When is "New" New?
When looking over all the options for publishing via Chaosium, WOTC, MRQ, others et al, at what point is a product considered "original" with regard to the rules.
To make a setting, almost all of that is original work done by the author, flavor text, etc.
When doing up equipment, it seems that you run a good chance of making a lot of "similar" items...there are only so many swords, pole arms and armor types after all.
With sci-fi, there is a bit more freedom, but a lot of will have a "derivative" feel to it.
The above are givens, the fruit of our creative labors....the question I am asking is a bit more esoteric.
"When using a published rules set, how much change/how many changes can that system support before it becomes something new"?
Basically, you use BRP or Silhoutte or D20 and are using their rules set to create settings, campaigns, etc. but modify the rules set (house rules, options, GM fiat, etc.), at what point, in your opinion, do the new rules change the rules set to an extent to where it is something "new" and not "derivative" (if there is even a difference in your mind)?
This is an opinion question only.
-STS
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