A legal question about modding....

[Lord of Hunger]

Hi, another long time lurker, first time poster. I'm planning on doing an expansion mod for TSL involving a new planet, quest, and complex economic system.

 

However, if I do this mod I would like to avoid any legal issues. I'm hoping that somewhat can clarify this for me.

 

Here is my problem: I'm planning on including both a bank and a stock market exchange system. You will be able to invest your money in various factions like the Republic, Czerka Corporation, Exchange, and others. But the catch is that the player's actions determine the vitality of such groups (securing Khoonda and stopping the Civil War on Onderon would help the Republic, exposing Lorso hurts Czerka, etc.). Technically, this constitutes insider-trading.

 

Now given that KOTOR and TSL promote steroid use (stims), it seems unlikely that LucasArts would have an issue here. But personally, I do not want LA (or Obsidian) suing my butt off, so could anyone clarify if there is an issue here?

 

Thank you for reading!

[Chevron 7 locke]

I really don't see an issue here. as long as it's kept inside the game

[Darth Payne]

There is already a bank type mod for tsl, nothing like what you have in mind though.

 

It is more like an ATM machine, It lets you withdraw up to 1 million credits (i think, there were a lot of zeros though).

 

Your idea sounds like a lot of fun for both LS players as well as DS players.

[Jae Onasi]

No one can technically give legal advice on this other than a lawyer.

However, given that they have gambling with Pazaak, I'm thinking stock market stuff would likely not be much of an issue, but I'm not a lawyer so my opinion is worth about as much as any other's..

 

Clarification on stim use: we don't know that it's steroid use. Since stim use has a short term and immediate effect, and steroids take longer to have an effect and don't wear off quickly, I doubt it's a steroid thing. Besides, a galaxy that has kolto and space travel probably doesn''t need steroids...

[Lord of Hunger]

@ Chevron 7 locke:

 

Thank you for replying. Hopefully you're right.

 

@ Darth Payne:

 

I've seen the bank mods on KOTORfiles. You are right, they're not quite what I have in mind. You see, on the planet I plan to create (though I'll need help since I know nothing about modding), you'll be able to acquire bank notes from people you kill, bribe, or persuade, and you'll get access to the contents of their accounts. Some of it is illegal contraband, however, so that'll add to the mod experience.

 

The Stock Market has both Light Side and Dark Side options, and you can seek advice from several other investors. Certain illegal options are provided by the Exchange and other groups. Also, you can collect stock in the same way as you do with bank notes.

 

@ Jae Onasi:

 

On stim use, it is technically performance enhancing drugs. You jab the needle into your flesh and you get a bonus to your traits for a temporary amount of time.

 

On Pazaak, you're definitely right. However, gambling is legal for adults while insider trading isn't, so I still may have a problem.

 

In any event, thank you all for posting. I'll be waiting for more replies.

[Mandalore_The_Great]

doesn't seem to me there would be any problems... after all, there is a drug dealer on Korriban in K1, not to mention the killing of people for no reason on both games....

[Lord of Hunger]

Well, I have pondered over all your posts and concluded that it is unlikely that this will be a problem. However, I may decide to make the act of insider trading a dark side act and add a Republic police confrontation (that can easily be avoided by Force Persuade or even Persuade). I'll have some companies that are not affected by the Exile's actions to allow light side play.

 

In any event, I'll be announcing my project soon, but I'm an absolute noob at modding (I've read about modding on this site but have no knowledge of scripting) so I'll need experienced modders to help me out. If you'd like to join, just post in this thread or the one I'll create for the project. Thanks!

[Thankteamgizka]

hopefully TSLs stock market will be better than the real one

[Lord of Hunger]

Unfortunately, not. The Republic is on the verge of collapse, so the Stock Market is as well. And mere light side or dark side acts will not fix it. You can go absolutely dark side and drain its remaining vitality by investing in the Hutts (whose greed will speed the economic decline) or investing in the Exchange (which will take over major corporations and suck them dry). Investing in Czerka and/or the Republic itself will increase vitality (yes, I know, Czerka is not a light side group, but they make major investments that are vital to the Republic outside of Telos).

 

However, repairing the Stock Market does not save the Republic nor does destroying it doom the Republic. You can save the Republic by saving Onderon, Telos, and Dantooine and have a complete meltdown, and visa versa.

[Ultimate Vader]

Your idea sounds good. What if you add more planets, maybe five more, add a complex economy system, so it really looks like a galaxy. Also add some nice fanfics that work with your idea. And add more ending.

[Lord of Hunger]

Thank you, Ultimate Vader. Since I have no experience in modding yet and barely any knowledge of it, most of my contributions will be the storyline itself. I'm getting part of my inspiration from silveredge9's work with the Brotherhood of Shadow and Solomon's Revenge, so I'm planning on making this a series of mods so that way if after the first one I decide not do any more the storyline will not be harmed by a lack of resolution. Most likely this will be a trilogy, each one adding a new planet. The first one will feature a core world called Ator (a planet in the Star Wars EU that is only known as where some of Luke and Anakin's relatives came from, supposedly has a lot of "puzzles").

 

Also, since my mod doesn't necessarily have to be canon, I will include a level that shows the origins of Darth Nihilus (who you can probably deduce from my username as my favorite all-time Dark Lord of the Sith). I will be starting a new thread soon.