

Simlasa · October 11, 2010, 03:24:35 PM

I thought you couldn't copyright rules mechanisms, just the specific wording of them? So things like Gore... which 'borrows' its system from BRP are legally in the clear.
It seems polite of UA to acknowledge the source of the rule.

crkrueger · October 11, 2010, 03:52:48 PM

You're right, you can't copyright game systems, only the exact expression of them (ie, the wording). You can lift a mechanic from any system you want and as long as you rewrite it, it's not actionable. Basically, I think the guy did it as a courtesy.

As far the idea itself, why not? If you can incorporate several mechanics lifted from other games, you can create something different from the sum of its parts. You also have the possible familiarity your audience might have with the mechanic as a plus.

Spinachcat · October 11, 2010, 04:43:48 PM

You should always polish your outright theft so it appears wildly original to those unfamiliar with the source material.

It's how Shakespeare, Lucasfilm and Disney made their fortunes.

RPGPundit · October 12, 2010, 08:08:53 PM

Quote from: Spinachcat;409186You should always polish your outright theft so it appears wildly original to those unfamiliar with the source material.

It's how Shakespeare, Lucasfilm and Disney made their fortunes.

That's what I always do, and its almost always wildly successful.

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Borrowing From...

Ghost Whistler

ggroy

Novastar

Simlasa

crkrueger

Spinachcat

RPGPundit