[Poll]Will you buy and use AV's BoEF?

[Teflon Billy]

I have no interest in role-playing this sort of stuff, neither does anyone I'd want to play with, and I don't think I was ever childlish enough to think supporting this sort of garbage counts as striking some kind of blow against oppression and censorship, so I guess I won't be buying it...

I don't know as I would call it garbage. The previews I've seen looked pretty well-executed and well-thought out for what they were trying to achieve.

But I agree with with the "I have no interest in role-playing this sort of stuff, neither does anyone I'd want to play with" part of your statement.

 

[maddman75]

maddman75 says,



Exactly. WOTC has sensible recognized that they need that kind of discretion because they cannot predict all future possible abuses of their license. So, sensibly, they have given themselves some leeway to deal with the unexpected.



Unless there is abuse of this provision, I don't see why a licensee should be worried. There is no record of abuse so I don't understand why there would be this level of fear.

BryonD says,



WOTC has no interest in controlling anything that isn't done in their name. The idea that there is something wrong or sinister about regulating what is done in one's name just seems a little off.

I wonder if Sword and Sorcery Studios is going to have to redo the art in their Creature Collection when the revised version comes out. Because you aren't allowed to have nipples in d20 books anymore. That's just one example of a rather popular d20 book. There are a lot of materials that are currently out that would not meet the standards.

From a business perspective, most RPG companies have an extremely thin margin. The risk that WotC would find something in your work offensive would seem to me to be great enough to make using the license a bad business decision. IIRC Avalance has already gone the OGL route, and I seem to recall something about some companies wanting to come up with some kind of OGL logo to serve the same purpose - let consumers know they are compatible, but not have to worry about getting their product pulped.

If they'd put this in place, they'd pull product. Why else make the change? I haven't yet lost enough faith to think they'd pull a product just because it was doing well against one of theirs - but it is certainly possible with this license, and with all of the people who created d20 and the OGL either gone or no longer in positions to influence things I can't say what kind of practices they'll consider.

 

[kenjib]

I haven't yet lost enough faith to think they'd pull a product just because it was doing well against one of theirs - but it is certainly possible with this license, and with all of the people who created d20 and the OGL either gone or no longer in positions to influence things I can't say what kind of practices they'll consider.

If you followed what they have done with Kenzer's license, you might have a little less faith in WotC.

 

[trancejeremy]

The trouble is, the Naughty & Dice isn't really a d20 supplement, it was apparently originally "Gurps Elfporn" (or Gurps something), but rejected by SJG. Then revived and some d20 stuff added on.

If it were d20 from the ground up I might have gotten it, just because they handled their press much less offensively than AV and company. And the art doesn't look like naked, sweaty gamers rolled in dirt.

 

[hunter1828]

The trouble is, the Naughty & Dice isn't really a d20 supplement, it was apparently originally "Gurps Elfporn" (or Gurps something), but rejected by SJG. Then revived and some d20 stuff added on.

As far as content goes, it doesn't matter what game system it's for. The content (and by that I mean primarily the written text) is still the same.

If it were d20 from the ground up I might have gotten it, just because they handled their press much less offensively than AV and company. And the art doesn't look like naked, sweaty gamers rolled in dirt.

The only think offensive about Valar's press was AV's self-admitted horrible initial press release which shocked the gaming community and gained 95% of the initial attention. Since then the majority of Valar's press has been little different from many other 3rd party producers. Most of the BoEF attention since the initial press release has been negative press slung back Valar.

hunter1828

 

[hrafnagud]

If you followed what they have done with Kenzer's license, you might have a little less faith in WotC.

I have not followed this, though I have a great liking for Kenzer. What's the story?

 

[Gez]

Yep, what's the story?

 

[Scarbonac]

Make that another "What's the story?"...

 

[Trickstergod]

I wonder if Sword and Sorcery Studios is going to have to redo the art in their Creature Collection when the revised version comes out. Because you aren't allowed to have nipples in d20 books anymore. That's just one example of a rather popular d20 book. There are a lot of materials that are currently out that would not meet the standards.

Just as an aside, the Creature Collection Revised has been out for some time now, and I'm pretty certain it was rolled out onto the shelves before the license changed.

As for the artwork, the hamadryad, hanid, mistwalker, and possibly others, still maintain their vague to outright clear shots of nipples.

 

[fusangite]

maddman75 says,

I wonder if Sword and Sorcery Studios is going to have to redo the art in their Creature Collection when the revised version comes out. Because you aren't allowed to have nipples in d20 books anymore. That's just one example of a rather popular d20 book. There are a lot of materials that are currently out that would not meet the standards.

I think you are incorrect in how you imagine these license changes will be enforced. People often develop over-reaching rules that they only enforce when they deem them absolutely necessary. Case in point, Canada's child pornography laws; my country has completely nutty child porn laws which would prohibit about 75% of Hollywood movies and a large number of classics, including Romeo and Juliet. I think WOTC has developed broadly defined rules so that they can stop problem products not so they can enforce them to the letter at all times.

I guess it really comes down to whether you believe that WOTC will use the rules to behave arbitrarily and punitively or whether they will be responsible in their application. I see no evidence that they will be anything other than responsible.