What use for OSRIC?

[Halaster Blackcloak]

As some of you may have heard, there is a new system being developed called OSRIC that purports to allow fans of 1E AD&D to legally publish AD&D adventures without violating either the OGL or copyright law.

I for one fail to see the need, the usefullness, or the relevance of this system. It's been discussed extensively at Dragonsfoot, but so far no one seems to be able to show a need for this system. There are also legal questions surrounding it, and many publishers are blacklisting those involved due to the unsavory character of some of the developers.

There are any number of ways to accomplish creating AD&D compatible adventures, so I'm opening this discussion to determine whether there is any merit to OSRIC or whether it serves any actual purpose.

 

[Geron Raveneye]

As some of you may have heard, there is a new system being developed called OSRIC that purports to allow fans of 1E AD&D to legally publish AD&D adventures without violating either the OGL or copyright law.

I for one fail to see the need, the usefullness, or the relevance of this system. It's been discussed extensively at Dragonsfoot, but so far no one seems to be able to show a need for this system. There are also legal questions surrounding it, and many publishers are blacklisting those involved due to the unsavory character of some of the developers.

There are any number of ways to accomplish creating AD&D compatible adventures, so I'm opening this discussion to determine whether there is any merit to OSRIC or whether it serves any actual purpose.

Nice start for a troll. What need, or relevance, does any roleplaying system have beside to those who like to play with it? And as you can see on Dragonsfoot and other places, there's enough people who feel OSRIC is relevant enough to them to buy adventures created under it. How about you determine if there is any merit to D&D 3E and if it serves any actual purpose? I for one would be curious to hear what that might be, beyond providing a rules framework to enable people to play fantasy roleplaying games.

Also, there are no legal questions surrounding it, as yet WotC has to actually say something in that regard that comes even close to a "legal question". I guess you are referring to the speculations of other posters about how legal or not that is. Those are exactly that...speculations.

And lastly, there's absolutely no call to Stuart Marshall, Joe Browning of Expeditious Retreat Press, or Matt Finch, the author of the first adventure for OSRIC, unsavory. Makes me wonder what reasons you have to come up with something like that.

 

[Jupp]

There are any number of ways to accomplish creating AD&D compatible adventures, so I'm opening this discussion to determine whether there is any merit to OSRIC or whether it serves any actual purpose.

The demand justifies the existence of a product. If there are people that would like to play under the OSRIC system, and would also even pay for adventures made for that system, there is no need for more arguments. I don't plan to play OSRIC but in my eyes the system has a right of being around nonetheless.

 

[Warlock75]

There are also legal questions surrounding it, and many publishers are blacklisting those involved due to the unsavory character of some of the developers.

QUOTE]


Please, tell us more. Put up or shut up, you know?

 

[Akrasia]

Some people would like new modules/material for OAD&D. OSRIC is a tool to meet that demand. It is not the only tool (C&C is also quite OAD&D-compatible), but it is one.

... And lastly, there's absolutely no call to Stuart Marshall, Joe Browning of Expeditious Retreat Press, or Matt Finch, the author of the first adventure for OSRIC, unsavory. Makes me wonder what reasons you have to come up with something like that.

No kidding. What's with the unwarranted personal attack? :\

 

[mhensley]

You registered here just to post an opinion that isn't wanted at Dragonsfoot? :\

 

[Infernal Teddy]

Okay, let's try and turn this into a real discussion thread then, shall we, while ignoring the trolling factor of the original poster?

Say I'm a D&D-Player who greeted 3.x with enthusiasm, and who sold his AD&D books on ebay. What does OSRIC offer me? What good does it offer me as 3.x player? Is OSRIC commercial, and if yes, what has WotC said about it, has anyone talked to Wizards about possible legal problems?

Thank you, just collecting information.

 

[Melan]

Looks like Mr. Halaster, having been banned from Dragonsfoot among other boards, is continuing his trolling activities on ENWorld, and has started same with a post containing veiled accusations and slander. Some progress...

As for the question at hand - OSRIC is basically a vehicle to create free or commercial 1st edition AD&D compatible adventures without going the way of Castles&Crusades. Some people's reasons for this are pragmatic, others purely ideological. In any case, OSRIC as a viable game product is nonexistent. It may be released as a strange curio at some date in the future, but it is not really meant to be played... if you tried it, you would de jure play OSRIC, but would de facto be playing 1st edition AD&D.

 

[Melan]

Say I'm a D&D-Player who greeted 3.x with enthusiasm, and who sold his AD&D books on ebay. What does OSRIC offer me?

Nothing. OSRIC is an OGL repackaging of 1st edition AD&D. You might buy and even like modules produced for it, provided you are willing to convert them to 3.*.

Is OSRIC commercial, and if yes, what has WotC said about it, has anyone talked to Wizards about possible legal problems?

As far as we know, there has been no comment, positive or otherwise, from WotC. One poster has stated that he has contacted WotC regarding the legality of OSRIC and is (presumably) hoping the company will issue a legal challenge. This challenge has not happened yet, and for some reasons, I am unsure if it ever will - not to mention what the results would be in such a case.

 

[DJCupboard]

...who sold his AD&D books on ebay. What does OSRIC offer me? What good does it offer me as 3.x player? Is OSRIC commercial,...?

Thank you, just collecting information.

I think this might be the only case where OSRIC is anything more than neat nostalgia for most people (IMHO). Let's say you are a happy 3.x'er but you want to run a a throw back game with your friends. If you've sold your books, it would be hard to keep in mind all the original rules. OSRIC goes a long way towards codifying all those rules. If you're not a happy 3.x'er then you probably didn't sell your old books, which makes the comercial demographic rather small. In terms of salability for new, legal, products under the game system, that might defeat the purpose. You'll have the fun, nostalgic, happy 3.x crowd who would be just as happy, if not happier (I presume), playing existing 1E modules. If they've sold those modules (when they sold their original books), then there might be a small market for new adventures, but it would probably be smaller than that for the back catalogue of old modules in pdf.

The people who really love the original ruleset (never switching to 2E or 3.x) and are starving for new adventures would like the fact that existing companies can create legal products for them to purchase, but I don't know if that would be a large enough demographic for anyone to capitolize (sp?) on. This leaves the majority of of OSRIC products coming from vanity presses with questionable quality (barring the original creators of OSRIC, all of whom create interesting an/or well crafted products in their comercial endeavors).

All in all (IMHO), OSRIC is more of a fun read for some interesting and nostalgic interpretations of the limits of the OGL.

~DJC~