free 4E?

Flynn · Jun 27, 2008

Fantasy Concepts uses a lot of the Saga-esque mechanics derived from OGC. Instead of daily powers, FC has powers that are activated by Action Points. In terms of creating an OGL 4E, you could use many of the same sources that Fantasy Concepts used, and it would not be hard at all to derive a 4E-esque OGL game.

However, the question remains, as always: while you can do it, why would you want to? Is it just for the challenge? Or do you have other plans in mind?

With Regards,
Flynn

kcmopd1913 · Jun 27, 2008

I think the reason why Flynn is to get around the GLS by WoTC. Make a similar 4E game using the OGL.

Flynn · Jun 27, 2008

kcmopd1913 said:
I think the reason why Flynn is to get around the GLS by WoTC. Make a similar 4E game using the OGL.

I imagine that was the motivation, but I think that path might lead to trouble in the future. That's only my opinion, of course, but I would suggest people consider carefully before doing anything like this for profit.

With Regards,
Flynn

jmucchiello · Jun 28, 2008

Flynn said:
I imagine that was the motivation, but I think that path might lead to trouble in the future. That's only my opinion, of course, but I would suggest people consider carefully before doing anything like this for profit.

Not to worry. The plan outlined above is self-defeating. If I flip through a book labeled "For use with the 4th edition of the most popular FRPG" and find all this terminology that doesn't match the standard terms in D&D 4e, will I think it is compatible with D&D? Some might. Others won't.

The real trick is finding OGC sources for the real 4e terms and that can only get you 80-90% of the way there. It's bad enough that you could not use the block format used by WotC (that is certainly trade dress they would defend). But once you start modifying or substituting terms, you have problems.

Angellis_ater · Jun 28, 2008

Well, theoretically, one could publish these "4E OGL" rules for free, but they would serve as eminent basis for writing 4E support material under the OGL.

Moon-Lancer · Jul 1, 2008

jmucchiello said:
Not to worry. The plan outlined above is self-defeating. If I flip through a book labeled "For use with the 4th edition of the most popular FRPG" and find all this terminology that doesn't match the standard terms in D&D 4e, will I think it is compatible with D&D? Some might. Others won't.

The real trick is finding OGC sources for the real 4e terms and that can only get you 80-90% of the way there. It's bad enough that you could not use the block format used by WotC (that is certainly trade dress they would defend). But once you start modifying or substituting terms, you have problems.

i dont think a 4e srd ogl would need to come from only other ogl games. The other 20 to 10 percent are most likely going to be game mechanics. as long as you don't copy the text directly but state rules in your own words... maybe i missed the boat. am i wrong?

Angellis_ater · Jul 1, 2008

jmucchiello said:
Not to worry. The plan outlined above is self-defeating. If I flip through a book labeled "For use with the 4th edition of the most popular FRPG" and find all this terminology that doesn't match the standard terms in D&D 4e, will I think it is compatible with D&D? Some might. Others won't.

The real trick is finding OGC sources for the real 4e terms and that can only get you 80-90% of the way there. It's bad enough that you could not use the block format used by WotC (that is certainly trade dress they would defend). But once you start modifying or substituting terms, you have problems.

For most current gamers, "4E" is well-known enough for most people so there wouldn't even need to be a large label such as the above. However, some things can be couched in the same or similar terms without inferring a breach of trade dress and I think that you can come 95% there with OGL and some innovative thinking.

CapnZapp · Jul 1, 2008

Flynn said:
I imagine that was the motivation, but I think that path might lead to trouble in the future. That's only my opinion, of course, but I would suggest people consider carefully before doing anything like this for profit.

With Regards,
Flynn

The OGL 4E should of course remain free and non-profit.

But if somebody manages to write this in, say, a months time, it might create a industry standard for all those companies that would love to get on the 4E bandwagon if the GSL wasn't either scaring them away in general or keeping them away because their idea is too flexible for Wizards' liking.

Like most previous products, the best focus for such a project would be to target people who already have the 4E core books, and thus not have to explain the obvious. The goal isn't to create a game that competes with 4E, after all; it's to provide a platform for supplements that wish to cater to the 4E crowd without putting all eggs in the same GSL basket, and open up for 4E-ish games that use what they like about D&D but replace what they don't like...

Angellis_ater · Jul 1, 2008

CapnZapp said:
The OGL 4E should of course remain free and non-profit. The goal isn't to create a game that competes with 4E, after all; it's to provide a platform for supplements that wish to cater to the 4E crowd without putting all eggs in the same GSL basket, and open up for 4E-ish games that use what they like about D&D but replace what they don't like...

Exactly, and with something like this in place, multiple publishers could go the route of creating 4E compatible material, while keeping with the OGL.

jmucchiello · Jul 1, 2008

Angellis_ater said:
For most current gamers, "4E" is well-known enough for most people so there wouldn't even need to be a large label such as the above. However, some things can be couched in the same or similar terms without inferring a breach of trade dress and I think that you can come 95% there with OGL and some innovative thinking.

Find me "shift", "pull", "push" and "slide" in sufficient OGC that I can say "Success: weapon damage and slide 2" without falling back on "... and you may move the target up to 10 feet in any direction. Such movement does not provoke an attack of opportunity". (That would be "Hit: 1[W] and slide 2" in WotC terms.)

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