Need a d20 system that does NOT require core rules

[dead]

To be a pedant, such a game does not exist. Use of the d20 logo requires certain limitations on the content, and thus all truly d20 games require a core book. What you *can* find are OGL games based on the d20/d20M SRDs.

Arcana Unearthed, while not requiring a D&D PHB, nonetheless does rely on access to the DMG and MM; it's an "alternate player's handbook," and not really a stand-alone OGL game.

If this is true, then maybe he's looking for an OGL game. Now, Mongoose produces OGL games, what other publishers are there?

If they use the the d20 rules, but not the logo, then it's almost certain they they do have rules to create characters and such. (either that or topless women. Sometimes both)

This is very interesting. I didn't know you could have a d20 game without having to use the logo. Are d20 games that don't use the logo called OGL games? Which d20 games don't use the logo and are, thus, self-contained systems?

 

[Arkhandus]

Hey dead, I think I need to correct some of the people here...... Many things they're mentioning actually do require the D&D 3E Dungeon Master's Guide or Monster Manual, even if they don't require the Player's Handbook....... Like Monte Cook's Arcana Unearthed for example, it has hardly anything from the DMG or MM reprinted or replaced in it, and I think even the more recent Diamond Throne supplement for AU only reprints or replaces some of the DMG and MM material, so that may be outside your monetarily-mindful friend may want to avoid. AU is pretty good overall, but not self-contained.

If he or she wants to run d20 games with only a single rulebook, then d20 Modern is his best bet as far as I know. d20 Modern is a single book that includes chapters on character creation, leveling up, running a game, campaign models, friends and foes (i.e. monsters and alternate races), magic and psionic items, spells and powers, and so on. It presents magic-users and psionics as "advanced classes", which require a character to be at least 3rd-level or so before taking, but your friend could certainly expand them to full, normal classes.

d20 Modern is lacking a few campaign building blocks, but not anything from the core rules; it merely lacks details on magic and psionic item creation/costs, high-level spells/powers, artifacts, epic-level play, and level adjustment/effective character level stuff for playing alternate races. And if your friend ever decides he wants to expand his games, there are a few supplements for d20 Modern that are completely optional, such as Urban Arcana and the Menace Manual, including the d20 Future supplement that will be coming soon. Again, none of these are required for playing d20 Modern, they just expand your options with the game.

I don't own/know about most of the other d20 games people have mentioned, but Monte Cook's Arcana Unearthed, and also Everquest d20, are not standalone books, they both require the purchase of at least 1 or 2 other books in order to run a game with them (they don't have monsters, leveling rules, magic items, adventure building rules, or other such stuff).

 

[buzz]

This is very interesting. I didn't know you could have a d20 game without having to use the logo. Are d20 games that don't use the logo called OGL games? Which d20 games don't use the logo and are, thus, self-contained systems?

Yes, d20 games that don't use the logo are OGL games. It's simply a licensing distinction. The d20 STL (Standard Trademark License?) allows you to use the logo (which draws in the d20 audience), but you can't present rules for ability score generation or level advancement. The OGL (Open Gaming License) has no such restrictions, but you don't get to use the logo.

(Also, technically, the OGL isn't tied to one particular system. There are other systems --Action! and Dominion, IIRC-- that use the license. Still, it's usually d20, because d20 is the 800lb. gorilla of gaming.)

The Mongoose games, M&M, and EverQuest are all OGL. Arcana Unearthed is OGL, but does rely on access to DMG and MM content (though, as I said before, you can get the majority of it free in the SRD). Star Wars, d20M, WoT, and Call of Cthulhu are not OGL or d20 STL... they're actual licensed properties of WotC, so they can do whatever they want. They are all self-contained games.

 

[buzz]

I don't own/know about most of the other d20 games people have mentioned, but Monte Cook's Arcana Unearthed, and also Everquest d20, are not standalone books, they both require the purchase of at least 1 or 2 other books in order to run a game with them (they don't have monsters, leveling rules, magic items, adventure building rules, or other such stuff).

EverQuest doesn't require purchasing any *D&D* books, fwiw. It has it's own PHB, GM's guide, and monster book.

 

[slingbld]

Not sure If anyone mentioned this & I just missed it but...

www.mongoosepublishing.com

Head there, they have the OGL Player's guide which is very self contained rules set of the D20 for $20. Now you would still need a system ala B5, Stargate or Spycraft but it's still cheaper than having to get the 3 core books ($90.00!!!)

Then there's OGL Modern, again, it's the SRD for Modern nicely laid out and rather juicy thick for $20....

 

[Voadam]

I am going over Voadam's suggestions with what I can tell of the need PHB/ don't need PHB


* * *

The Auld Grump, Sorry Voadam, not trying to insult you in any way, it was just easier than typing out a similar list myself.

No offense taken, particularly on the ones I don't own.

I do remember DNW and the Anime SRD skirting pretty close to xp and character creation but I'd have to double check.

 

[trancejeremy]

Yeah, most OGL games are really d20 games, they just don't use the d20 logo. But the game mechanics are d20. In some cases, very much like D&D, in some cases, fairly different (like M&M).

I mean, really, the only reason to use the OGL is because you want to include character creation/level up rules and be a stand alone game, or because you want topless women. (Both prohibited by the d20 trademark license)

The OGL games I've seen, which are just Mongooses Conan and OGL Cyberpunk and OGL Ancients, are all stand alone. You don't need anything, really. Cyberpunk is really close to the d20 Modern SRD, with some cyberpunk rules added and some tweaks.


An OGL game could be based on Action, which I think is the only commercial non-d20 game released under the OGL, but there is something of an assumption that OGL = d20, that an Action game being called "OGL" would confuse and possibly enrage d20 buyers and not attract people who are fans of Action!

And of course, the book of Erotic Fantasy was released as an OGL book, but that was because of the topless women rule, it's not a game.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

d20 Modern Dark Inheritance in the bargin bin (they are switching over to Spycraft soon) and have plenty of gaming for your dollar.

This is the second time I've heard of settings switching from D20 Modern to Spycraft. Is this common?

I've never played (or even seen) Spycraft, so I don't know if it's a quality issue.

 

[Breakdaddy]

To be a pedant, such a game does not exist. Use of the d20 logo requires certain limitations on the content, and thus all truly d20 games require a core book. What you *can* find are OGL games based on the d20/d20M SRDs.

I'd say you are wrong, as pertains to the context of this thread, since D20 Modern bears the logo and is not D&D. He asked for a stand alone game that didnt require the D&D corebook, not one that didn't require any corebook. And since D20 Modern and Star Wars D20 are stand alone, then this fits the bill.

 

[buzz]

Like I said, I was being pedantic.

You're right, though. He said "a d20 game", which doesn't necessarily mean "a game that uses the d20 STL." FWIW, d20 Modern and SW (and Wot, and CoCd20) are exceptionial, though, in that they're actual WotC products, so they can have any logos on them they want.

But, yeah, either d20M or SW could be the basis of a good d20 fantasy game. Get rid of the spaceships, guns, and droids, and read every instance of "force" as "magic," and SW *is* a fantasy game.

Hmm... I'll have to try that.