What use for OSRIC?

[dcas]

If I wanted to make a module, and publish it using C&C or Rob Kuntz's CU stats, or whatever other publishing company that is out there, I'd have to get permission to use those.

Rob's CU-style stats have been used in other places (Mayfair Games Role-Aids, for example). And Rob himself is pondering using the OGL just so he can use the familiar game terms instead of euphemisms.

http://p085.ezboard.com/fpiedpiperpublishingfrm3.showMessage?topicID=111.topic

With OSRIC, no permission is needed. Anyone can use OSRIC to publish material for older games, without getting permission from the authors of OSRIC, as long as they include the OSRIC license and the OGL in their work.

For someone like myself, who has no interest in using a different game system to publish my stuff, I like the no-string-attached approach that OSRIC takes.

I quite agree.

Competition is good, and hopefully the publishers of other "old-school" games out there will be encouraged to improve their production values in the face of it.

 

[John Stark]

Rob's CU-style stats have been used in other places (Mayfair Games Role-Aids, for example). And Rob himself is pondering using the OGL just so he can use the familiar game terms instead of euphemisms.

http://p085.ezboard.com/fpiedpiperpublishingfrm3.showMessage?topicID=111.topic

I had read that, but assumed that a person would still need permission to say something on their product like, "Compatible with RJK's CU stats/system." Whereas with OSRIC no such permission is needed.

If I'm wrong about that, I'd be glad to admit I was mistaken.

I quite agree.

Competition is good, and hopefully the publishers of other "old-school" games out there will be encouraged to improve their production values in the face of it.

This would be nice. I wonder though whether that will happen until/if money becomes a factor. In other words, it would take quite a bit of momentum from competing publishers to cause sales to slump for others before their production values are forced to change.

I wouldn't complain at all though if this ends up being the case!

 

[Shroomy]

I would think that publishers and existence of OSRIC is fairly safe (though I'm not a lawyer). In OSRIC's present state, I don't see WoTC pursuing legal action against it as being in their best interest unless the publication of OSRIC material infringes on WoTC IP that is outside the SRD/OGL, intereferes with licensing agreements, or somehow ends up making a truckload of money.

 

[dcas]

I had read that, but assumed that a person would still need permission to say something on their product like, "Compatible with RJK's CU stats/system." Whereas with OSRIC no such permission is needed.

Well, yeah, but there's no restriction on using similar stats. That's all I meant, sorry for any confusion.

This would be nice. I wonder though whether that will happen until/if money becomes a factor. In other words, it would take quite a bit of momentum from competing publishers to cause sales to slump for others before their production values are forced to change.

Probably, but let's hope they're proactive about it! Looking at RJK's Cairn of the Skeleton King one wonders why other companies have such difficulty in getting their products edited or why their cartography is so lacking.

 

[Melkor]

On another note, I must say that I'm not too thrilled about being called an "unsavory character." That annoys me. And I don't know of any publishers who've "blacklisted" me or any of the people who collaborated with me on OSRIC, nor do I know of any reason why they might do so.

You guys have been taking a lot of heat over OSRIC, but I think it's a cool idea.

Good luck to you.

 

[Mythmere1]

You guys have been taking a lot of heat over OSRIC, but I think it's a cool idea.

Good luck to you.

Thanks, Melkor! The heat will fade over time, I'm pretty sure.

EDIT: I'm Matt.

 

[seskis281]

... or somehow ends up making a truckload of money.

There's the kicker lol.... no large profit equals no care by H/WOTC.

I like C&C because I happen to like the simplified d20 unified mechanic. I begrudge no one who was disappointed with it and prefers O/AD&D as their system of choice. I for one hope a bunch of material is produced under OSRIC, cause I'll use it very easily with C&C.

I hate to say it but it seems to me the "flack" around all this is built more on personalities and "forum-wars" that really are unhealthy and will likely turn off a lot of potential converts back from 3.x play. I'm sure those involved with OSRIC aren't thrilled with the ferocity of perhaps one or two of their supporters, likewise those of us who are C&C fans don't find the... uhm... "discussions" of two or three posters engaged in this "war" particularly beneficial to our Crusade either.

And as to Hal's original post - what "use" is RPGing in the grand scheme of things? But really, it's all just about different gaming styles and desires - 3.x and d20 covered the younger "powergame" market, C&C strove to add a new published line that met somewhere in the middle, now OSRIC is intended to allow new material to be distributed for those who adhere to O/AD&D. So what's the problem?

 

[PapersAndPaychecks]

Actually, it isn't "a lot of heat" when you look at it. I've had "heat" from two posters; several other people have had concerns, but these have been legitimate, expressed politely, and the answers graciously accepted.

It's just that those two posters happen to be very vocal.

 

[Grazzt]

There's the kicker lol.... no large profit equals no care by H/WOTC.

Not quite accurate. If WotC/Hasbro thinks it threatens their IP (regardless of whether said project makes lots of money, no money, or very little money), then they will take action. (They have to...laws and stuff regarding IP)

 

[pogre]

Is it possible for a publisher to make an adventure with dual stats for OSRIC and d20? Or would the use of the d20 license forbid the use of OSRIC?

Looking for opinions. I know most of you aren't lawyers - no need to preface your comments. I will ask someone with intellectual property as a specialty before I actually go forward with something like this.