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Pen & Paper Roleplaying Central => Pen and Paper Roleplaying Games (RPGs) Discussion => Topic started by: jeff37923 on June 30, 2017, 05:20:38 AM

Title: Unsanctioned FFG Star Wars Organized Play Group?
Post by: jeff37923 on June 30, 2017, 05:20:38 AM
OK, it is late on my days off and I ran across news of this (http://legendsofthegalaxy.com/Legends-of-the-Galaxy), which looks like an attempt to create an unsanctioned FFG Star Wars RPG organized play group. It looks to be FFG specific, but claims to not represent them, which makes me wonder about the legality of it. Does anybody out there know anything bout this? Tenbones, you are the Heavy Toad of Knowledge on FFG Star Wars, have you ever heard of this?
Title: Unsanctioned FFG Star Wars Organized Play Group?
Post by: tenbones on June 30, 2017, 09:58:27 AM
Quote from: jeff37923;972278OK, it is late on my days off and I ran across news of this (http://legendsofthegalaxy.com/Legends-of-the-Galaxy), which looks like an attempt to create an unsanctioned FFG Star Wars RPG organized play group. It looks to be FFG specific, but claims to not represent them, which makes me wonder about the legality of it. Does anybody out there know anything bout this? Tenbones, you are the Heavy Toad of Knowledge on FFG Star Wars, have you ever heard of this?

First I've heard of it. Honestly, there's a lot of FFG hacks out there that *shock* me in terms of how much time/effort people have put into it without looking for money. Some of it looks pretty professional. And not a word or peep from FFG. I know they've put the kibosh on much smaller projects, and seem to be haphazard in their approach. But lately I've noticed a LOT of hacks.

Then this. Man, I honestly don't know the legal ramifications for it. They are asking for money - but it's purely voluntary. I'll give them full credit - it looks like they got their shit together. I wonder if FFG is going to endorse them, or put the hammer down? Will be interesting to watch. If I were FFG I'd support these guys to the hilt.
Title: Unsanctioned FFG Star Wars Organized Play Group?
Post by: jeff37923 on June 30, 2017, 10:29:34 AM
Yeah! I'm not wowed by the game, but I am impressed by the effort behind this. I'm interested in watching it all play out as well.
Title: Unsanctioned FFG Star Wars Organized Play Group?
Post by: Skarg on June 30, 2017, 11:41:31 AM
Why would they try to squash fans organizing a campaign using their game system and requiring every player own all three of their books, even if they are charging something for participation?
Title: Unsanctioned FFG Star Wars Organized Play Group?
Post by: Dumarest on June 30, 2017, 11:50:47 AM
Quote from: Skarg;972321Why would they try to squash fans organizing a campaign using their game system and requiring every player own all three of their books, even if they are charging something for participation?

Because we live in a litigious society and if anything were to go awry they don't want to be liable. People get sued all the time for things they had nothing to do with, and the lawyers will try to rope in anyone even tangentially related, particularly if they scent out deep pockets. I used to see it all the time when I worked for a legal journal.
Title: Unsanctioned FFG Star Wars Organized Play Group?
Post by: Skarg on June 30, 2017, 11:59:48 AM
Quote from: Dumarest;972323Because we live in a litigious society and if anything were to go awry they don't want to be liable. People get sued all the time for things they had nothing to do with, and the lawyers will try to rope in anyone even tangentially related, particularly if they scent out deep pockets. I used to see it all the time when I worked for a legal journal.

Good thing they're apparently not quite below the societal bar of litigious obnoxiousness then. Why would they be more liable for people doing stupid things playing the RPG in this format rather than just playing it in the published format? Or is it just nonsensical litigious paranoia?
Title: Unsanctioned FFG Star Wars Organized Play Group?
Post by: Dumarest on June 30, 2017, 01:39:42 PM
Quote from: Skarg;972327Good thing they're apparently not quite below the societal bar of litigious obnoxiousness then. Why would they be more liable for people doing stupid things playing the RPG in this format rather than just playing it in the published format? Or is it just nonsensical litigious paranoia?

Well, it's usually nonsensical litigious paranoia because they're afraid something will happen and someone (especially someone with an attorney) will say it was an organized event and such-and-so corporation should have known and provided oversight, after all, such-and-so's name is all over everything. The problem I have seen is that such-and-so has no liability (usually) but if anyone were to file an S&C such-and-so would end up having to pay attorneys (or take their on-retainer counsel's time up with frivolities) and sometimes even pay to settle it despite no liability because it's cheaper to pay a nuisance fee than to go to court, in addition to possible bad publicity (and it's nonsense that there's no such thing as bad publicity, just look at Penn State these days). People often think it's Mean Old Corporations when companies disassociate themselves from seemingly harmless events or file a C&D against a mom-and-pop daycare using their cartoon images, but oftentimes it's just a measure to protect themselves from our litigiousness and the way our court system works (I can sue anyone anytime for anything). It's right up there with all the warning labels any reasonably intelligent person finds laughably unnecessary ("DON'T DRINK THE POISON!").
Title: Unsanctioned FFG Star Wars Organized Play Group?
Post by: Justin Alexander on July 01, 2017, 07:10:34 PM
The person running this website is a racist who publicly advocates genocidal practices.

I am deleting my content.

I recommend you do the same.
Title: Unsanctioned FFG Star Wars Organized Play Group?
Post by: Biscuitician on July 02, 2017, 03:52:34 AM
Why would they be under threat of litigation? It's just a campaign. It's not a product they are selling.
Title: Unsanctioned FFG Star Wars Organized Play Group?
Post by: Dumarest on July 02, 2017, 02:28:04 PM
Quote from: Biscuitician;972629Why would they be under threat of litigation? It's just a campaign. It's not a product they are selling.

Welcome to 21st Century America?
Title: Unsanctioned FFG Star Wars Organized Play Group?
Post by: Biscuitician on July 02, 2017, 04:52:57 PM
That doesn't mean anything. There is no chance of them being sued.
Title: Unsanctioned FFG Star Wars Organized Play Group?
Post by: Dumarest on July 02, 2017, 04:58:03 PM
Quote from: Biscuitician;972692That doesn't mean anything. There is no chance of them being sued.

You clearly have no knowledge on the subject if you believe that.
Title: Unsanctioned FFG Star Wars Organized Play Group?
Post by: Biscuitician on July 03, 2017, 02:58:47 AM
Quote from: Dumarest;972695You clearly have no knowledge on the subject if you believe that.

I don't need to be a lawyer to see there is no copyright infrkngement taking place, why are you even wasting time considering this?
Title: Unsanctioned FFG Star Wars Organized Play Group?
Post by: Dumarest on July 03, 2017, 11:03:49 AM
Quote from: Biscuitician;972747I don't need to be a lawyer to see there is no copyright infrkngement taking place, why are you even wasting time considering this?

I was responding to the question. No one said they are infringing anything. I explained why a corporation might be inclined to quash their products being used for events such as those described.

All you're doing is revealing how ignorant you are vis-a-vis lawsuits and litigation in the American court system. More to the point, it's my time to waste; the real question is why are you wasting your time arguing on a topic you clearly know nothing about? Aren't you the same adolescent dalai lama lecturing about worrying about the wrong things in life on another thread? Physician, heal thyself.