How 4e Could be GREAT for 3pp...

[Scribble]

So I was thinking about the OGL, and how one of the goals was supposed to be to create the "perfect" system. Since each company could access and modify the rules, the idea was that the fans would choose the "best" rules, and the system would update to include those new rules.

I think part of why that didn't happen, was that 3e wasn't modular enough. If you made one change, it would (usually) ripple throughout the system in ways you might not have intended. I think this (unintentionaly?) promoted the idea of variant rules system, over simple variant rules. It was often easier to just let someone else do all the math involved with changing a ruleset...

I think to really accomplish the goal of making the game better by "fan choice" the system hasto be modular, and easy for the fans to swap out rules they prefer.

I think also, that if they get the GSL right, 4e could really stand to be good for 3pp, the idea of variant rules, and he game as a whole. If they get the GSL right, 4e (so far) seems a lot easier to swap out rules. If thats the case, then variant rules might look a lot mroe popular. Since swaping the rule out doesn't mean a whole lot of extra work...

Yeah, if 4e was OGL it would be best, but even if it's not, if the GSL is at least workable, and a new rule concept becomes popular enough, you know WoTC would ultimately implement it. Money talks!

 

[Jack Colby]

I agree, and I also think WotC should release all prior editions of the game under the OGL, as a good faith gesture to the community, since it's clear they are not going to ever republish them or use them to make money again. I don't expect it to happen though, and am skeptical about how open the revised GSL will be. Hopefully enough to let companies like Necromancer do what they want though.

 

[questing gm]

Hmm...I'm not so sure about that.

I thought that one of the purpose of the original GSL was to stop 3pps from making new rules variant. I think the revised GSL will be a little looser (like allowing 3pp to print character creation rules) but will still main a constricted grip on rules/crunch modification.

 

[Kerrick]

I think part of why that didn't happen, was that 3e wasn't modular enough. If you made one change, it would (usually) ripple throughout the system in ways you might not have intended. I think this (unintentionaly?) promoted the idea of variant rules system, over simple variant rules. It was often easier to just let someone else do all the math involved with changing a ruleset...

I don't think it was that so much as the fact that WoTC was constantly putting out new books that invalidated any new rules others would create. Why do you think we haven't seen any major system revisions until now, after the system has gone out of print?

3E is plenty modular. I've revised several major subsystems myself, but you're right - there are several more that are intrinsically tied to the system itself. This is unavoidable, though; something like the skills system or the magic system CAN'T be made modular, because they're too inherent to the system as a whole.

 

[jmucchiello]

I agree, and I also think WotC should release all prior editions of the game under the OGL, as a good faith gesture to the community, since it's clear they are not going to ever republish them or use them to make money again. I don't expect it to happen though, and am skeptical about how open the revised GSL will be. Hopefully enough to let companies like Necromancer do what they want though.

Why should they take on such an expense? They already have performed a good will gesture: they haven't challenged OSRIC and Basic Fantasy. Those old systems are still being developed for.