In response to yesterday’s post About Tabletop Games Based on Licensed Properties, some folks asked questions that resulted in some follow-up thoughts. One of the most important questions came from Egg Embry, who noted that some licenses are bigger than others, and asked if that influenced the amount of work involved (in terms of the approval process, etc.)?

And it very much can be an influence. But also, there are lots of factors that can influence that, and they aren’t all obvious.

For example, some IPs are just a massive amount of information, and going through it all can take time. Star Wars and Star Trek just have more data about their IPs than many properties, and not all of that info is considered canon. That increases the time needed to get up to speed, and the research any new idea may require.

But there are also just differences in what various licensors have as resources, and require for approvals. Some have highly detailed setting bibles they can send licensees to work off of, which are updated with new information and even note data that is no longer considered official. Others have nothing of note, and might require a licensee to annotate where every idea or supposition if drawn from. Some have entire departments dedicated to combing over submissions from licensees to ensure they meet the IP’s style, tone, and content, while others assign a single assistant to read it over and see if it seems okay.

Some creators don’t care what a licensed game says, because they’re just going to ignore it. Others care very much, since they want all their IP’s related products to be in agreement. Some authors don’t want to be bothered with licensed product questions, while (much more rarely, but delightfully when it happens) some creators are involved and engaged, seeing licensees as a resource to help ask questions and build their worlds.

It can be extremely difficult to know which is which IP in advance. Some is obvious–things with lots of sources and lots of other licensed properties is likely to take more research. others are luck of the draw–an I{ based on a series of books that also have a current hit TV show may be extremely protective and precious about their hard-wrought IP… or they may be happy to allow nearly anything. Some IP holders promptly send back comments, notes, and approvals, while others get so busy that even if they mean well, the approval process can hold up new released by months or even years.

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