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<blockquote data-quote="pac71" data-source="post: 9412809" data-attributes="member: 89232"><p>I have always struggled to understand the history of Dnd given all the different versions. I thought I might share my process to come to grips with the different versions over the years.</p><p></p><p>What helped a bit was making a map of content in Obsdian (markdown notetaking software) that showed the different covers of the different version but I wanted to drill a bit deeper into the evolution and relationships between the versions.</p><p></p><p>But once again, drawing has help me get my head around things and given insights that I had not realised from just reading wikipedia articles and normal notetaking.</p><p></p><p>My thought is that it probably should look like an evolutionary tree but different as some branches have stopped but others have filled those evolutionary holes after the d20 SRD.</p><p></p><p>But how to visualise that ... well I had a go.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]373904[/ATTACH]</p><p>DnD/OGL Timeline</p><p></p><p>The graph is not exhaustive but I think I got most of the DnD versions and popular OGL rulesets that I know. The colours are by the general colours I associate with the versions (absolutely not much logic there).</p><p></p><p>What I learned.</p><p></p><p>The OGL rule space is better with freedom than without. See the difference between the first 20 years and second 20 years. 4e is rather obvious as a short, dead branch with its more restrictive GSL. OGL Licencing freedom allows for unintended/emergent systems such as the retro clones and the Post OGL Crisis 5E compatible (but legally not 5e OGL) derivatives.</p><p></p><p>What am I missing? I would love to hear what you think I have missed. A few points I know.</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">I might have fudged the dated a bit but I think its mostly sorta okay.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Yes there are a lot of systems missing (esp retro clones) but its hard to get details on when stuff is released or updated</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Are there more popular/persistent/active d20 and 5e rulesets that I have overlooked.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Are there more 5e (but not) rulesets like BlackFlag/TOV or Flee Mortals! coming?</li> </ul><p>All thoughts and comments welcome.</p><p></p><p>[edit 1] One glaring oversight. I should have included d20 Modern and d20 Future.</p><p>[edit 2] Should add Unearth Arcana, Player Options and fix MCDM Flee Mortals to Unnamed RPG.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="pac71, post: 9412809, member: 89232"] I have always struggled to understand the history of Dnd given all the different versions. I thought I might share my process to come to grips with the different versions over the years. What helped a bit was making a map of content in Obsdian (markdown notetaking software) that showed the different covers of the different version but I wanted to drill a bit deeper into the evolution and relationships between the versions. But once again, drawing has help me get my head around things and given insights that I had not realised from just reading wikipedia articles and normal notetaking. My thought is that it probably should look like an evolutionary tree but different as some branches have stopped but others have filled those evolutionary holes after the d20 SRD. But how to visualise that ... well I had a go. [ATTACH type="full" alt="Dnd Timeline 2024-07-24 08.58.54.excalidraw.png"]373904[/ATTACH] DnD/OGL Timeline The graph is not exhaustive but I think I got most of the DnD versions and popular OGL rulesets that I know. The colours are by the general colours I associate with the versions (absolutely not much logic there). What I learned. The OGL rule space is better with freedom than without. See the difference between the first 20 years and second 20 years. 4e is rather obvious as a short, dead branch with its more restrictive GSL. OGL Licencing freedom allows for unintended/emergent systems such as the retro clones and the Post OGL Crisis 5E compatible (but legally not 5e OGL) derivatives. What am I missing? I would love to hear what you think I have missed. A few points I know. [LIST] [*]I might have fudged the dated a bit but I think its mostly sorta okay. [*]Yes there are a lot of systems missing (esp retro clones) but its hard to get details on when stuff is released or updated [*]Are there more popular/persistent/active d20 and 5e rulesets that I have overlooked. [*]Are there more 5e (but not) rulesets like BlackFlag/TOV or Flee Mortals! coming? [/LIST] All thoughts and comments welcome. [edit 1] One glaring oversight. I should have included d20 Modern and d20 Future. [edit 2] Should add Unearth Arcana, Player Options and fix MCDM Flee Mortals to Unnamed RPG. [/QUOTE]
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