So what next for conan?

[Troll66]

So what next for Conan? If mongoose still have a license what can they do with it. Stick with D20. Move on to a RQ edition? Exactly what will CPI allow them to do?

I would really like to see a Steel and Sorcery SW game which is essentially Conan with the serial numbers filed off. Then release a couple of free D20 conversion files or something to accompany (complete it)...why not?

 

[flatscan]

Several reasons. The main reason is brand name recognition. I can't claim this for everyone, but I know I myself plunked down the serious cost for the original, beautiful, full-color tittied book because I'm a Conan fan and had missed the boat on previous attempts at a Conan RPG (though in retrospect, none of them seem all that good IMO). It would be a huge gamble on any publishers part to create a generic sword & sorcery RPG. I know the SW guys have made a few unique settings and any publisher would likely have to do the same just to have an appeal to the general RPG buying public, like Barbarians of Lemuria. Is it sword & sorcery? Sure. Is it Conan? Not as it's presented in in the core book. And if you're willing to fiddle with the setting to make it a Conan setting than you should be willing to do that for an already existing SW rules set (I've heard the SW of Solomon Kane rules translate to Conan fairly easily).

Also, my understanding of the OGL itself prohibits creating conversion material from OGL material to another system and vice versa. The exception was d20 Call of Cthulhu, but since it was published by WotC (the license holders) it didn't apply. Fading Suns d20, for instance, could not publish, via dead tree or an online conversion tool, from their VPS system to the d20 system. Since Conan is an OGL game Mongoose's hands are legally tied on that front.

As to what's next, only Mongoose knows (and maybe they don't...yet). I await the future of my favorite RPG with bated breath. :?

 

[Demetrio]

yes, as I see it the biggest problem with Savage Worlds (or indeed any system) Conan presented under another title is that actually the setting is quite important.

If you produce, let us say Savage Worlds Kohnun (okay you'd have to be subtler than that...), that's dandy. You have a Conan inspired set of sword and sorcery rules tailored from SW. But what next? How can you do a supplement without blowing the gaff? Adventures, sure, you could do them and keep the setting vague enough. But no country-specific source material. You'd be limited to adventures and crunch in your supplements.

And as Flatscan say, the actual Conan name is a huge part of the draw from a commercial point of view.

 

[Strom]

And as Flatscan say, the actual Conan name is a huge part of the draw from a commercial point of view.

True. The name Conan and also the world of Conan created by Howard together form the nucleus of a Conan game. Even with the big 2 pieces a great game is not a given - as flatscan mentioned. That is why I devour the Mongoose Conan RPG - it's official, has all the right ingredients and is cooked just right to produce an excellent entrée of Howard's Conan, sword & sorcery and heroic fantasy.

Whatever system is coming - it may not taste just right. No guarantee it will be better than the Mongoose Conan RPG.

 

[Nagisawa]

What's next? Good question, because I think that Paradox has more or less pretty much killed all production, past and present, of any Conan products for whatever financial reasons that they wanted. Usually when someone puts a cease and desist on a product line, it's usually the end of it.

 

[Spectator]

What's next? Good question, because I think that Paradox has more or less pretty much killed all production, past and present, of any Conan products for whatever financial reasons that they wanted. Usually when someone puts a cease and desist on a product line, it's usually the end of it.

Wrong.
They have you believing that they have the power of production.
OGL is wide open.
Conan is public domain (I would risk my reputation as a lawyer to argue that!).
Thus I think you are only limited by your inhibitions.
Again, if you are afraid of legal action and potential fees set up a corporation. I can do that in 30 minutes and online in Florida for the cost $100.00, last time I checked.
It is easier than you think.

I feel like Morpheus in the Matrix beckoning all the young lads with great dreams, talents, and hopes who are in disbelief that an alternate reality, where they are in control, actually exists.

 

[PrinceYyrkoon]

What's next? Good question, because I think that Paradox has more or less pretty much killed all production, past and present, of any Conan products for whatever financial reasons that they wanted. Usually when someone puts a cease and desist on a product line, it's usually the end of it.

Wrong.
They have you believing that they have the power of production.
OGL is wide open.
Conan is public domain (I would risk my reputation as a lawyer to argue that!).
Thus I think you are only limited by your inhibitions.
Again, if you are afraid of legal action and potential fees set up a corporation. I can do that in 30 minutes and online in Florida for the cost $100.00, last time I checked.
It is easier than you think.

I feel like Morpheus in the Matrix beckoning all the young lads with great dreams, talents, and hopes who are in disbelief that an alternate reality, where they are in control, actually exists.

Ive asked a legal guy about this, and heres pretty much what he says...(though do not accept this as actual legal advice...)

Conan is a trademark, you cant use anything with the name 'Conan' on it. This is before you get to any copyright issues here. You cannot, in any way, reference the look of Conan, as described in any story, or illustration without getting into trouble. All any company with a claim has to do is slap an injunction on you, and you have to stop trading and defend yourself legally, with the threat of having everything youve done, legally taken away.

So, you may do some material about a generic barbarian, but you cannot call him Conan, or have him have any relation to Hyboria. You cannot reference his melancholies, or be inspried by any Frazetta picture of him being 'indomitable', etc..

This is the situation.

 

[TheTruthHurts]

Okay enough time has passed and it's time for a response dude. All the people have spoken, all the companies that were involved have responded, dude it's time for you to 'buck up' and let us know what you think or any ideas you might want to throw around. Hell we can do it over drinks but man you have got to 'throw us a bone'.

