Joseph Cochran <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> >*ANYTHING* can fit into d20; to wit--
>
> >Tom Clancy's modern military-political setting just needs some new
> >classes, and adjustment of feats, and backstory.
>
> >The Matrix can be expressed just as simply; the existing classes
> >can be altered a bit, and while "magic" is different, it's simply
> >a matter of focusing on skills and feats rather than magic. Also
> >simple.
>
> But the publisher is still going to have to MAKE these
> changes, right? That requires the expense of them doing design
> and playtesting (and possibly training). Thus I stand by my above
> assertion: "if they're going to have to alter D20 or OGL, you're
> already wasting that 'saved effort'."
Are you actually proposing that the addition of a few skills and feats is
equal to the creation of an entire game? Whoa...
Also, don't forget that d20 rules are OGL'd... which means that if
modern-world games already exist, all that'd needed to be done to write up a
"Tom Clancy" d20 game is appling the existing rules to his unique world.
> >The advantage to this? Current RPG players don't have to learn a
> >new system, and thus picking up the game is that much easier.
>
> Just new classes, feats, "magic" and skills (from your
> off-the-cuff plan above). Somehow it sounds to me like you're
> downplaying the effort that would be required. Oh yeah, and
> they're going to require the D&D player's guide, which makes
> SO much sense to the consumer for a setting like the Matrix.
You're forgetting that the audience for a "Matrix RPG" is someone who
role-plays already, or who is open to the idea. For both of these, the PHB is
probably a safe bet.
> Besides, I abhor the idea that creative folks are going
> to have to shoehorn a setting into a predetermined formula: yes,
> it works sometimes, but the failures are quite spectacular and
> unfair to the settings. I just don't believe D20 is going to be
> a panacea, and I don't think that it'll be worth putting EVERY
> system into D20. Heck, one of the first things Ryan did was
> separate OGL from D20, which says to me that he doesn't believe
> that D20 will be the perfect system for all things...
> My point stands.
That d20 isn't perfect for every setting? No contest.
That d20 CAN be used for every setting, genre, and game? That there is
benefit to doing such?
I think it's up to the market to decide.
> Should not be GAME publishers. You're committing a fallacy
> of definition: I was only speaking of game publishers, NOT all
> publishers, which I thought was obvious from the outset.
Game publishers do not have Tom Clancy or The Matrix as IP. I wanted to point
out the implication I read in your words. Good to know that it was a mistake
of language, and not of logic.
> >Bad argument, me thinks.
>
> Good argument. Read it again, methinks you've misunderstood
> it.
I did. The problem was in a sub-optimal qualification of "game publishers,"
which was derived from your introduction with "IP."
> The word choice is correct. See definitions 1 and 3.
I stand corrected.
> >> But once again, it's the IP that would drive those
> >> sales, NOT the D20 system. A new LotR release will expand the
> >> awareness of LotR into the mainstream, and THAT would drive
> >> sales. Nobody'd care about it being D20. MERPers who already have
>
> >And sales would be BETTER if it could be used with D&D.
>
> That's your assertion, yes. Mine is that D20 would have
> little impact on sales, but that the LotR IP would have GREAT
> impact on the sales. Should D20 prove to be a strong enough
> brand to have a significant, positive impact on sales, I will
> happily admit to being wrong. But as I've said, there's really
> no way to prove it given one specific product.
Allrighty. We're in difference over the significance of d20's impact--not
it's existance. We'll have to wait and see.
Looking for a game? I DM in Upstate NY, twice a month at Artemis Games in New
Hartford, NY (a suburb of Utica)
Even better, I've got irregular games where I live, in Charlton (near Albany).
Drop me a line and we'll game!
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
AIM: Planesdragon ICQ: 26106342
____________________________________________________________________
Get your own FREE, personal Netscape WebMail account today at
http://webmail.netscape.com.
-------------
For more information, please link to www.opengamingfoundation.org
