D&D 5E OGC for 5E?

[Mark CMG]

If WotC does see the wisdom of making 5E an OGL game, what OGC from the vast pool accumulated over the last decade from 3PP would you like to see considered for adding into the new edition?

 

[JRRNeiklot]

I honestly doubt 5e will be OGL. If so, it will be a very restricted license. They won't want to repeat the mistake they made with Pathfinder by giving their game to the competition.

 

[mach1.9pants]

And I disagree I think they will make a new OGL that opens everything up to 3PP but does not give the entire games rules available for free.

However, on topic, I'd love to reprints of big classic adventures and settings... Black Company, Ptolus, Sword n Sorcery series, Rappan Athuk etc

 

[Consonant Dude]

A lot of initial playtest reports liken DnD-Next to ADnD and "older" editions.

If WotC deliver on their promise of an edition that plays and feel like all editions, it's not a stretch to think that even if they don't explicitly put it under the OGL, people will use the OGL to support it (and perhaps clone it).

That's the situation ADnD was in for instance and that's what people did. Same with Basic DnD and ODnD.

The conclusion to me is that (assuming again the core game of the next edition captures the essence of previous editions) Wizards might as well use the OGL. That way they would generate goodwill. Cause even if they didn't use it, people would find a way.

 

[Mark CMG]

Let's think of this thread in terms of IF they actually go with the OGL, which mechanics from the OGC pool might be something to consider for the new edition. This would include cool creatures that you found in adventures, maybe whole adventures if they were 100% OGC, perhaps rule variants that you adopted for your own game, Maybe a type of weapon, magic item, or spell that you came across in a third party sourcebook, or some other such bit of Open Game Content. Let's leave the will they or won't they argument to the other threads where that is already playing out, if you please. Thanks!

 

[Consonant Dude]

Let's think of this thread in terms of IF they actually go with the OGL, which mechanics from the OGC pool might be something to consider for the new edition. This would include cool creatures that you found in adventures, maybe whole adventures if they were 100% OGC, perhaps rule variants that you adopted for your own game, Maybe a type of weapon, magic item, or spell that you came across in a third party sourcebook, or some other such bit of Open Game Content.

I doubt they would do it but I would love if they looked at certain FATE features. I think Aspects are something that is easily portable to core DnD.

Also FATE points (or something like Hero points from Mutants and Masterminds) would be ideal to balance random chargen. So maybe you got unlucky on your ability scores but you get a higher number of FATE points to save your butt each session.

 

[trancejeremy]

Call me narrow minded, but while there are several excellent OGL games, I think it's a mistake to try to turn D&D into another game by borrowing mechanics from those other games.

Keep D&D, D&D. Let those other games be other games.

 

[Croesus]

If WotC does see the wisdom of making 5E an OGL game, what OGC from the vast pool accumulated over the last decade from 3PP would you like to see considered for adding into the new edition?

Templates, specifically for creatures (not PC's).

If WOTC has them in 5E, great. If not, I'm hoping it will be relatively simple to make my own conversions. There are just so many good, nasty templates out there that can spice up an otherwise standard encounter.

 

[Kingreaper]

I honestly doubt 5e will be OGL. If so, it will be a very restricted license. They won't want to repeat the mistake they made with Pathfinder by giving their game to the competition.

It would, however, be a very good way for them to say "We absolutely are not moving on to another edition, this is the last one"

Because Pathfinder only managed to exist because they stopped supporting 3.x. If they have an OGL for 5e, that problem will only arise if they stop supporting 5e.

Although the other problem (the D20 glut) could easily happen again with another OGL release.

 

[Mark CMG]

Templates, specifically for creatures (not PC's).

If WOTC has them in 5E, great. If not, I'm hoping it will be relatively simple to make my own conversions. There are just so many good, nasty templates out there that can spice up an otherwise standard encounter.

That Green Ronin Advanced Bestiary was chock full of cool templates.

 

[Nylanfs]

So was the Book of Ultimate Templates(?), and yes templates are good.

