Traveller Developer's Pack

[EDG]

I should point out that Mongoose isn't the only company that has defined what Traveller material is releaseable under the OGL - QLI did it as well with T20. So if QLI defined any other terms as being usable under the OGL then there isn't a problem using those.

 

[Tay]

Quick Question re the Foreven Sector

I have read through all the posts, and am still not 100% sure if I can do this, so I thought I'd ask.

I want to take one of the Subsectors of Foreven, Generate the Stats for the Planets. Then flesh out some of those planets, with Corporations, Adventure Hooks, Ancient Sites etc etc.

Can I do this and then sell the PDF, as long as I have signed the relevant forms with Mongoose?

 

[Anonymous]

Short answer yes, long answer yes as long as what your doing is within the limits of the Foreven license and/or the various Traveller SRD's.

You can for example use the history and alternative timelines from Traveller (including older non-Mongoose versions) and terms from the OTU - you do need to look at the licenses and check in more depth the what & hows or the workings.

 

[Rikki Tikki Traveller]

Agreed, you could even use some of the names from the OTU, but you would have to make sure you couched them in how it affected the Foreven Sector.

One example was a ship design. You can say it is made by Ling Standard Products, but you must say that it is a design common in the Foreven Sector. The fact that it is also used in the 3I is not the point, you have to tie everything from the OTU back to the Foreven Sector.

 

[Infojunky]

So, I have looked over the devlopers pack, and no where does it state what a Fan site needs to post as not to offend the the powers that be.....

Any clues?

 

[Rikki Tikki Traveller]

I thought there was something in the Fair Use section about fan sites. Under the FAQ, question 1 has the blurb that you should have on your site.

If you are going to sell stuff, then you have to follow the guidelines of the OGL, which has a different blurb.

Hope that helps.

 

[Infojunky]

I thought there was something in the Fair Use section about fan sites. Under the FAQ, question 1 has the blurb that you should have on your site.

If you are going to sell stuff, then you have to follow the guidelines of the OGL, which has a different blurb.

Hope that helps.

It doesn't, but that isn't your fault.

For now I think I will post the general Fair Use blurb for both FFE and SJG's and a disclaimer for MGT that includes the OGL.

I just am trying to fly a campaign site that encompasses 30 some odd years of running Traveller and supports my current game which like all good Traveller Campaigns is a mis-mash of editions updated to the backgroungy of MTU (My Traveller Universe, for the newer fans).

I just don't want to step on anybodies toes...

 

[Rikki Tikki Traveller]

If you are just posting stuff about your game and not selling anything then the Fair Use Policy covers you.

Per the Fair Use Policy:

We have a liberal Fair Use Policy.

If your activity is non-commercial, you can make copies to support playing the game, you can scan copies for your computer, you can write short programs and spreadsheets which automate processes within the game. You can make copies of pages as handouts for players. You can make web pages in support of Traveller.

The key word is non-commercial. If you are selling what you copy or reproduce, then you violate Fair Use.

The details of Fair Use are covered in the FAQ below.

And then from the FAQ:

1. May I create my own, original works and put them on a web or ftp site or share them with my friends?

Yes, however the Copyright/Trademark holder, Far Future Enterprises requires the following.

a) You don't charge for it.

b) You include the following site-wide disclaimer in the text of a story or article, on a web site:

The Traveller game in all forms is owned by Far Future Enterprises. Copyright 1977 - 2008 Far Future Enterprises. Traveller is a registered trademark of Far Future Enterprises. Far Future permits web sites and
fanzines for this game, provided it contains this notice, that Far Future is notified, and subject to a withdrawal of permission on 90 days notice. The contents of this site are for personal, non-commercial use only. Any use of
Far Future Enterprises's copyrighted material or trademarks anywhere on this web site and its files should not be viewed as a challenge to those copyrights or trademarks. In addition, any program/articles/file on this site cannot be republished or distributed without the consent of the author who contributed it.

It is not necessary that this boilerplate text be on the main page, just so long as there is a pointer to it; an abbreviated main page statement can be

"The Traveller game in all forms is owned by Far Future Enterprises. Copyright 1977 - 2008 Far Future Enterprises."

c) You notify Far Future Enterprises (it is sufficient to email farfuture@farfuture.net) saying "I have a Traveller Web site at this URL: http://www.somewhere.org/some.html" or other similar message.

So it seems to me as long as you post the disclaimers on your site and don't try to sell anything, then you are good to go.

Oh, and send the EMail telling Marc that you have a Traveller Website.

 

[Infojunky]

If you are just posting stuff about your game and not selling anything then the Fair Use Policy covers you.

Per the Fair Use Policy:

We have a liberal Fair Use Policy.

If your activity is non-commercial, you can make copies to support playing the game, you can scan copies for your computer, you can write short programs and spreadsheets which automate processes within the game. You can make copies of pages as handouts for players. You can make web pages in support of Traveller.

The key word is non-commercial. If you are selling what you copy or reproduce, then you violate Fair Use.

