Advice Needed -- D20 or OGL

[philreed]

I'm purchasing the rights to an old sci-fi RPG (one I played often many years ago) and I'm planning to update it for a new release. This was a game in a box (with books, dice, maps, etc.) and a series of adventures and supplements.

I'm planning on updating it to be a D20 game but I'm torn between a release using the D20 logo and one that stands alone.

While releasing it as a D20 game does make sense I almost think it would be better if it used just the OGL.

Any opinions?

 

[The Sigil]

This wasn't Star Frontiers, was it?

Seriously, regardless of the game, I'd suggest you go d20 if you possibly can for the extra "exposure." If not, go with the OGL.

--The sigil

 

[trancejeremy]

If it's a big name RPG, I would think it would be best to go the OGL route, but saying something like "compatible with the 3rd edition of the world's most popular RPG", like WW did with Everquest.

Because you might get people interested in it who aren't into d20, and the d20 restrictions will be a drawback.

This kind of happened with Traveller 20. If you read the message boards, a lot of non d20 fans who are Traveller fans are extremely confused by things.

OTOH, if it's fairly obscure, might as well just go d20, since the name won't be much of a draw and you'll need the d20 logo more.

 

[Darke]

Oh, a new riddle - give us a hint! Which game is it that you will revive?

Sorry for the somewhat OT

das Darke

 

[Ranger REG]

If it's a very popular sci-fi RPG, then go for OGL.

If it's not recognized today, then you should try d20.

Personally, you should try to build up your company's reputation with the public. Mongoose did that by publishing supplements for 3e, and now they were able to publish Judge Dredd, Slain, and recently acquire the right to publish Conan RPG.

Or try the same route as Green Ronin, who first publishes d20 products, and now tried their hands on their first OGL/SRD-based game, Mutants & Masterminds superhero RPG.

 

[philreed]

Star Frontiers

Great game. But not it.

 

[NeghVar]

Phil,

I would recommend looking at Fading Suns D20 if you want to see how a decent D20 treatment of a Space Opera type game.

If you plan on covering any type of character creation rules, then OGL is the way to go.

Later!

 

[caudor]

My vote would be for d20. That's what I have built my colllection around, so I would be more apt to buy it.

I recall the Buck Rogers game, by TSR I think...I really enjoyed it. I don't what whatever happened to the game, but it was fun designing ships. A d20 update would be cool.

Wait...that wouldn't be it, would it??

 

[Capellan]

I'm purchasing the rights to an old sci-fi RPG (one I played often many years ago) and I'm planning to update it for a new release. This was a game in a box (with books, dice, maps, etc.) and a series of adventures and supplements.

I'm planning on updating it to be a D20 game but I'm torn between a release using the D20 logo and one that stands alone.

While releasing it as a D20 game does make sense I almost think it would be better if it used just the OGL.

Any opinions?

My suggestion would be to build the game without worrying about the D20 / OGL distinction. Then, once it's pretty much finished, take a step back and look at what you've done. If you can easily "nip and tuck" and bring it back under the D20 banner, then do so. If you've had to make significant changes, however, I think you'd be better off going OGL.

But yeah, make the game first, then worry about whether it is D20 or OGL.

And give us some hints about what it is, eh?

 

[Christian Walker]

I vote for OGL. That way, a complete game could be presented to the marketplace. The OGL would allow for character creation rules, tweaks to experience, and so on. You could still go for that market externality thang by incorporating aspects from other products.