D&D 5E Discussion

[Caim]

Sure. So far, I find it fascinating. There is some good information here. But... stylistically, the author presents it as a novel telling Gygax's life story. This might test a reader's tolerance of taking such a whimsical approach. While told in the context of factual sources, it is not a dry academic biography.

In the middle of the book is about 15 pages of glossy black and white and full color photos, including some old TSR advertisements.

The inside of the hard cover has the city of Lake Geneva laid out like a gaming map on graph paper, with points of interest from Gygax's neighborhood.

Okay. MUST. HAVE.

Gygax' neighbourhood as a campaign setting.

 

[Lhynn]

Sure. So far, I find it fascinating. There is some good information here. But... stylistically, the author presents it as a novel telling Gygax's life story. This might test a reader's tolerance of taking such a whimsical approach. While told in the context of factual sources, it is not a dry academic biography.

In the middle of the book is about 15 pages of glossy black and white and full color photos, including some old TSR advertisements.

The inside of the hard cover has the city of Lake Geneva laid out like a gaming map on graph paper, with points of interest from Gygax's neighborhood.

I always found his approach to roleplaying games fascinating. Always thought he put fun first and his system design reflects this. I believe hes actually extremely underrated by rpg designers nowdays.

 

[Dorateen]

Always thought he put fun first and his system design reflects this. I believe hes actually extremely underrated by rpg designers nowdays.

I think that's true, and his introduction in the AD&D Dungeon Master's Guide backs this up. And yet he also believed in having rules in place as a foundation to build upon.

For me, his biggest innovative contribution to the hobby was moving from the vast miniature units in war games and bringing the game-play down to the individual character level in order to craft fantastic adventures. This is the real genesis of role-playing, which sometimes is taken for granted.

 

[DavidBVal]

Is there any historical precedent to roleplaying in a similar way, I wonder. Even if it is without a rulesystem. Because if you think about it, you could have PNPs in the XVIII century if someone had come up with it. I could see it played by the courtesans :D

 

[Telengard]

Is there any historical precedent to roleplaying in a similar way, I wonder. Even if it is without a rulesystem. Because if you think about it, you could have PNPs in the XVIII century if someone had come up with it. I could see it played by the courtesans :D

LARPing has a long tradition, like even older than the date you mentioned. Which centuries later evolved into the improvisation style of Theatre Games (it's a category of games), which had a decent run of popularity.

Then on the other side of things are the skirmish level wargames, from which early forms of d&d arises. Of particular note has always been Patrol and Sniper!, but especially Sniper! with its persistent character system. Veterancy was already a thing well before d&d, too. But what d&d did was put all of the latter things together in a whole new way, and then coupled them with a kind of persistent character system that allowed for unprecedented systemic character progression.

 

[Dorateen]

If anyone is curious (because I know not everybody will run out to buy the book) here are a couple of images.

The map of Gygax's neighborhood

Spoiler

Some color photos

Spoiler

 

[Alchemist]

Good news... 5E now has an official SRD (Systems Reference Document) under the OGL (Open Game License) : http://dnd.wizards.com/articles/features/systems-reference-document-srd
So we are finally back to what 3E had and 3rd parties can officially start tinkering and selling stuff based on the system. Some publishers already were doing this but now it's all officially sanctioned.

As an added twist, WotC has also opened up something called the Dungeon Masters Guild - which is an additional arrangement by which people can create stuff using Forgotten Realms IP and sell it on an official marketplace.

It's good that 5E is finally under OGL. I do wonder if this means they are largely stepping back from development and going to let 3rd parties develop the majority of 5E content from here out. With the Dungeon Masters Guild system - they still take a cut of the profits.

 

[Havoc]

I wonder if we will see the game fixed, like it was with 3.5E and Pathfinder.

 

[Spectacle]

I wonder if we will see the game fixed, like it was with 3.5E and Pathfinder.

There's not much agreement about what is wrong with 5E, so I doubt we'll see anything that's generally accepted as a "fix", at least not until any flaws in the game become more apparent. That doesn't prevent people from trying though, like this thing here:
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/dungeonesque-red-box-rpg#/

 

[Caim]

There's not much agreement about what is wrong with 5E,

There is not enough stuff.

 

[Spectacle]

There's not much agreement about what is wrong with 5E,

There is not enough stuff.

There's not even agreement about that, you'll find plenty of people whining about "bloat" if you suggest that WotC should publish content faster

 

[Caim]

There's not even agreement about that, you'll find plenty of people whining about "bloat" if you suggest that WotC should publish content faster

Oh, I do agree that 3.5e (and 4e to an extent) had a LOT of stuff about it. I just think that the three core books, a bunch of adventure books and only a single splatbook on top of the online stuff that's all over the place is very meagre pickings for a game that's been around for over a year and a half.

