SPECIAL acronym

[ZountCero]

I just have a quick question regarding the SPECIAL acronym. Does anyone know if it is copyrighted in any way? Probably to Bethesda, I would assume if it is?

I'm mostly curious because I am working on a browser based post apoc MUD, and hell if I can't come up with anything better than the combination of Strength, Perception, Endurance, Charisma, Intelligence, Agility, and Luck.

I'd appreciate any input on this, or possibly any other suggestions. I'm a huge fan of Fallout, but I'm certainly not trying to make "Fallout MUD" or anything--I just think the system is really great.

 

[SuAside]

if i recall correctly SPECIAL was invented after Steven Jackson Games recalled the ruleset that Fallout was supposed to use, so Tim Cain & company invented something new (under a horrible name, until someone noticed it could be called 'SPECIAL' as well).

so, if anyone has the copyright, it's Interplay. but since Lionheart used a system similar to it, i dont know if there really is a copyright.

 

[Sander]

Interplay has the copyright to SPECIAL. If you use the acronym SPECIAL to denote those things, you could be in trouble. So rearrange the letters and rename agility to dexterity or somesuch.

 

[ZountCero]

so, if anyone has the copyright, it's Interplay. but since Lionheart used a system similar to it, i dont know if there really is a copyright.

Last I checked, Lionheart was developed by Black-Isle (Interplay), and published by Interplay. So I'm not sure where you're going with that.

Interplay has the copyright to SPECIAL. If you use the acronym SPECIAL to denote those things, you could be in trouble. So rearrange the letters and rename agility to dexterity or somesuch.

Do they? I didn't think they were still really around. I figured that since after Bethesda bought the Fallout license, that they would own the system now. Hmm.

Either way, you're right--I probably ought to just make my own system. I was just curious, though. Didn't want to have to reinvent the wheel if I didn't have to.

 

[SuAside]

Bethesda bought the license for a given set of sequels, not the whole thing. so they dont own it at all, they just have the license to use it a few times.

as for Lionheart, yes, you're right, but i dont know what the deal was with Interplay/BI/Reflexive.

 

[Sander]

Bethesda bought the license for a given set of sequels, not the whole thing. so they dont own it at all, they just have the license to use it a few times.

as for Lionheart, yes, you're right, but i dont know what the deal was with Interplay/BI/Reflexive.

Interplay gave them the right to use SPECIAL for Lionheart. Interplay still owns the Intellectual Property, though.

 

[chang]

Interplay has the copyright to SPECIAL. If you use the acronym SPECIAL to denote those things, you could be in trouble. So rearrange the letters and rename agility to dexterity or somesuch.

hmm... that's an idea, SPLICED maybe, Strength, Perception, Luck, Inteligence, Charisma, Endurance, Dexterity. Though admittedly, it is a very bald-faced rip-off.

 

[Ratty Sr.]

You could ditch Luck altogether and call it SPICED or something.