Going Nuclear:1D&D

[TwoSix]

I tried, a while back. It didn't end up going very well (I suspect just some personality mismatch with some of the players.) We got through a single adventure and then didn't meet back up again.

Not a shock, most of the people on here are highly literate in various games and also highly opinionated. Not enough "go along to get along" players of the kind you need to keep a group cohesive.

 

[Charlaquin]

You could have used that core mechanic without knowing anything about an OGL.

Hypothetically, sure, and as mentioned previously, there are some non-OGL games that use such a mechanic. But the fact of the matter is that the majority of d20-based games are published under the OGL, and if it went away would likely either have to shut down, or be significantly re-worked. So, again, if you like Pathfinder, M&M, SWSE, FATE, d20 Modern, OSE, or most other d20-based games, you should care about the OGL because their existence relies on it.

 

[Michael Linke]

If D&D really has the mainstream exposure and interest we think it does, then nothing that communities like this can do will stop Hasbro. For every one person on enworld ready to boycott D&D over OGL worries, there are probably 100 people who are interested in D&D cause of Stranger Things, or cause they heard an actor they like was into it and have literally no idea what an OGL is and can't understand why a company like Paizo should have any right whatsoever to make content directly inspired by D&D.

 

[Michael Linke]

Hypothetically, sure, and as mentioned previously, there are some non-OGL games that use such a mechanic. But the fact of the matter is that the majority of d20-based games are published under the OGL, and if it went away would likely either have to shut down, or be significantly re-worked. So, again, if you like Pathfinder, M&M, SWSE, FATE, d20 Modern, OSE, or most other d20-based games, you should care about the OGL because their existence relies on it.

The OGL was intended as a safe harbour. You can put out games that use those mechanics, and you don't have to make any effort whatsoever to prove that you arrived at the idea independently, because the license stipulates that it's totally ok to just borrow the idea anyway.
It is a worry for games that previously used the OGL. It's hard for a game to say "We came up with this on our own" when there are prior editions that say otherwise by reprinting the OGL.

 

[Princessmaker]

If D&D really has the mainstream exposure and interest we think it does, then nothing that communities like this can do will stop Hasbro. For every one person on enworld ready to boycott D&D over OGL worries, there are probably 100 people who are interested in D&D cause of Stranger Things, or cause they heard an actor they like was into it and have literally no idea what an OGL is and can't understand why a company like Paizo should have any right whatsoever to make content directly inspired by D&D.

They can have D&D and sell it to the masses, I'll just keep playing Fantasy Roleplaying Games in my basement as always.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

Alternatively?

Play 4e.

Find sources for its rules and information. By definition, none of those sources are official WotC stuff anymore because they've already deleted everything, even the digital tools. It's the forgotten edition as it is, and it's the edition 5e ran away from as fast as it gorram could. Any books you find today will almost surely be second-hand, it's been over a decade since most of them were last printed. WotC doesn't see a dime, but you're still playing D&D and telling them: "I would play YOUR product, if you weren't such @$$#*£€$."

I could not bring myself or anyone in our group to play that edition again. Sorry.

 

[Vaalingrade]

The mainstream exposure is coming from precisely the people worried about this move.

And if they're going to shackle and brainbox the IP the way the OGL 1.1 demonstrates, the next Stranger Things won't come because it won't be worth doing anything with D&D.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

Hypothetically, sure, and as mentioned previously, there are some non-OGL games that use such a mechanic. But the fact of the matter is that the majority of d20-based games are published under the OGL, and if it went away would likely either have to shut down, or be significantly re-worked. So, again, if you like Pathfinder, M&M, SWSE, FATE, d20 Modern, OSE, or most other d20-based games, you should care about the OGL because their existence relies on it.

Fate is the one I don't ever remember to look into but isn't that 2d6 not d20?
Mutants and Masterminds I wonder if they could roll with another edition change to remove the bits of D&D left after taking stats down from3-18 to -1 to +5 I am not sure they even have AC anymore.

 

[Charlaquin]

The OGL was intended as a safe harbour. You can put out games that use those mechanics, and you don't have to make any effort whatsoever to prove that you arrived at the idea independently, because the license stipulates that it's totally ok to just borrow the idea anyway.
It is a worry for games that previously used the OGL. It's hard for a game to say "We came up with this on our own" when there are prior editions that say otherwise by reprinting the OGL.

Moreover, it avoids the headache of having to litigate where the line is between game mechanics and their presentation. Sure, rolling a d20, adding modifiers, and comparing to a target number is pretty clearly a game mechanic and can’t be copyrighted. But are ability scores and skill proficiencies mechanics, or specific presentations of the mechanic of adding a number to the d20 roll? What about mechanics that are intrinsically tied to a narrative element, like rules for darkness, light, and vision? Is dwarves being able to see in the dark a game mechanic? It quickly becomes a huge can of worms, so the OGL exists in part to avoid having to hash that out in a courtroom by just saying, “we’ll let you use anything in this reference document, as long as you acknowledge this is open game content.”

 

[GMforPowergamers]

The mainstream exposure is coming from precisely the people worried about this move.

And if they're going to shackle and brainbox the IP the way the OGL 1.1 demonstrates, the next Stranger Things won't come because it won't be worth doing anything with D&D.

Stranger things and Big Bang theory and any other 'nerd' exposure needs to choose to make a fake TTRPG or take D&D if they want to communicate that through nerdom... because nobody would get "Tonight is Rifts night"

Having said that I get mad enough at nerd culture on TV shows not getting it... I am watching an older show called Scorpion and one of the nerds role plays... they HAVE to all dress in character to play, they ALL are 30 something losers who can't talk to women, they talk in nerdy code and voice in front of people and weird them out... and when they went to the renfair for that guys birthday the ren fair was full of weak nerd stero types... My fiance asked if my games ever were like that and I said "I had women in my second campaign, and 80% of campaigns up until covid... some of the players of the game were 'playas' some were 'jocks' and none of us grew up to be adults like that..." when they got to the ren fair and criminals showed up I lost it... "Dude I promise you those criminals would get beat the hell up... don't mess with Rennieys"