Dungeonesque: Is 5E's 'Pathfinder' Already Here?

As you probably noticed, a new System Reference Document for D&D 5E was released under the Open Gaming License yesterday. Already fans and publishers alike are planning their third-party releases to support the game. There's another interesting development, though -- it seems that clones of the game are appearing already! Stan Shinn, who runs a D&D community over on Google+, has launched an Indiegogo fundraising campaign for a two-booklet red-box project called Dungeonesque: Red Box RPG. Described as "a 5E Compatible RPG Done in Red Box Style", it is very reminiscent of Frank Mentzer's 1983 version of D&D.

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This product consists of two booklets - a Player's Guide and a Gamester's Guide. It includes the four basic classes of Fighter, Cleric, Wizard, and Thief, all up to 15th level. As mentioned, it's on Indiegogo with a $1,500 funding goal (though Indiegogo pays out even if the goal isn't met). You get the PDFs for $5, and print-on-demand copies will be available through DTRPG. Interestingly, despite the name it's not actually a box, but that leads us to the next item....

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Now this one is definitely a box! By the same creator, this will be called Dungeonesque: White Box RPG which contains an entire line of books. Characters & Combat, Eldritch Wizardry, Worlds & Adventure, Concise Bestiary, and so on. "A BOX SET of 5.5 x 8.5" booklets. The first three booklets will make you think of a certain White Box set of old, and will be a complete 5e compatible fantasy game supporting Wizard, Thief, Fighter, and Cleric Classes! Great for basic play with cheap booklets to give to new or old-school veteran players. Plus a series of fantastic gaming aids for sandbox adventuring on the fly! We've already prototyped the content. Booklets will be around 48 pages each."

The White Box isn't up for funding yet. That will happen later in the year.

Interesting times, indeed!

 

[delericho]

To be honest, I'm kinda surprised it's even taken this long. I half expected to see a near-clone pop up using the 3e SRD before now.

But in any case I can't see WotC being too worried about this. The reasons for Pathfinder's success are more complex than just being a near-clone of 3e, and none of the others apply to this product.

 

[Kramodlog]

Yeah, PF was successful because there was a "perfect storm" moment for it. With DG, WotC is firmly the industry leader again.

I just wonder if Paizo will emulate WotC and open up Golarion's IP like WotC has done with the FR.

 

[delericho]

I just wonder if Paizo will emulate WotC and open up Golarion's IP like WotC has done with the FR.

At the very least, I think they'll wait and see what happens. I'm actually shocked WotC took that step, and can't help but wonder if it may come back to bite them. (The opposite is, of course, possible as well. But I don't see any great downside to waiting, so...)

 

[GMMichael]

It's not like 5e is out of print yet. But if people will buy "hoverboards"...

 

[TerraDave]

And this is just the beginning. A lot of things you can do using 5E as a base.

bounded accuracy, advantage, backgrounds, well known magical effects.....a lot that could be done.

 

[Kramodlog]

At the very least, I think they'll wait and see what happens. I'm actually shocked WotC took that step, and can't help but wonder if it may come back to bite them. (The opposite is, of course, possible as well. But I don't see any great downside to waiting, so...)

It is unprecedented, so an unforseen element could always come back to haunt WotC. At least they do not let that possibility stop them from trying a new thing.

As for Paizo waiting, the downside is loosing market shares and paying a lot of money in employee salaries and developpement fees when freelancers volontarely make campaign material and share their revenues with you. Paizo could even take a smaller share than WotC to attact talent and popular products.

 

[Morrus]

To be honest, I'm kinda surprised it's even taken this long. I half expected to see a near-clone pop up using the 3e SRD before now.

I meant in concept, not scale.

 

[delericho]

I meant in concept, not scale.

In that case... yes, I guess it is.

It is unprecedented, so an unforseen element could always come back to haunt WotC. At least they do not let that possibility stop them from trying a new thing.

Sure. It wasn't meant as a criticism. This move by WotC is fairly stunning, so I'm far from having considered the consequences!

As for Paizo waiting, the downside is loosing market shares and paying a lot of money in employee salaries and developpement fees when freelancers volontarely make campaign material and share their revenues with you.

Unless somebody publishes something game-changing, I doubt DMguild will really make that much difference. WotC were already the dominant player in the market; I suspect this move will entrench, rather than enhance, that dominance.

The revenues for most products there must be pretty negligible - a few bucks a time for a couple of hundred copies. In the course of the year, the total is probably less than they got from "Princes of the Apocalypse" and "Out of the Abyss".

My gut feeling, which may of course be wrong, is that this really isn't about the money, and is instead down partly to a genuine commitment to the principle of open gaming, and partly down to refreshing the talent pool (as someone mentioned on the other thread) - if the next Mearls should happen to appear, WotC will then be able to find him (or her) easily.

 

[GlassJaw]

"Described as "a 5E Compatible RPG Done in Red Box Style", it is very reminiscent of Frank Mentzer's 1983 version of D&D...It includes the four basic classes of Fighter, Cleric, Wizard, and Thief"

Sounds like the complete opposite of what Pathfinder was to 3ed.