I have high hopes that the 5E OGL will really start to open up the game...and this would seem to qualify! Very excited for this.
No "D&D" on the cover, then!
I'm a little sorry about that.
Not only with a regular OGL they cannot use some of the most interesting D&D 5e rules (Fighter's Maneuvers and the various Optional Rules and Variants provided by PHB, MM and DMG),
Let's not forget
Sea Elf (sailors, not the kind that live underwater) from the Grey Havens
Fair Elf (also known as Vanyar) from Valinor
To be honest, I would hope that a setting book wouldn't waste time reprinting material from the core rule books. The players use those rules, not the setting designer.
To be honest, I would hope that a setting book wouldn't waste time reprinting material from the core rule books. The players use those rules, not the setting designer.
I think an OGL 5th Edition ME game has a greater potential to do interesting, "Tolkienesque" things with the rules, so that's good. But I have to admit to being a little disappointed that it is not in fact an official D&D Middle Earth game/setting, because that was just plain more exciting.
I literally don't care whether there's a D&D logo on the cover or not. It doesn't affect my excitement one jot! I think there is a greater than 50% chance that this is going to be my default D&D setting going forward.
I think that D&D on the cover would have brought an order of magnitude greater number of players to it, is all. I will still enjoy it as much I am sure, but I don't think it will be much of a game changer as an OGL product. The D&D brand has power, still.
I literally don't care whether there's a D&D logo on the cover or not. It doesn't affect my excitement one jot! I think there is a greater than 50% chance that this is going to be my default D&D setting going forward.