 

[vonAchdorf]

As an added twist, WotC has also opened up something called the Dungeon Masters Guild - which is an additional arrangement by which people can create stuff using Forgotten Realms IP and sell it on an official marketplace.

It's a bit sad, that it's just another branded OneBookShelf storefront. One the one hand, it's smart, because people already have an account there, but on the other hand it means, that not even WoTC can (or wants to) afford to set up something of their own, independently from the "monopolist". (Paizo does though, iirc.)

 

[Alchemist]

As an added twist, WotC has also opened up something called the Dungeon Masters Guild - which is an additional arrangement by which people can create stuff using Forgotten Realms IP and sell it on an official marketplace.

It's a bit sad, that it's just another branded OneBookShelf storefront. One the one hand, it's smart, because people already have an account there, but on the other hand it means, that not even WoTC can (or wants to) afford to set up something of their own, independently from the "monopolist". (Paizo does though, iirc.)

WotC would probably botch it up if they try to run it themselves. They don't have a good track record with technology. OBS has worked out all the kinks for a digital book storefront for several years, so I think it was a good move. I see no issue with a company outsourcing the things they aren't good at. Plus a large chunk of classic D&D content was already in the system.

I know monopolies suck, in theory - but on the other hand I'd rather not have to make an account on yet another system.

 

[J1M]

It is pretty damning for 5th edition how little activity this thread has had after going OGL.

 

[Volrath]

It is pretty damning for 5th edition how little activity this thread has had after going OGL.

 

[Caim]

Is there a fan-made Manual of the Planes out already?

 

[ProphetSword]

It is pretty damning for 5th edition how little activity this thread has had after going OGL.

Not true. Other forums are on fire discussing the OGL. There's more to the world than what goes on in this place.

ENWorld, for example, has several threads about it and the main discussion thread is already at 50 pages. The Codex only has a small section devoted to non video-game RPGs, and only a thread or two about 5th Edition in general (versus other sites that have an entire board with hundreds of threads devoted to the game).

The sky is not falling. 5th Edition is doing fine.

 

[Toxic Masculinity]

Now that D&D 5ed has gone OGL, can it be used for making videogames withouth paying royalties to Wizards? Or this is a somewhat gray/unknown area?

Edit:

ENWorld, for example, has several threads about it and the main discussion thread is already at 50 pages.

Link pliz.

 

[nikolokolus]

The OGL doesn't extend to electronic media as far as I remember.

 

[Toxic Masculinity]

 

[Alchemist]

Now that D&D 5ed has gone OGL, can it be used for making videogames withouth paying royalties to Wizards? Or this is a somewhat gray/unknown area?

Yes it's the same OGL (Version 1.0a) that was used for 3rd edition, so it can be used for computer / video games with no royalties needed. The Software FAQ (from 2004) on the WotC site explains this. Just ignore the bits about the d20 license as that doesn't apply here. The 5E SRD is now under the OGL license so all the same rules and allowances apply.

The OGL doesn't extend to electronic media as far as I remember.

Actually it does - see above!

 

[nikolokolus]

Interesting. I could have sworn there is/was language that restricted electronic works. Maybe it's just to do with logos, trade dress, and compatibility claims?

I'll have to see if I can figure out where I got that notion.

 

[Alchemist]

Interesting. I could have sworn there is/was language that restricted electronic works. Maybe it's just to do with logos, trade dress, and compatibility claims?

I'll have to see if I can figure out where I got that notion.

Yeah they go into that stuff in the software FAQ I linked above - but the limitations are mostly on the d20 license which is separate thing from the OGL, and it only existed in the 3rd edition days. The d20 license is now defunct and not available anymore. It was used during the 3E days to show official compatibility with D&D 3E.

It is true that you can't say your OGL product is compatible with brand-name "Dungeons & Dragons" though. You have to say something like "the worlds most popular role-playing game" or just leave that off entirely if your audience already knows what you're up to. Most OSR products are that way - everyone knows their stuff is old-school D&D compatible.

The other thing with electronic stuff is you have to make all the Open Content you use human-readable in some form. So in a computer game, this can be done with in-game help documents, which is what Knights of the Chalice does.

 

[tdphys]

Looks like Ravenloft is the next adventure set:
http://www.enworld.org/forum/conten...-Will-Be-Available-March-15th&page=8#comments

I'm more interested in Eberron personally, but happy to see us moving away from FR.