free 4E?

CapnZapp

Legend
So, anyone know of a project to recreate 4E without copyright? (Preferably using the OGL)

If done quickly enough, such a project could actually take flight.

I'm not discussing non-d20 games like Castles & Crusades here.
 

log in or register to remove this ad

Well, first of all one would need to find OGL "sources" for certain ideas and concepts, such as using power per encounter, static defenses instead of saves and so on. Once that was done, it would just be a question of applying the math.
 

Angellis_ater said:
Well, first of all one would need to find OGL "sources" for certain ideas and concepts, such as using power per encounter, static defenses instead of saves and so on. Once that was done, it would just be a question of applying the math.

Static defenses (somewhat similar to what's in 4e) appeared in Unearthed Arcana, listed as OGC. (Though in there I think it was 11 + your current save bonus to arrive at your defense score)
 

Grazzt said:
Static defenses (somewhat similar to what's in 4e) appeared in Unearthed Arcana, listed as OGC. (Though in there I think it was 11 + your current save bonus to arrive at your defense score)
That'd be "Players roll all the dice", in which the monsters got static saves and the players got dynamic AC. I quite liked it in my campaign, and intend to use it again.
 

Nellisir said:
That'd be "Players roll all the dice", in which the monsters got static saves and the players got dynamic AC. I quite liked it in my campaign, and intend to use it again.

You would be surprised how much of 4e is taken out of UA and is OGC.
 

kcmopd1913 said:
You would be surprised how much of 4e is taken out of UA and is OGC.
Um, no, actually I wouldn't. I've been saying for months that at least 75%, and probably more, of 4e is already extant in OGC.
 


Sure, hypothetically, we could do this.

Barbarians had abilities that lasted until the end of the encounter. I'd propose not to simply steal the 4e at-will/encounter/daily dynamic, though. Come up with something a wee bit different that can still use the structure of existing powers.

My recommendation? Label powers as basic, advanced, and heroic.

You can use basic powers as a standard action.

You can only use one advanced power per encounter.

You can only use one heroic power per day.

As you gain levels, you learn more powers of the different types, and you gain the ability to use more advanced powers per encounter and more heroic powers per day. Unlike 4e, I wouldn't limit a high-level character to only using each daily power once per day; rather, give a limit to how many such powers you can use each day, but let the person use the same power multiple times if he wants.

That is eminently derivable from wizard spellcasting.

Finally, I'd add some mechanic that lets you recharge your advanced and heroic slots. Make it work sort of like 'super move' meters in fighting games, or limit breaks. If you reach a certain threshold in the course of a single encounter, you get caught up in the action and are able to pull off more acts of derring-do.
 

RangerWickett said:
Sure, hypothetically, we could do this.

Barbarians had abilities that lasted until the end of the encounter. I'd propose not to simply steal the 4e at-will/encounter/daily dynamic, though. Come up with something a wee bit different that can still use the structure of existing powers.

My recommendation? Label powers as basic, advanced, and heroic.

You can use basic powers as a standard action.

You can only use one advanced power per encounter.

You can only use one heroic power per day.

As you gain levels, you learn more powers of the different types, and you gain the ability to use more advanced powers per encounter and more heroic powers per day. Unlike 4e, I wouldn't limit a high-level character to only using each daily power once per day; rather, give a limit to how many such powers you can use each day, but let the person use the same power multiple times if he wants.

That is eminently derivable from wizard spellcasting.

Finally, I'd add some mechanic that lets you recharge your advanced and heroic slots. Make it work sort of like 'super move' meters in fighting games, or limit breaks. If you reach a certain threshold in the course of a single encounter, you get caught up in the action and are able to pull off more acts of derring-do.

Good thinkin'!
 

Sure, hypothetically, we could do this.
{snip}

My recommendation? Label powers as basic, advanced, and heroic.
You can use basic powers as a standard action.
You can only use one advanced power per encounter.
You can only use one heroic power per day.

As you gain levels, you learn more powers of the different types, and you gain the ability to use more advanced powers per encounter and more heroic powers per day. Unlike 4e, I wouldn't limit a high-level character to only using each daily power once per day; rather, give a limit to how many such powers you can use each day, but let the person use the same power multiple times if he wants.
That is eminently derivable from wizard spellcasting.
Finally, I'd add some mechanic that lets you recharge your advanced and heroic slots. Make it work sort of like 'super move' meters in fighting games, or limit breaks. If you reach a certain threshold in the course of a single encounter, you get caught up in the action and are able to pull off more acts of derring-do.

Mechanics like this exist in dozens of computer games. Lets couch it in Warcraft and Diablo terms: each class has a skill tree. Powers have a "mana" cost and a cooldown period.

It's all doable in UA Terms: combine spell points and recharge magic and generalize for all classes. Spell points become maneuver points, although "Maneuver points" are very hard to justify in In-game terms, any kind of verisimilitude is going to suffer.

Recharge magic can have a consitent metaphysics, mana points only to a lesser extend.

***

If you stay with save bonuses, even with "players amke all the rolls", you can have a more consistent saves mechanics than "lucky roll ends effect".
 

Remove ads

Top