what is OGL

[Umbran]

Why? Do you have credible inside source that White Wolf is ready to Open their Storyteller System?

No. I just think that those folks who don't like d20 will generally go for Storyteller, closedness be damned. There'll be a flood of stuff for it because White Wolf is pretty good at producing lots of supplements for it's games. Freelancers who want to write non-d20 stuff will try to write for White Wolf. You will not see a flood of stuff for a game that nobody has heard of just because it is open.

 

[Ranger REG]

Like the Godfather of this practice, Monte Cook.

Actually, the first person and his company comes to my mind is Chris Pramas and his company, Green Ronin Publishing.

Of course, let us also give props to Matthew Sprange and his UK-based company, Mongoose Publishing.

 

[Ranger REG]

No. I just think that those folks who don't like d20 will generally go for Storyteller, closedness be damned. There'll be a flood of stuff for it because White Wolf is pretty good at producing lots of supplements for it's games.

Albeit a few developing lines, most supernatural horror centralized themes.

The problem with that is you're competing with other writers to get a work-for-hire contract with White Wolf, assuming you want to do those types of games. I've yet to see them take out the supernatural elements and make a straight-up fantasy game using the Storyteller System.

GURP would have been an easier choice for writers -- I mean, look at their worldbook supplement that could fill a library -- but the same above problem still lies.

While people prefer to trust certain company to do certain things, I prefer variety. That's why we have several different rules on nautical adventuring, mass combat, realm management, etc. The small print presses force to compete with each other, while the consumers whose gaming tastes and preferance are not universal have options.

Freelancers who want to write non-d20 stuff will try to write for White Wolf. You will not see a flood of stuff for a game that nobody has heard of just because it is open.

No, it will be a trickle, but the more publishers and startup print presses start taking advantage of yet another Open rules system, the more it will spread.

You never heard of Gold Rush Games?

 

[Ottergame]

World of Darkness has been an alternative to D&D for years, there's going to be nothing new or magical about the rewrite that will make newcomers flock to it. Gothic is falling out of fashion, so it's not going to spark intrest in the subculture to revitilize the WoD publishing economy.

GURPs is the more sensible alternative to people who want to try a generic system that can fit many roles, it's a generic enough system with books for nearly any sort of game that a player might want to try. Palladium's Multiverse is available to people who don't want to ditch playing d20 but don't want the d20 system. Big Eyes Small Mouth's Tri-stat system is there for people want to try anime RPGs of any subgenre. There's many other generic(ish) systems out there that are more flexable than WoD.

 

[Henry]

Actually, the first person and his company comes to my mind is Chris Pramas and his company, Green Ronin Publishing.

Of course, let us also give props to Matthew Sprange and his UK-based company, Mongoose Publishing.

I stand corrected - Chris technically DID have the first d20 product out to market, according to his press releases; Death in Freeport was available at Gencon 2000 after all. I was mainly thinking of Monte because Arcana Unearthed was the main reason he started Malhavoc Press in the first place, with his first product, Book of Eldritch Might just testing the waters, and giving the PDF product concept a tremendous boost.

 

[Desdichado]

The problem with that is you're competing with other writers to get a work-for-hire contract with White Wolf, assuming you want to do those types of games. I've yet to see them take out the supernatural elements and make a straight-up fantasy game using the Storyteller System.

Two comments: Exalted, and "take out the supernatural elements to have a fantasy game?

Also, I'm also not a lawyer, but I did work for some time in an Interlibrary Loan Office at a major academic library, so I'm somewhat familiar with copyright laws, fair use, etc. I've also done a fair amount of reading of the OGL to figure out what it means.

It most certainly does not grant you license to make photocopies of any of the material in the book. The one thing that definately is copyrightable is the "dress" of the product, and a photocopy directly reproduces that.

 

[Ranger REG]

IOW, I gotta do the work myself, making a fantasy RPG using Storyteller System (sans horror monsters as PC race) to share only within my gaming group, right?

Actually, I want to see from a professional standpoint (i.e., White Wolf) to see how it is done.

 

[johnsemlak]

I stand corrected - Chris technically DID have the first d20 product out to market, according to his press releases; Death in Freeport was available at Gencon 2000 after all. I was mainly thinking of Monte because Arcana Unearthed was the main reason he started Malhavoc Press in the first place, with his first product, Book of Eldritch Might just testing the waters, and giving the PDF product concept a tremendous boost.

IIRC Green Ronin did the first OGL game, Mutants and Masterminds. So they may be the godfather of establishing thenselves with sucessful d20 products and then releasing an OGL game w/o the d20 Logo.

 

[Desdichado]

Again, Exalted. Although it doesn't interest me, it seems to get all kinds of praise, especially from the rpg.net crowd.

 

[Planesdragon]

IOW, I gotta do the work myself, making a fantasy RPG using Storyteller System (sans horror monsters as PC race) to share only within my gaming group, right?

Nope. Mage, Hunter, and Exaulted all feature "humans", and they each have rules for mundanes as well.

Exaulted is the best if you're going for "fantasy." And the Dragon-blooded (which is a second book you'd have to buy) are even modest in their power level.