D&D 5E L&L Basic Dungeons & Dragons

[Remathilis]

I love it.

Most players will probably do what I did in the 90s; start with a box set (Black Box FTW), move on the Basic (Rules Cyclopedia) and then, when they feel constrained, move on to the Advanced (2nd edition) game. Unlike those days though, the two systems will be compatible: no conversion between B/A D&D (such as race-as-class) so when its time to move up, your old characters are still viable.

I can't wait. C'mon August!

 

[DaveMage]

To be fair, under the rules of the OGL, Paizo is required by law / contract IIRC to have their system fully open.

No, they are only required to open what is already open content. The rest could be closed, if they wished.

 

[Plageman]

Now all we need is free PDF to explain how to turn 3.5 resources into D&D 5e. ^_^

 

[tuxgeo]

< snip > . . . There's also a difference between a fairly obscure set of HTML files tucked away in a corner of the 'net (that we knew about because we're interested, but the mainstream didn't), and a PDF presented on the main D&D website.

This is true: there is such a difference.
However, the D&D 3.5E SRD was -- and still is -- available as a download on the main D&D website.

 

[AmerginLiath]

This really does sell 5th edition as what they said it all along to be -- a basic skeleton of rules with lots of options and modules that you can add on to it. It's going to be interesting to see the different groups where some use the Core Rules as the basis for the game and other where they use them as effectively supplements to the Basic Rules. Or, there will be tables where things are mixed up: is the old math of "everyone needs a PHB, but the group needs only one DMG and one MM" now "the group needs only one PHB, DMG, and MM, but everyone needs to download the Basic Rules"?

 

[Agamon]

Now all we need is free PDF to explain how to turn 3.5 resources into D&D 5e. ^_^

My game using the last beta is set in the 3e FR setting and using the Silver Marches book. Setting fluff is very easy to translate.

 

[Plageman]

My game using the last beta is set in the 3e FR setting and using the Silver Marches book. Setting fluff is very easy to translate.

Sure ! I used my old 2E/3E products all the time.

Still giving some advice on "converting" adventures and monsters would help them sell even more backlog products and maybe even make it possible to have soft crossing between Pathfinder and 5e.

 

[Agamon]

Sure ! I used my old 2E/3E products all the time.

Still giving some advice on "converting" adventures and monsters would help them sell even more backlog products and maybe even make it possible to have soft crossing between Pathfinder and 5e.

Sure, I doubt it will be too tough, though. I converted many AD&D modules to 3e back in the day. I'm sure converting 3e/PF to 5e would be just as easy.

 

[Nellisir]

To be fair, under the rules of the OGL, Paizo is required by law / contract IIRC to have their system fully open.

As noted, they're only required to keep the bits that are already open open. And they're not under any kind of obligation to make it easy or accessible - but they do. If you want a study in contrasting 3rd-party approaches to the OGL, look at Malhavoc Press and Paizo Publishing.

 

[Ace]

To be fair, under the rules of the OGL, Paizo is required by law / contract IIRC to have their system fully open.

Aye true but as Nellsir says, a lot of companies do only the bare minimum to comply, Paizo is generous.

As for this Free Basic I do think this will work out well for Wizards myself. In fact I am quite looking forward to 5e and its been the 1st D&D thing I have strongly wanted since late 3e.