I'm not the greatest Larry Niven fan (specifically his writing style and his habit of revealing crucial plot elements right at the end - a kind of science fiction version of Agatha Christie), but I do like his Ringworld book and its creation. I suppose it was the first book I encountered which had a proper sci-fi setting.

As a RPG game Ringworld by Chaosium is nothing special, buts its the sheer amount of background source material that you really enjoy. I have the box set, but I dream of the day it gets a re-release so I have a better chance of meeting someone who also wants to play it.

Does anyone know of what's the status on this?

Out of print for ages, as far as I understand.

The game's premise is awesome. The sandbox idea is cool too. I've never played the game personally, but I've heard about it.

Last I heard, the Ringworld RPG suffered from getting caught in the middle of a lawsuit from the computer game company that did Niven & Pournelle's Inferno. I don't know if Chaosium can ever resolve that one legally so that Ringworld can be re-issued. I'd like to see it updated and republished myself, mainly because I am a Known Space fan.

The fact that the game is powered by the BRP system, and its one that works for fantasy and science fiction, its the perfect sandbox game.

It would be a shame if it never got republished because of someone else's issues...

Quote from: Lawbag;379107It would be a shame if it never got republished because of someone else's issues...

You mean like JK Rowling's issues with role-playing games? :rolleyes:

Yeah. I still haven't gotten over it. No Official Harry Potter RPG. For fuck's sakes. Talk about a lost opportunity.

Quote from: Benoist;379110No Official Harry Potter RPG. For fuck's sakes. Talk about a lost opportunity.

No doubt, talk about a golden cash cow.

Quote from: Drohem;379113No doubt, talk about a golden cash cow.

Not from her perspective. It's kind of debased copper from where she's standing.

Quote from: Benoist;379110You mean like JK Rowling's issues with role-playing games? :rolleyes:

It isn't like the JK Rowling situation. It is better described in this thread from the Mongoose Publishing forum. Larry Niven and Chaosium love the idea of the Ringworld RPG, it is just that the rights to do so are owned by an agent who wants to license them for a movie or TV mini-series.

Quote from: Benoist;379110You mean like JK Rowling's issues with role-playing games? :rolleyes:

IP Nazis?

Quote from: Peregrin;379147IP Nazis?

Well I don't remember the exact quote, but Rowling does seem to have a problem with RPGs in particular.

That's just stupid.  On her part.  That's just colossally stupid.  If she'd licensed such a thing...ahh...don't get me started.

There was interest some time ago in doing a Known Space RPG that had Niven's approval, but the Ringworld rights interfered again.

The Ringworld rights apparently incorporated many signature elements, such as Kzinti, Puppeteers, etc. that to remove them from a Known Space setting would be utterly ludicrous.

Damned if this doesn't make me want to run a Ringworld campaign... I have the core set and the companion, and may even have the two issues of Different Worlds with articles.

Quote from: Benoist;379150Well I don't remember the exact quote, but Rowling does seem to have a problem with RPGs in particular.

From what I gather, she's afraid that putting it into the RP realm will "open up" her material, and since part of their branding is strict protection of the IP as well as consistency, putting the license out for use in a medium more amorphous would be working against that.

Hell, she hates fanfic, too, so *shrug*.  Most writers would take such things as flattery.

On topic, though, I really wish they'd re-release Ringworld.  I've seen it, and it looks awesome, but I'd really like to, you know, have a real copy rather than relying on illegal sources just so I can read it.

Quote from: Lawbag;379096As a RPG game Ringworld by Chaosium is nothing special

I beg to differ. The writing, editing and production values are top-notch, and it is a very workable game, with as you said, comprehensive background information. One of the high-water marks of 80s RPG design.

I have the old RW RPG, not in perfect condition but still readable, and I think it was absolutely top notch in all ways, even the B&W art was great. Loved the illo of the kzin head going from normal to combat mode. (At the time I had little experience with rpgs, so didn't mind the chargen system. Now I prefer custom character creation models.)

As to lawyers and "IP nazis" keeping a RW or KS rpg off the market, it just goes to prove Shakespeare was onto something...

 I found it funny that the Harrp Potter author has something against RPGs. What, they're satanic or something? Does she know how many people think her work is a "gateway to satanism"?