You have a new game system and you want to give it a boost by getting the license to design a version of your game set in a fictional series or book. However you have very little money. So you can't bid on anything that is popular now. So one option you have is to look for older properties that may have been popular at one time but now they are largely forgotten, even Out of Print. You can also look at fairly new properties that still have a chance to take off. Which of those options do you think is better? And what books come to mind?

Kage Baker's "Ermenwyr" setting. It has "Children of the Sub (humans), "greenies" (eco elf-types), and demons (bound elemental spirits). Steampunkish and clever like Diskworld. Also Baker died age 59 , so her setting never got developed beyond three linked novellas, some shorts and two standalone novels. So it's not burdened by too much canon.

E.R. Eddison's The Worm Ouroboros chronically the war between the King of Witchland and the Lords of Demonland cries out to be made into an RPG. Better yet, it is now in the public domain.

The Deed of Paksenarrion by Elizabeth Moon

I think all the Clark Ashton Smith stuff is in public domain now as well... despite what Arkham House might like to think. So I'd say Zothique, Hyperborea, Averoigne... and his scifi stories.

Timothy Zahn's Conquerors' series would be interesting.

Quote from: Simlasa;985522I think all the Clark Ashton Smith stuff is in public domain now as well... despite what Arkham House might like to think. So I'd say Zothique, Hyperborea, Averoigne... and his scifi stories.

I second this...!!! Or maybe one of Jack Vance's lesser known worlds...Dragon Masters, The Demon Princes, or Tschai.

H:0)

Space: 1999.  Yes, I'm serious.

Quote from: Celestial;985530Space: 1999.  Yes, I'm serious.

My vague memories of that show make me think it would be Cthulhu in Space, so, yeah, that works.

Plus, I still have my Eagle Lander ship from when I was little. The three-foot-long spaceship.

Karl Schroeder's Virga books need to be a Savage Worlds setting

Right now.

Thanks all. Great ideas, although I think DEEDS would be expensive. I like the public domain suggestions. If anyone wants to give more suggestions or tell me to go to Hell or whatever, I will be checking for responses now and then.

Jack Vance, The Dragon Lords: a lost colony genetically engineers gargantuan fighting steeds from captured alien invaders.

It's not quite a licence but imagine a D&D of dystopian futures: A Hand Maid's Tale meets The Lottery meets Hunger Games.  I'm a bit surprised nobody's tried it given the popularity of dystopias with the kids these days.

The Lost World of Skartaris: sure it's a DC imprint that was aimed at Conan, Tarzan, and John Carter fans but seriously, sword and sandals fantasy where the magic is lost Atlantean technology that they got from aliens (see the final Mike Grell miniseries from a couple years ago) where there are still dinosaurs and the moon is a space ship full of slavers and explorers and adventurers from our world get lost and wind up there bringing guns but not enough ammo.  What's not to like?

Quote from: Celestial;985530Space: 1999.  Yes, I'm serious.

That is no joke, I know too many older science fiction fans (myself included) who would love to see the setting licensed for Traveller/Cepheus Engine.

Quote from: Celestial;985530Space: 1999.  Yes, I'm serious.

Whenever these 'what setting?' questions come up I toss in my desire to run/play games set in the greater Andersonverse... which would meld U.F.O. and Space 1999 and Captain Scarlett and The Thunderbirds and Joe 90 and Stingray and Fireball XL-5 and Space Precinct... there's quite a variety in there: mecha, alien invasion, space patrol, espionage, conspiracy, space exploration, etc.

Of course, I'd personally just do it with the IP shaved off and keep the themes and equipment. Except for the Eagles in Space 1999 there's nothing all that iconic about it except for the concept which wouldn't need a licensed game to pull off. I'd probably set it inside some huge asteroid colony rather than Earth's moon... find some nice designs for not-eagles.

Heavy Metal?