The details of Fair Use are covered in the FAQ below.

And then from the FAQ:

1. May I create my own, original works and put them on a web or ftp site or share them with my friends?

Yes, however the Copyright/Trademark holder, Far Future Enterprises requires the following.

a) You don't charge for it.

b) You include the following site-wide disclaimer in the text of a story or article, on a web site:

The Traveller game in all forms is owned by Far Future Enterprises. Copyright 1977 - 2008 Far Future Enterprises. Traveller is a registered trademark of Far Future Enterprises. Far Future permits web sites and
fanzines for this game, provided it contains this notice, that Far Future is notified, and subject to a withdrawal of permission on 90 days notice. The contents of this site are for personal, non-commercial use only. Any use of
Far Future Enterprises's copyrighted material or trademarks anywhere on this web site and its files should not be viewed as a challenge to those copyrights or trademarks. In addition, any program/articles/file on this site cannot be republished or distributed without the consent of the author who contributed it.

It is not necessary that this boilerplate text be on the main page, just so long as there is a pointer to it; an abbreviated main page statement can be

"The Traveller game in all forms is owned by Far Future Enterprises. Copyright 1977 - 2008 Far Future Enterprises."

c) You notify Far Future Enterprises (it is sufficient to email farfuture@farfuture.net) saying "I have a Traveller Web site at this URL: http://www.somewhere.org/some.html" or other similar message.

So it seems to me as long as you post the disclaimers on your site and don't try to sell anything, then you are good to go.

Oh, and send the EMail telling Marc that you have a Traveller Website.

Cool that is the s4ection I was looking for, I knew I had seen it somewheres......

But the last bit can be hard as Marc has had a bad habit of not having a working Email address over the years....

On second read through, this covers Mongoose also?

 

[Vile]

c) You notify Far Future Enterprises (it is sufficient to email farfuture@farfuture.net) saying "I have a Traveller Web site at this URL: http://www.somewhere.org/some.html" or other similar message.

But the last bit can be hard as Marc has had a bad habit of not having a working Email address over the years...

That email address for Marc is valid, and it works. You may or may not get a reply, but as long as you send that email (cc a copy to yourself), you're good to go.

 

[Rikki Tikki Traveller]

Agreed. You don't have to get a REPLY, you just need to send the email.

FUP doesn't cover Mongoose Traveller. For that you have to use the OGL or Foreven.

HOWEVER, the OTU setting that Mongoose is using is the same as CT, so for setting material (not rules) you are OK.

Publishing ship designs using the MGT rules would require the OGL wording, not the FUP wording. You could still have it on your website, but you just need to show a different disclaimer.

 

[Infojunky]

Agreed. You don't have to get a REPLY, you just need to send the email.

Yes, I was getting bounces, not just nothing.

FUP doesn't cover Mongoose Traveller. For that you have to use the OGL or Foreven.

Yes, part of what I am running into, just looking for a valid example of the wording... Though the Asshole part of me say just do it, then show it and let them tell me what to change, which is the course I am on now.

HOWEVER, the OTU setting that Mongoose is using is the same as CT, so for setting material (not rules) you are OK.

I'm ok there as I have long sense abbandoned the Core Traveller universe.

Publishing ship designs using the MGT rules would require the OGL wording, not the FUP wording. You could still have it on your website, but you just need to show a different disclaimer.

Yep, once again it is how do I word it.... I am being supremely lazy here I want a template...

 

[Vile]

And another question coming up:

What's the story on mixing-and-matching SRDs? Such as, for example, taking some bits of character generation, combat and task resolution out of the RuneQuest SRD and splicing it into the Traveller SRD? Is that a product "compatible with Traveller and RuneQuest"? Or only one or the other? Or neither? What kind of cyborg creature have I spawned?

Some official insight from the Mongoose would be appreciated.

 

[Flynn]

And another question coming up:

What's the story on mixing-and-matching SRDs? Such as, for example, taking some bits of character generation, combat and task resolution out of the RuneQuest SRD and splicing it into the Traveller SRD? Is that a product "compatible with Traveller and RuneQuest"? Or only one or the other? Or neither? What kind of cyborg creature have I spawned?

Some official insight from the Mongoose would be appreciated.

If you want to use the Traveller Logo, you have to comply with the TLL. If you want to use the Runequest Logo, you have to comply with the RQLL. I don't know if there's a logo that combines them, but I imagine you'd still have to comply with both logo licenses.

As for using material from multiple SRDs, there's nothing stopping you. Both are released under the same license, and you can mix and match Open Game Content as you see fit. (I did with some of the alien traits in Flynn's Guide to Alien Creation, and intend to intermix some details from multiple SRDs with future products as well.) Be sure to attribute all of your sources in the Section 15 of your OGL declaration.

In theory, you could mix and match from the OGC of QLI's Traveller T20, Mongoose's Traveller, the Modern System Reference Document and the Revised System Reference Document to come up with your own D20-ized version of Traveller, but you couldn't sell it with a Traveller Logo unless you also met the requirements for the TLL in the process.

