D&D 4E Open4E: A Call for Support

[ialdabaoth]

So. I've been reading a lot of the "how I would have done 4E different" / "if only 5E were based on 4E" threads, and it's amazing how similar everyone else's ideas are to my own heartbreaker.

I've been working on this for awhile now, pouring through the OGL D20 SRD, trying to make sure that a 4E-alike can be constructed entirely out of OGL'd parts, and then going from there towards something better than 4E.


I don't know that this is something I can do on my own.


My goal is to have a completely OGL'd product, and if possible, release a DMG and PHB as a Kickstarter. I have a few people on board who want to release their own DMG/PHB Kickstarters based on my work, but I need to make sure that the work is a complete and playable system.


Right now, what I need most is input and feedback. If you like 4E, but wish that Power Sources mattered more, that feat taxes were gone, that some of the Essentials ideas could be rolled back into PHB classes without destroying the versatility that made those classes great, and that combat could be made a little faster and simpler... please, take a look, give some feedback, and if you think you can contribute, volunteer and tell me what you'd like to work on and I'll set you up with some templates to make it easier.


Who's with me?

 

[Obryn]

I think the biggest problem with any potential 4e retro-clone is people trying to make the system better.

I think maximum compatibility should be the goal, personally. Think OSRIC for 4e and that's about where I'm at.

-O

 

[ialdabaoth]

I think the biggest problem with any potential 4e retro-clone is people trying to make the system better.

I think maximum compatibility should be the goal, personally. Think OSRIC for 4e and that's about where I'm at.

-O

Unfortunately, as 4E is not OGL'd, some variances have to be maintained for legal purposes. I agree that the overall system should be as compatible as possible.

 

[mkill]

Unfortunately, as 4E is not OGL'd, some variances have to be maintained for legal purposes. I agree that the overall system should be as compatible as possible.

You have to rename power names, but that's it.

The problem about "improving" 4E is that everyone has their own idea of what that means, and you easily end up with a hundred forks and not a common base to start from. You're better of being conservative, even if that's the boring part.

 

[ialdabaoth]

You have to rename power names, but that's it.

The problem about "improving" 4E is that everyone has their own idea of what that means, and you easily end up with a hundred forks and not a common base to start from. You're better of being conservative, even if that's the boring part.

True, but "Unearthed Arcana"-style alternatives aren't a bad thing.

 

[Obryn]

True, but "Unearthed Arcana"-style alternatives aren't a bad thing.

They are when it's the default assumption.

If this is what you're interested in doing, get the skeleton set up right. Then release your houserules later. It will ensure a wider audience, and probably ensure a better product that's more compatible with existing resources.

-O

 

[Neonchameleon]

Unfortunately, as 4E is not OGL'd, some variances have to be maintained for legal purposes. I agree that the overall system should be as compatible as possible.

The rules aren't copywritable. But the text needs to be your own or OGL. And as few house rules as possible. I might well make the default to include Inherent Bonusses and the three feat bonusses (Expertise, Weapon/Implement Focus, Improved Defences) to all PCs - but that is it.

To quote myself from a faintly tongue in cheek rpg.net post

And for the risk of IP infringement, you can't copywrite rules - merely the artistic presentation of them. See OSRIC for a good example. And 4e is as much a D20 game as AD&D. Probably more. (There is a recent ruling on copyright which found someone guilty for creating a perfect match for Tetris - relevant part of the judge's ruling in the sblock, meaning changes do need to be made - but all this means is that the parts that need cleaning up can get cleaned up.
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Look at Osric and how simmilar that is in play to 1e AD&D.

And in all honesty, the biggest thing 4e needs is to be more readable to people who enjoy reading gamebooks, and to be clearer to people about metarules and structures.