This is my first post and while I continue to enjoy the discussion I am surprised that most of the comments I read are negative. I fully believe that WOTC is in this to make money, lots of it if they can. If I wasn't in this to make money I would just keep running with a standard game group and forget the whole thing. I disagree with some of the sentiments voiced here however.
<>"From what I gleaned from the article, WOTC is not pursuing a strategy of �Open Gaming� at all. They are pursuing something more like Microsoft�s strategy with regards to Windows... D20 is like Windows, the �operating system� which will succeed by virtue of its ubiquity rather than its excellence. The D20STL is essentially a �game developer kit� (like a Windows SDK) which allows you to make content compatible with the operating system, D20."<>
First of I like the d20 system and think it is well designed, so saying it will succeed for reasons other than excellence is inappropriate. As for the Windows analogy, if you ask me this is a good thing! I am sick to death of trying to develop a system of balanced and playable game mechanics. This lets me do what I am good at and enjoy, and just maybe I'll make some money doing it. That's bad how?
"The goal is to get all the developers working on content for D&D, killing off other systems and allowing WOTC to earn monopoly profits from its exclusive sale of D20!"
Ever play GURPS? It offers an entire world of options (mechanics wise) that d20 doesn't touch. Will I stop playing and purchasing GURPS because d20 exists? No. Of course not. It's a different game with a different feel and I enjoy it as much as d20 but for different reasons. The Windows analogy is flawed because while a game system does mirror some of the behaviors of an OS it is equally comparable to a standard board/video game. I like Stratego. Stratego Legends has lots of new mods. Its fun. But it won't stop me from playing Risk.
So, while I am a firm believer in healthy paranoia and a certain level of skepticism regarding any business venture of this nature I think it would be more useful to identify the benefits in order to acheive mutual success.
- Marc Tassin
At 09:05 PM 9/6/2000, you wrote:
Ok, I just read the article by Ryan that Maggie kindly referred me to. The talk of �network externalities� set off alarm bells all over the place. Now I am *really* suspicious�
From what I gleaned from the article, WOTC is not pursuing a strategy of �Open Gaming� at all. They are pursuing something more like Microsoft�s strategy with regards to Windows... D20 is like Windows, the �operating system� which will succeed by virtue of its ubiquity rather than its excellence. The D20STL is essentially a �game developer kit� (like a Windows SDK) which allows you to make content compatible with the operating system, D20. The goal is to get all the developers working on content for D&D, killing off other systems and allowing WOTC to earn monopoly profits from its exclusive sale of D20!
Perhaps you all knew this already but I certainly did not. I find this horrifying. I thought the point of open source gaming was to be like LINUX: Make the system free and modifiable, until a truly superior system emerges, and then compete on the basis of value-added applications or support.
However�. The plot thickens. Ryan writes, �we want to use the trademarks of D&D to hold the value of the business, rather than the rules themselves.� Now what does this mean? If the core PHB is the revenue-driver, what is the �value of the business� in the D&D trademarks? It seems to me they are trying to have their cake and eat it too!
If WOTC honestly believes that sales of their core rules are their revenue driver, then they should be to be blunt about keeping the rules proprietary and instead license out what they call the �product identity�the names, characters, places, monsters, etc. from all the various D&D product lineswith the caveat that if you want to use the source material it has to be compatible with D&D. That, at least, would be really �opening� something.
As it is, all they have essentially done is say that if you want to write stuff compatible with D&D, that�s ok with us as long as you don�t alter anything we think is important, include any rules which would prevent people from buying the rules, and use any of our proprietary D&D source material. Uh, thanks!
Fortunately, I think I have figured out a clever loophole using a combination of the OGL and the D20STL which we can use to avoid the need for PHBs. Hehehehe.
Alex Macris
Alexander P. Macris
WarCry Corp. -- Chief Executive Officer
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Tele: 617.354.7843
Cell: 617.515.6934
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