At least, that's my understanding of just the licenses involved. There may be other issues, but in terms of just the licenses, it's entirely possible. Whether it's okay in the broader sense, I'm not in a position to judge, but it is possible.

With Regards,
Flynn

 

[dmccoy1693]

As for using material from multiple SRDs, there's nothing stopping you.

This. You can add material from any open content source (and there are alot of them) (as long as it uses the Wizards of the Coast OGL).
Examples: Orcus (from Tome of Horrors), dual stated with True20 mechanics, Mongoose's OGL Steampunk or OGL Cybernet (not sure what is and isn't open content in these, but I imagine there's something), and artifacts/magic items from Nemesis IV: Nature's Avengers (written by me).

It all depends on what you want in your product. Mind you, once you stray away from SRDs, be very careful that you are using open content as not everything in non-SRDs are open content.

 

[tneva82]

Quick check. If I want to make some changes to how some rules work(like combat) can I write up altered rules under the current license?

Maybe silly question but I'm new at this sort of thing and don't want to cause legal headaches if I decide to release my work

 

[dmccoy1693]

Quick check. If I want to make some changes to how some rules work(like combat) can I write up altered rules under the current license?

Yes. You cannot present how to produce the 6 characteristics nor can you change their names/abbreviations.

Maybe silly question but I'm new at this sort of thing and don't want to cause legal headaches if I decide to release my work

Not a silly question at all. Legal stuff can be a real headache if done wrong. Fortunately the licenses (the open game license and the Traveller Logo License) really are easy to read and understand. I highly recommend reading them.

But in truth, if you're not sure about what you're doing, I'd recommend going through an existing publisher. I'm willing to bet that any of the existing Traveller publishers would be willing to talk with you about publishing such a thing. We'd handle all the legal end of it, the advertising, artwork, etc, all you'd have to do is write it up and get paid for it (and talk about it on the internet, if you so desire).

 

[Flynn]

Quick check. If I want to make some changes to how some rules work(like combat) can I write up altered rules under the current license?

Yes. You cannot present how to produce the 6 characteristics nor can you change their names/abbreviations.

Actually, this is not a problem if you are not using the Traveller Logo License. If you are just using the OGL, and you are not going to use the Traveller logo, then you can change the characteristics as you see fit.

11. Gaming books produced under this agreement may not detail the process of generating and assigning scores to Characteristics. In addition, the terms used for Characteristics (Strength, Dexterity, Endurance, Intelligence, Education and Social Standing) may not be changed. They may be abbreviated to Str, Dex, End, Int, Edu, and Soc respectively. Readers may be referred to the Traveller (TM) Main Rulebook in order to generate and assign scores to Characteristics.

Hope This Helps,
Flynn

 

[tneva82]

Yes. You cannot present how to produce the 6 characteristics nor can you change their names/abbreviations.

Coming to this is there issues about creating new characteristics? Specifically magic points(which I don't allocate quite the same way as psi-powers are) and fate points(which are similar to what are in Conan RPG)?

Magic powers might be bit of issue since they are tad too close to reqular characteristics. Would it be more correct to say they are generated in same way as reqular charasteristics for example?

But in truth, if you're not sure about what you're doing, I'd recommend going through an existing publisher. I'm willing to bet that any of the existing Traveller publishers would be willing to talk with you about publishing such a thing. We'd handle all the legal end of it, the advertising, artwork, etc, all you'd have to do is write it up and get paid for it (and talk about it on the internet, if you so desire).

I doubt many publishers would be particulary interested in my Sword&Sorcery conversion for traveler rules. I'm not pro designer and it shows in the quality ;-) Odds are nobody would be interested in paying one dime for them so why would publishers be interested in spending time for it?

Nevermind artwork etc(especially since it's for S&S and not sci-fi so any stock art they might have is pretty much ruled out from the get-go).

 

[dmccoy1693]

Yes. You cannot present how to produce the 6 characteristics nor can you change their names/abbreviations.

Coming to this is there issues about creating new characteristics? Specifically magic points(which I don't allocate quite the same way as psi-powers are) and fate points(which are similar to what are in Conan RPG)?

Magic powers might be bit of issue since they are tad too close to reqular characteristics. Would it be more correct to say they are generated in same way as reqular charasteristics for example?

But in truth, if you're not sure about what you're doing, I'd recommend going through an existing publisher. I'm willing to bet that any of the existing Traveller publishers would be willing to talk with you about publishing such a thing. We'd handle all the legal end of it, the advertising, artwork, etc, all you'd have to do is write it up and get paid for it (and talk about it on the internet, if you so desire).

I doubt many publishers would be particulary interested in my Sword&Sorcery conversion for traveler rules. I'm not pro designer and it shows in the quality ;-) Odds are nobody would be interested in paying one dime for them so why would publishers be interested in spending time for it?

Nevermind artwork etc(especially since it's for S&S and not sci-fi so any stock art they might have is pretty much ruled out from the get-go).

Sending PM.