Snakeskin on 21/3/2007 at 11:52
Have anyone got any info on the thief license? If it is possibly up fpr sale, price, what copyrights are included/not included? :sly:
David on 21/3/2007 at 12:19
It is owned by Eidos, probably not for sale it is a 'live' IP as, I believe, a fourth Thief game was offered to a development studio in late 2005 / early 2006, however they turned it down.
If it were for sale I would expect offers in the excess of five million US dollars, although I could be way out, obviously.
Snakeskin on 21/3/2007 at 18:08
Expensive license that.. thing is i have an Pen&Paper RPG in developement, and as it sits now its pretty complete rulewise (currently playtestign with a group of friends and they LOVE it).
The things left all have to do with the thief universe, creating spells, wepaons, describing districts and factions and such. A lot of it is already complete but id guess about 2/3 of the story is left.
I have also finished one 2-3-session adventure and are beginning on several more.
I am trying to find out what chances i have of eventually putting this thing on the market, thus the licensing question. Does anybody know how these things work? Contacting Eidos, and getting allowed to use their "world" ?
SD on 21/3/2007 at 18:25
Quote Posted by Snakeskin
Contacting Eidos
Yes. This is always a good idea if you're planning on using Eidos' intellectual property.
OrbWeaver on 22/3/2007 at 11:30
Or you could just create it in a "Thief-like" universe, using different names and such. This would achieve near enough the same effect but without requiring hefty licence fees.
Muzman on 22/3/2007 at 11:52
They might sell you an option for a fairly reasonable price. But you'd probably have to show interest from a publisher
Snakeskin on 23/3/2007 at 12:36
I guess so. Then the first step would be to create a draft and contact a publisher.. good to know. thx.
Solabusca on 23/3/2007 at 20:59
Quote Posted by Snakeskin
I guess so. Then the first step would be to create a draft and contact a publisher.. good to know. thx.
Well, I'll wish you luck, Snakeskin - but I'll be honest; I really don't think that you've got a particularly good chance.
Realistically speaking, if Eidos were to ever allow the Thief series to be licensed as a TTRPG, it'd doubtful would be to "some guy and a home-brew". It'd have to have one of the larger RPG companies behind it for anyone at Eidos to sit up and take notice.
I know that there's a Forge-based* conversion that's pretty much published - it's Thief with the numbers filed off (called "All's Quiet..."), and it's pretty interesting.
I've got my own Savage Worlds conversion that's about to finish up layout for a PDF release (a not-for-profit Savaging for other like-minded gamers), and could see Great White Games publishing something more 'official' if ever there was interest OR profit (they've already picked up a few very lucrative licenses of late, including the WizKids Pirates of the Spanish Main setting and The Solomon Kane setting). And there is interest - wherever gamers congregate, someone talks about Thief.
I'm sure someone could slap together a True20 or Iron Heroes conversion with next to no trouble.
In short - much as I laud you for your desire to publish (and profit from) the Definitive Thief Tabletop RPG, I think that your chances to successfully acquire the license are slim indeed - who knows how many other companies have an option on it, or would indeed pounce on it, should said license be made available?
.j.
* - For those not in the know, (http://www.indie-rpgs.com/forum/) The Forge is a site dedicated to coming up with innovative new concepts in story-gaming and table-top roleplaying.[Edit to add: Snakeskin, I urge you once again to take a look at the ins-and-outs of game design - I've posted a link to the Forge upthread, and in past have directed you to RPGnet - the latter has a number of industry professionals who regularly post there, and a lot of folks who've become part of the industry because of their involvement with others on that site!]
