OGL: Kobold Press 'Raising Our Flag' For New Open RPG

Kobold Press has announced its plans regarding the upcoming new OGL v1.1, which involves a new, open game codenamed Project Black Flag.

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Kobold Press has been and always will be committed to open gaming and the tabletop community. Our goal is to continue creating the best materials for players and game masters alike.

This means Kobold Press will release its current Kickstarter projects as planned, including Campaign Builder: Cities & Towns (already printed and on its way to backers this winter).

In particular, Deep Magic Volume 2 will remain fully compatible with the 5E rules. We are working with our VTT partners to maintain support for digital platforms.

As we look ahead, it becomes even more important for our actions to represent our values. While we wait to see what the future holds, we are moving forward with clear-eyed work on a new Core Fantasy tabletop ruleset: available, open, and subscription-free for those who love it—Code Name: Project Black Flag.

All Kobolds look forward to the continued evolution of tabletop gaming. We aim to play our part in making the game better for everyone. Rest assured, Kobold Press intends to maintain a strong presence in the tabletop RPG community. We are not going anywhere.

Raising Our Flag - Kobold Press

Kobold Press is committed to open gaming. We are moving forward with clear-eyed work on a new Core Fantasy tabletop ruleset: available, open, and subscription-free for those who love it—Code Name: Project Black Flag.

koboldpress.com

 

[overgeeked]

Actually, if they are playtesting, then they must have something to playtest. Which means a game, not just a list of keywords. A 5e compatible game.

And this all means, we are on the brink of a wizard vs orc 5.5 playtest showdown!

ORC wins by default because they’re not actively being evil.

 

[TerraDave]

ORC wins by default because they’re not actively being evil.

Never count evil out.



We will see what the WotCs do with the OGL, but right now I am looking forward to the competition.

 

[overgeeked]

Never count evil out.

We will see what the WotCs do with the OGL, but right now I am looking forward to the competition.

I’m not. Momentum, established product, market share, and brand recognition account for a lot.

 

[TerraDave]

Just noticed on their new kickstarter they have unlocked "Project Black Flag Arcane Appendix Added".

 

[Clint_L]

Actually, if they are playtesting, then they must have something to playtest. Which means a game, not just a list of keywords. A 5e compatible game.

Is 5e compatibility confirmed? I had assumed that they would be making a system distinct enough to operate as a rival to the 5e chassis, with no risk of licensing issues.

 

[Parmandur]

Is 5e compatibility confirmed? I had assumed that they would be making a system distinct enough to operate as a rival to the 5e chassis, with no risk of licensing issues.

They've made it pretty clear they plan to have fullbackwards compatibility with their existing 5E stock. Which is probably fairly easy if the Creative Commons plan goes through.

 

[TerraDave]

Is 5e compatibility confirmed? I had assumed that they would be making a system distinct enough to operate as a rival to the 5e chassis, with no risk of licensing issues.

In the other thread they say this:

"New stretch goals - including a Project Black Flag Arcane Appendix, to make it easier to use Deep Magic 2 with the Project Black Flag rule set!!"

So compatible but not exactly the same. 5.5...5.ORC....5.K....like I said, the battle is beginning.

 

[humble minion]

It sounds like it'll be 5e-compatible in the same way that PF1 was 3.5e-compatible. Mostly, just a few tweaks needed here and there. And to be fair, the way it's being written it sounds like Black Flag had its origin in someone's 5e house rules, which is pretty much the way PF1 got started too, so that's probably not much of a surprise.

 

[Greg K]

Glad to see Kobold Press doing Black Flag. I wish they would also work with PEG to do something along the lines of Savage Pathfnder, but with regards to the Midguard setting.

 

[Marc Radle]

Glad to see Kobold Press doing Black Flag. I wish they would also work with PEG to do something along the lines of Savage Pathfnder, but with regards to the Midguard setting.

Midgard