This is a question I have been pondering over the past few months. Specifically, I have been reading a bunch of rules, reviews, and game settings. The reasons are simple enough. I have a super geek medical condition. First, I like to read rules, design notes, reviews about games.Secondly,, I am looking for a new game setting or two to run at the table.
Anyway I have been looking at some sci-fi games recently. Star Trek Adventures, Westend Games Star Wars, Traveller (Mongoose 1and 2 edition), Star without Numbers, etc....
The crux of the issue is lore and geeks. I freely admit I like Star War and Star Trek but I don’t know the lore...at all. I’m lucky if I can remember the names of the major protagonists and antagonist, and the general plot line. The issue is GMing for people who KNOW the lore. They watch the movies, the tv shows, read the books, forums, write fan fiction...in the words of the big-eyed squid commander “it’s a trap.” I have a story about running FFG’s Star Wars at a FLGS to teach the rules and explain the dice. It turned into a three hour nerd fight over social dynamics of Jawa and Hut culture...
Anyway, It’s a factor I always consider now. The pitfalls of a well known franchise on the game.