We knew the Ars Magica crowdfunder was coming, but there’s been a twist!
The game system and setting will be released under an open license, thanks to an upcoming crowdfunding campaign starting October 15th at 11 am Central US time on BackerKit.com.
As an early stretch goal, the crowdfunding campaign plans to release the core rulebook text under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International license. This open license would permit fans to freely share, adapt, and expand upon the core mechanics and the Mythic Europe setting, enabling them to sell their derivative works.
Depending on the level of backer support during the campaign, all of Ars Magica’s 5th Edition sourcebooks could also be released under an open license. Stretch goals are planned later in the campaign to potentially license the existing 40+ titles in this edition, which delve into the rich details of the Mythic Europe setting.
John Nephew founded Atlas Games in 1990 to create Ars Magica adventures under license from Lion Rampant. In 1996, Atlas Games acquired the entire game from Wizards of the Coast. Subsequently, they released the 4th and 5th Editions, which included 65 supplements.
In a press release, John noted;
Ars Magica has never had an open license, yet still the internet is full of fan-created content, which is something we’ve always quietly encouraged. That speaks more than anything to the game’s devoted and creative fan following, and the importance of this license to make our support explicit.”
Michelle Nephew, the project’s Co-Producer, as well as co-owner of Atlas Games, told Geek Native about the news (thank you) and, in the same press release, added;
We’ve had the amazing opportunity to publish Ars Magica for over three decades, supported by that devoted fan community. As the stewards of this incredible piece of roleplaying history, John and I feel it’s time to give back to our fans, and let them take the game in new directions we haven’t had the resources to explore. It’s our way of fostering a vibrant community of creators, and ensuring the game’s longevity for generations to come.”
Last but not least is Line Developer David Chart, who said,
Anyone who wants can write for the game, and charge people for what they make. I very much hope that this will be a new beginning, and that the amount of material available to build on will encourage lots of people to do so. Their creativity will determine the game’s legacy and it will be more than I can imagine.”
Quick Links
- Crowdfunding: Ars Magica.
- David’s Patreon.
Thoughts? Can you contribute to this article? Share your insight in the comments below.