One thing that I most liked were the niche products, or concepts that WotC doesn't seem wanting to cover. Like the Oathbound setting, interesting universe and backstory. And most of Bastion Press's works I really enjoyed. Plus traps, lots of traps. FFG's Traps and Treachery 1 & 2 were simply awesome, especially from a mechanical designers perspective.

 

[Greg K]

I don't what material is OGL content from the following, but these are third party d20/OGL products that I would look at:

Fantasy Occupations (Adamant Entertainment)
Cavalier's Handbook (Green Ronin) except for the class itself
Psychic's Handbook (Green Ronin)
Shaman's Handbook (Green Ronin)
Witch's Handbook (Green Ronin)
Holy Warrior's Handbook (Green Ronin)
Unholy Warrior's Handbook (Green Ronin)
Hong's Knight (Hong)

True20/Mutants and Masterminds (Green Ronin): True20 Conviction/M&M Hero Points and rules for what they can do, Pushing Rules, M&M Complications, True20 Classes, True20/M&M damage system

Book of Iron Might (Malhavoc): Maneuver System and Fighter Fighting Styles

Scrollworks issue #? (Scrollwork Press/Christian Walker): Fatigue and Exhaustion from Hit Point Loss by Michael Hammes

Poisoncraft (Blue Devil Games): Poison rules

Artificer's Handbook (Mystic Eye Games): Slot System Magic Item Creation
Advanced Rules for Beginners (EN Publishing)

From Stone to Steel (Monkey God/Highmoom Media)
Airships (Bastion Press/ Dragonwing)

Bestiary: Predators (Betabunny)
Sharks! (Bards and Sages)
Snakes! (Bards and Sages)
Spiders! (Bards and Sages)
Advanced Bestiary (Green Ronin)
Book of Templates (Silverthorne/Goodman Games)
Book of Fiends (Green Ronin)

Noble Steeds (Avalanche Press)
Experts 3.5 (Skirmisher Press): even without the expert classes, but the rest of the material is great for DMs wanting to world building.

Beyond Countless Doorways (Malhavoc)
Tournaments, Taverns and Fairs (EN Publishing)

Alchemy and Herbalists (Bastion Press/ Dragonwing)
Torn Asunder (Bastion Press/ Dragonwing)

 

[Nylanfs]

That's what I was trying to think of Book of Templates by Silverthorne

 

[CleverNickName]

I honestly doubt 5e will be OGL. If so, it will be a very restricted license. They won't want to repeat the mistake they made with Pathfinder by giving their game to the competition.

On the other hand, if WotC hadn't dropped their support for the 3.X brand in favor of 4E, and had continued to produce offerings for both systems, they would have been getting money from both sides of the gaming community and Pathfinder wouldn't have lasted a month.

So was it the fault of the OGL? Or was it bad decision-making?

 

[Glade Riven]

Well, retreading what "could have, should have, would have" has been over done.

Personally? I like some of the stuff from Iron Kingdoms, particularly Liber Mechanika's alternative breakdown of building magical items. And Steamjack building. A module for conprehensive magical item and golem customization would rock for 5e (in a splat, though; I don't want something like it to be core).

 

[Jeff Carlsen]

I could get behind Iron Kingdoms, but they're working on their own system.

The first product that springs to mind is Traps and Treachery from Fantasy Flight Games. I never thought I was a fan of traps until I read those books.

 

[The Shadow]

I'll give a hearty second to M&M Hero Points and/or True20 Conviction! They'd both need some tweaking to fit D&D, but the basic concept is very solid.

I'd LOVE to see the Toughness save from either of those games make it into D&D, but I know perfectly well it will not happen; hit points are just too sacred a cow. Maybe in a module.

 

[Mark CMG]

That's what I was trying to think of Book of Templates by Silverthorne

Along with the GR book, you'd have a lifetime of templates.

The first product that springs to mind is Traps and Treachery from Fantasy Flight Games. I never thought I was a fan of traps until I read those books.

Many of those FFG titles and those from AEG are gold mines of material.