Next big step?

[JoeGKushner]

I'm a little surprised that no one has really brought up the various class books. Probably because so many other variants are out there that even WoTC Sword and Fist for example, would be just more fighter material added to a very large pot.

 

[Ranger REG]

That's because the class books are full of errors. Even the errata to one of the class books is full of errors.

 

[2WS-Steve]

[edit: I had previously posted something here about using the open content from Spycraft to produce a VP/WP product; the book points out that the VP/WP system they use is NOT open content and used with permission from Wizards. In my own defense this is pointed out 283 pages away from the regular open content designation.]

 

[Ranger REG]

Wouldn't that confuse people because VP/WP health system was a closed game content created by Wizards? If AEG allow this VP/WP health system (which is described in verbatim from Wizards' Star Wars RPG, (C) November 2000) as OGC, would they be considered the Contributor of that content?



P.S. Although I have yet to pick up Spycraft Handbook, I was wondering if they are using the correct version of the VP/WP system (found in the recent Star Wars RPG errata)?

 

[Lady Dragon]

I think we will eventually see the release of most of WoTC's "generic"hardcovers made open content or at least parts of them Manual of the planes will probably be next Then parts of Oriental adventures.I don't see why they would hold back on this since they have no announced plans to use them.

I don't however think they we release Forgotten Realms since it is there own world And they don't want it touched.

Deities and demigods and epic will probably be released a year or so after they come out just like psionics handbook was.

Once sales of a certain product start to fall the way to reignite sales is to open it up so that new support products are released for it,thus generating new intrest.

As for the class books I don't see the big deal if you want the info in them buy the books.D20 companies who want to use a specific Prestige Class,spell,feat etc.will just have to put in something similar I also think within a year we will be inundated with class books.Basically the class books are not major rulebooks like the hardcovers are and the information in them is not that vital to the D20 movement.

 

[2WS-Steve]

I doubt WotC could copyright the WP/VP system but the fact it is so close to the Star Wars system seems kind of funny. I suspect AEG talked personally with people over at WotC and it'll all be in the open in 6 months or so anyway so perhaps Wizards just gave it pass. It's hard to tell where it all came from because the Spycraft book glitched a bit in their section 15 and didn't update it or list the SRD.

[edit: looking again I noticed a section pointing out that the entire VP/WP system is used with special permission from WotC and not open content; that should probably be placed a bit closer to the open content designation section...]

It differs from Star Wars, even revised, in that armor provides DR against all attacks, not just wound damage attacks. Some armor can also provide a small defense bonus. A chain shirt provides DR 5 which seems to make armor pretty good; technically the chain shirt in the book is probably equivalent to a D&D breastplate.

Regardless; it's a fine book and hits on all the cylinders as far as I'm concerned; fun mechanics, lots of classes, items, feats, some new skills, car chase rules, well-done hero points, regular equipment and gadgets and a solid framework for GMs on how to run a spy campaign that could easily be extended to a variety of other genres (it's probably a better framework for sci-fi games than those offered in most sci-fi games).

 

[Ranger REG]

I don't however think they we release Forgotten Realms since it is there own world And they don't want it touched.

No, but I think they could release weapon stats such as the maul or the cutlass, prestige classes like the guild thief, spells that are not named, etc.

Wizards can keep the flavor text that makes up the Forgotten Realms closed content. I just want the mechanics/stats.

 

[Lady Dragon]

But why would they do that Ranger REG.Your not thinking like a corporation there motivation is to sell corebooks how would releasing a few stats from FR corebook sell more of them.Also that is one of the few books that they do actually support themselves.

They released Psionics handbook so that they would sell more psionic handbooks.You need Psionic handbook to use Of Sound mind and Psionics toolkit.

How would releasing star wars or Forgotten realms sourcebook sell more on the other hand It would work with Manual of the planes,Oriental Adventures,Deities and demigods and Epic Handbook since these are all products WoTC is not personally supporting.

Basically if a person has not bought a book in a years time they probably won't buy it unless they have some added motivation such as a product to use it with.

Psionics handbook was released to open about 10 mos after its debut so I bet the rest will follow suite That would make may or june the month for Manual of the planes etc.

But you have to think what will WoTC get out of it.Not just what you would like to see.

 

[Ranger REG]

But why would they do that Ranger REG.Your not thinking like a corporation there motivation is to sell corebooks how would releasing a few stats from FR corebook sell more of them.Also that is one of the few books that they do actually support themselves.

I don't see why releasing the stats of a maul weapon as OGC is going to lower the sale of FRCS.

The unique thing about a campaign sourcebook particularly Forgotten Realms is the flavor text. THAT they can keep to themselves as closed content (PI).

They released Psionics handbook so that they would sell more psionic handbooks.You need Psionic handbook to use Of Sound mind and Psionics toolkit.

But there is a psionics section in the draft SRD, which includes psionic classes as OGC.

Yes, Wizards allowed publishers to refer to the Psionic's Handbok because it explains HOW psionics rules work. Plus, it save them ink. (why reprint when you can refer?)

How would releasing star wars or Forgotten realms sourcebook sell more on the other hand It would work with Manual of the planes,Oriental Adventures,Deities and demigods and Epic Handbook since these are all products WoTC is not personally supporting.

Trust me, there are a lot of gamers out there who would buy anything that has a well-known brand, be it Star Wars or Forgotten Realms. Just because they release the VP/WP system for third-party publisher is going to hurt SW sales. They still retain the character creation rule and character advancement rule.

But you have to think what will WoTC get out of it.Not just what you would like to see.

I did see. In the next version of the trademark license (currently a draft), a third-party publisher can refer to Wizards' other core rulebook. Of course, they can't refer to them specifically (Star Wars is still a trademark owned by Lucasfilm), but as long you have any one of Wizards' core rulebooks, you can play any third-party d20 products.

Now honestly, would releasing the VP/WP health system as OGC so that third-party publisher can use them is going to keep the hurt the sales of Wizards' core rulebooks?

Would releasing the cutlass weapon stats going to hurt FRCS?

I am sure that WotC is going through their material with a fine-toothed comb to separate which is PI to them and which is OGC for use by third-party publishers and designers.

 

[trancejeremy]

It's my understanding that the WP/VP system from Star Wars and d20 Modern will be eventually be made open content and added to the d20 SRD. (Probably towards the end of 2002, though more likely, in 2003 or so)

But in the mean time, several companies, like AEG, have gotten special permission from WOTC to use it before hand.