Private Eye

Regardless, there is no legal "protection" for discussion, intellectual or otherwise, enshrined in English law. If someone wants to take action against a person or persons in such circumstances, they can do so providing they can establish a cause of action. Depending on the cause alleged there may be specific defenses (eg fair comment, qualified privilege etc in the case of defamation) but they cannot point to a specific right of free speech that would protect them.

Well at the risk of being pedantic, technically it isn't. Leaving aside the issue of "British" law (I will confine myself to English law as opposed to Scottish or Northern Irish), then the general principal is that you can do anything that isn't specifically forbidden. As there is no written constitution, there is in general no specific law protecting peoples' rights. Hence "intellectual discussion" is generally subject to all the normal laws that apply - you can defame someone in intellectual discussion (subject to the usual defences) or run foul of anti-terrorism legislation or race relations law. Whether anyone (including the CPS) would actually prosecute in a given case would depend on a variety of factors, including public policy, but let's not pretend there is an absolute right of free speech in England enshrined in law. There is in the US, enshrined in the constitution, or so I understand it. As regards copyright law, this is very complex in England (and I am sure in the US as well). As well as copyright, there is also trademark law, and action can also be taken under the old principle of "passing off", where members of the public are likely to be mislead as the the source or provenance of goods etc. Good grief, what am I doing - this is supposed to be my hobby not my work! Good luck to anyone producing anything that enhances the BRP experience - hopefully with full approval of all involved.

Good grief! Just reading this makes my eyes bleed - thank heavens for BRP. Slightly more seriously, I have been playing in a Star Wars SAGA edition game, which foreshadows some of the D&D4 changes. No doubt it is a good game that will appeal to many - but it is too rules heavy for my taste, with constant looking up of rules delaying the flow of the action. Tonight, I hope I will be playing Battlestar Galactica BRP - hooray!

I've got a copy of edition zero - don't know if anyone has commented on these two points, but first, are there supposed to be two separate rules for knockback? (page 197 and page 226). Although similar, they are not identical. Also, a typo on page 300 that made me smile - I always thought Captain Nemo sailed 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, but apparently he was exaggerating....

Hello there, I am an old-timer with BRP. I have played it on and off since 2nd ed CoC, and I am excited to see it finally getting the edition it deserves. For intuitiveness and disappearing into the background, I find it one of the best systems ever. I have ed zero and I am really enjoying reading it. The trouble is - what to run first!