If you are going to continue with some new products and support the line, then tell us. If you are pissed at CPI and don't want to waste your time anymore, then tell us. But for god's sake man, I mean I am starting to drink like a whole lot of alcohol here.

Dude, really? It's time for you to speak.

Truth

 

[PrinceYyrkoon]

Okay enough time has passed and it's time for a response dude. All the people have spoken, all the companies that were involved have responded, dude it's time for you to 'buck up' and let us know what you think or any ideas you might want to throw around. Hell we can do it over drinks but man you have got to 'throw us a bone'.

If you are going to continue with some new products and support the line, then tell us. If you are pissed at CPI and don't want to waste your time anymore, then tell us. But for god's sake man, I mean I am starting to drink like a whole lot of alcohol here.

Dude, really? It's time for you to speak.

Truth

Who's 'dude'?

 

[TheTruthHurts]

Dude, did you read the subject title of my posting? "Matt an Answer".

Hello?

 

[PrinceYyrkoon]

Dude, did you read the subject title of my posting? "Matt an Answer".

Hello?

I must admit I didnt read it too closely, it sounded pretty incoherent.

What, you want to make him tell you Mongooses future plans?! :lol:

Why does he need to?You have the option of not buying Mongoose stuff, dont you?

 

[zozotroll]

This is about the most open forum there is for an RPG comapany. Even though we all want to know whats up, it will take some time for them to get an answer.

Matt is a stand up guy. He will tell us what he can when he knows.

 

[Tal]

This is about the most open forum there is for an RPG comapany. Even though we all want to know whats up, it will take some time for them to get an answer.

Matt is a stand up guy. He will tell us what he can when he knows.

Agreed. It will take a while, they just got the rug pulled out from under them. I'm sure they will let us know when they can.

 

[TheTruthHurts]

Was the 'Rug pulled out' from undernath him, or did he simply not do his research correctly concerning his rights under the license?

Okay, I will wait a little longer but let me ask you a serious question: Does this sound like the same answer to every period of time when Conan has been delayed? Aren't you getting a little tired of it?

Truth

 

[Tal]

Was the 'Rug pulled out' from undernath him, or did he simply not do his research correctly concerning his rights under the license?

Okay, I will wait a little longer but let me ask you a serious question: Does this sound like the same answer to every period of time when Conan has been delayed? Aren't you getting a little tired of it?

Truth

From what little we know, yes it sounds like the rug was pull out from underneath them. As far as am I getting tired of it No. I am Runequest fan from the RQ 3 days so delays of this short a period of time are not a big deal to me. I am also a Slaine fan. Plus this is a licensed product and that adds alot more complications to things.
I can think of many a game company that has not been nearly as forcoming of information regarding their own properties let alone a licensed property. I can think of several companies that used to be more forthcoming of information that stopped because the fan base would complain when books were delayed or did not materialized.
Heck before the internet you basically got information of what was coming out one of several differant ways. Go to the store and see what was on the shelf, read a magazine like Dragon that used to give upcoming releases, find a catalog or product listing at the store or in an already released product or if you were on good terms with the people working at the store sometimes you could get a heads up from them. Compared to how we used to get information on upcoming releases we are quite spoiled today.

 

[MongooseMatt]

Okay enough time has passed and it's time for a response dude.

Well, dude, you have to understand that just a few days have passed since we found out about this ourselves. You also have to understand that we don't just pull out plans for entire lines out of our backsides on a whim.

To change the course of a line is a very long and very exacting process, involving the writers and editors, discussing what works and what doesn't, and building an exciting set of books that does the property credit.

Then we have to work out what is likely to sell, and what fans are really after. All that then has to be integrated into both a release and production schedule, without disrupting everything else we are doing.

This takes time. Today, I have to make sure certain Paranoia products go to print, account for an editor's schedule as they prepare to take a week off work, help out with a flood of mail orders we have had, find some time to continue development of a new game we have coming out early next year, and make sure a certain distributor upholds their end of a bargain that was made some time ago. That is on top of explaining our actions on the forums.

You want some pressure? Whatever we do with Conan will _not_ be rushed. It will be weighed and considered, and I would hope to have some answers around the end of November - right about the time of the State of the Mongoose, dude.

 

[PrinceYyrkoon]

:lol:

Well done Matt!

 

[Troll66]

If you take the view that the license may go from Mongoose next time around well there is just time I think for the goose to get that RQ Conan book out given that it is part devleoped. Vincent's Atlas work could come out as a supplement: 'mini Atlas' or world book to with RQ ststs in.
If CPI are cool with a sngle final release.

This would test the sales number crunching and if it sells well (why would it not! Most of 'us' would support it!!) give the Goose some real leverage come future license negotiations. Of course it would have to be a bang spanking top of the range quality product: sound rules conversion, full colour, beautifully illustrated etc.

Oh go on Goose make my day!

 

[Demetrio]

Yes, I enjoyed that reply.

Honestly I like to see campaigns for settings (and I think Conan was really getting to grips with how best to do them) than country sourcebooks. A sourcebook is okay, but it tends to say: hey, here are a bunch of race and class feats and extra abilities, and here is some background knowledge and flavour on a specific area. Now go forth and spend time making adventures for the setting.

Whereas a campaign says, here's some linked adventures with area background samlessly presented. Now go forth and play.

Betrayer of Asgard wasn't perfect. But it was, I think, the Conan supplement that we've got the most enjoyment from and I was gutted to see more crunch and less adventure in the subsequent published books.

More campaigns!

 

[TheTruthHurts]

I got you to say 'Dude' and pull stuff out of your bum. Man you and I really need to have a drink together.

Okay, I will wait and say no more. I am looking forward to next months announcements.