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Rocket your D&D 5E and Level Up: Advanced 5E games into space! Alpha Star Magazine Is Launching... Right Now!

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Synicism" data-source="post: 416731" data-attributes="member: 489">Interesting stuff in this thread so far. I have a lot of respect for guys like Shane L. Hensley, Steven Long, and such, and I really value their opinions."Roleplaying wise, I suspect you'll see two things. The non-WOTC d20 companies will move away from D20 proper and more towards the OGL, which is the exact same thing but without the need for the Player's Handbook, like White Wolf's Everquest. This allows companies to put in their own character generation rules, and change the system without violating copyrights and running afoul of WOTC. (If you don't understand the difference, check out the info at the open gaming foundation, or on WOTC's own website--don't have the addresses handy.) Most designers I know very privately don't like D20. They won't say that publicly because it's all that selling for them right now, but it's the truth, so they're dying to change it to something that better fits their needs. "This is interesting. I haven't checked up on the OGL and d20 license in a couple years. Basically, Shane is suggesting that I can print a book under the OGL that uses d20-based rules, modified to make my own complete system, and dispense completely with the need for the PHB, DMG, and so on, so long as I comply with the notice terms of the OGL. Is this correct?"I don't think you'll find many of the "unhappy designers" that were mentioned, because they simply aren't there! There is certainly a niche group who despise d20 (mostly because it outsells their pet systems or they just love to hate the big guy), and I get the feeling Shane hangs out with that crowd (I like Shane, by the way, this isn't a dis). There is a very strong urge in some people to ignore what they do not like, or to believe that no one in their right mind would disagree."Well... I wonder. there are those designers who have suffered because of d20, especially those who work primarily in other systems. Guys like Steven Long, Shane Hensley, and Steve Jackson come to mind, although even SJG is doing d20 stuff in limited numbers, with their Munchkin stuff. There *are* a lot of real good games out there (Little Fears, Godlike, Ironclaw, to name a few) that just don't get the exposure they might otherwise get, and that's frustrating.</blockquote>

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