Software for VAS (and ACTA) - status of ship stats?

[Firedrake]

I've written some software which will print out VAS (and ACTA) ship and aircraft cards, ready to play. I'd like to make this available, either for people to run on their own machines or as an on-line service.

However, this would necessarily include the ship stats, or it wouldn't be much use. I am assuming that, since Mongoose would like to keep selling copies of the books, they wouldn't want me to distribute those numbers.

Is there a way round this?

 

[Myrm]

I see two options:

1) Talk to Mongoose directly for permissions where needed - IP rights don't stop you doing everything with respect to a given IP, they stop you doing certain protected things if you don't have the rights-owner's permission
2) Allow user input to the software to let the player construct their ships themselves.

Both might be worth using - talking to Mongoose will tell you what they do/don't like or formally frame things up and the second option is quite handy if you were to add it, at least from my perspective as a user, to be able to input new ships people dream up or get from other sources (there being a number of people making adding ships for VaS that are not included in core rules) and allows for expansion with new versions of ACtA

Note there are several ship card downloads around the web regularly mentioned here, so either the data is not inherently protected or Mongoose have worked with people before - either way that means it looks good for you being able to use your software in some form. I am not a lawyer so cannot tell you which of the above is the accurate answer however....talking to Mongoose will at least tell you what they think the answer is.

 

[lastbesthope]

In the old B5 ACTA days there were many ship viewer webistes, some with printable cards, that included ship stats. It was the printing of rules that Mongoose didn't want people doing IIRC.

LBH

 

[Firedrake]

I've emailed with Matthew about this. Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[rcbecker1]

Yes Id be interested in that if you get it out. I believe the rules are the issue. Ships sheets not an issue as long as stuff is attentioned: rules and subject matter copy right Mongoose.

 

[jdagee]

I think Army Builder has VaS stats available

 

[rcbecker1]

Agreed. Just dont attach any rules.

 

[Firedrake]

The current status of my project is that I'm building a web-based interface to the thing - on the basis that most people can't cope with a plain and simple command line these days - and once there's something to see, we'll see.