>From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>DM- Do you think that we would have the variety of systems we have today
>(good ones or bad), if OD&D had been opened up for licensing?
No. I think that we would have fewer systems, but they would *all* be of
higher quality. No single company could simply ride on the intertia of one
system, not for as long, anyway.
Some systems would never be made, true... but those that *were* made would
be held to a higher level of quality.
>I meant "many games" in the broad sense of all RPGs, not "many specific
>games" as in D&D "clones".
Strip it down to the most basic principles, and *all* RPGs are "clones" of
D&D. Just like all GUIs are "clones" of the old Xerox prototype.
> >No, I'm putting forth the notion that the "let's all make us a game
> >system!" mindset was a result of TSR's "you can't use our system, so
> >nyahh!" policy.
>
> >And yes, I'm spouting the OGF party line here.
>
>You also said:
>"I think that there are *very* valid reasons for other game systems--for
>example, AD&D had no rules for ships, and was comic-book style in its
>HP.�"
>
>Putting it together it sounds like either you have changed opinions or
>maybe
>you think that creativity was spurred as a result of TSR's denial of
>access.
Nope. I think that if OD&D had been opened, we'd have a "hey, I can make
that better!" mindset, rather than a "I'm gonna make me an RPG" mindset.
See the difference?
>Since Ryan implies that the overall results of TSR's actions were a bad
>thing
>I think you might be riding both sides of the fence. The action being bad
>but the result being good?
No; unless of course the end result is defined as creativity in RPGs today.
>I would submit that the creativity would have happened anyway and thus a
>diverse market was inevitable. Do you agree?
Of course. But it's the *unnecessary* creations--like, re-inventing the
attack action for *every* new RPG--that shouldn't have happened.
DM
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