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!

 

[ccs]

So they're copying 5e. So what? They've got to do more than that to be the "Pathfinder" to 5E.

 

[Tony Vargas]

So they're copying 5e. So what? They've got to do more than that to be the "Pathfinder" to 5E.

Mainly, 5e has to go out of print. ;P

 

[Stan Shinn]

Hey folks! Frank Mentzer (the original Red Box author) contacted me and said he's lending his public support to this product. I'll work hard to try to make this product have the quality it deserves, though given how great the original was, that's a tall order!

 

[Kramodlog]

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.

It sold a lot of core books, but how long could that last? This* solidifies the standing of a giant who had clay feet. Not because of the extra cash, but because there will be content that will make the edition relevent and long lasting.

*DG, the OGL, selling their AL modules, entering the world of PDFs, etc.

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".

I'm not privy to any of that info and their projections, so I do not know if negligible applies. That being said, DG does look like a different version of the mags/emags. Emags that require very little from WotC and produces revenues. I sure they won't spite on it.

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.

My gut feeling is that its the new iteration of the emags and revenues was an important part of why they made it, althought not the only reason.

 

[Koren n'Rhys]

Welp, for $5 it's hard not to back this, just to see what comes of it. I've been impressed with Stan's stuff on G+, so it seems like a safe investment. I'm even more curious to see the what box version down the road, though I hope there's a PDF only option there too.

Good luck with the funding campaign, Stan!

 

[Stan Shinn]

Thanks Koren! Yes, there is a PDF only option on the Indiegogo campaign, plus it's a 'hackable' PDF that you can print at your local printer or Lulu.com, change the cover to that of your own making, etc.

 

[DMZ2112]

This system fights the license.
It also fights the IP theft, but not as much.

Dungeonesque. (Dungeonesque!)

With Mentzer on its side,
It has Mentzer on its side.

Dungeonesque. (Dungeonesque!)

It's got rules for Chinese stars,
And it keeps them in the equipment table, above "length of pipe."

Dungeonesque. (Length of pipe!)

It works alone.
Except for when it works with its supplements, which is all the time.

Dungeonesque. (Dungeonesque!)

Play a private eye, a crooked cop,
A secret agent, or a celebrity pharmacist.

Dungeonesque. (Dungeonesque!)



...But what I want to know is, does it ship with cool, cool glasses?

(Stick it to the man, Stan!)










...Or did I?

 

[mrm1138]

I suppose Paizo could always come out with Pathfinder 2nd edition, which emulates the 4th edition of the world's most popular role-playing game.

[ducks out of the way of rotting vegetables being thrown]

 

[Morlock]

These would work for me if WotC did them, and used the original art from Elmore, Easley, etc., plus maybe other art from Elmore, Easley, Caldwell, Parkinson, Roslof, Trampier, Truman, and whichever other artists, contemporary or modern, could keep up.

In fact, it would probably work better if they just produced a concise version of 5e using a retro layout (white pages, clean design) using all that great art. Basic set cover for the PHB, expert set cover for the MM, companion set cover for the DMG.

 

[Morlock]

I suppose Paizo could always come out with Pathfinder 2nd edition, which emulates the 4th edition of the world's most popular role-playing game.

[ducks out of the way of rotting vegetables being thrown]

Paizo could also just make a really crunchy version of 5e. 5e with a zillion books. After they feel that they've hit diminishing returns with Pathfinder, I mean.