Hmmm,
You bring up something that I think is a grey area about d20. I think there
is a misconception that the D20 mark is necessary in order to make a d20
book successful. Personally the stl is a bit constraining, and as such it
doesn't make much sense to use it for some purposes. This is the case
especially if you want to do somehting really funky with the d20 core
mechanics (dice pools, enhanced meta-game, point based character creation).
I think that Earthdawn could very well stand alone on it's own merits, I
know of people that refuse to play it because of the mechanics of the step
system, but they love the setting and world it uses. Opening it up to d20
might improve it's popularity and provide people with a quality market
alternative to 3e (competition is a good thing, not a bad thing). There are
other ways of brand association that Living Room Games could use to promote
such a product as D&D compatible. Heck, Talislanta would be do-able as well.
The problem is they wouldn't be true d20 games. Since they have slightly
different character creation and advancement rules, it would be necessary to
stray away from using the d20 logo.
But is this a bad thing? No, of course not. Working with the Dd0 mechanic
outside of the d20 stl and simply using the terms and conditions of the OGL
would allow fantasy games to break free of a constraining style of game
system. Earthdawns use of a hybrid class/skill based advancment scheme would
have to be placed in a product not marked with the d20 logo. However
Earthdawn books with adventures, creatures, magic items, and races could
bear the d20 mark without repercussions as long as they abided to the terms
of the d20stl. There are no restraints in the d20 stl to ward against that
sort of strategy. It would also be a wise marketing decision since it would
allow Earthdawn books a certain level of appeal to 3e players and gm's.
Then again, I could be wrong, I'm not a lawyer. But I am going to ask my
lawyer because this means that a project I have in mind is possible.
Cheers,
R.
----- Original Message -----
From: "R. Hyrum Savage" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Thursday, February 22, 2001 12:07 PM
Subject: Re: [Open_Gaming] D20 Earthdawn a possibility
> I think this may be a real possibility in the future.
>
> I've received info from a number of retailers who are more than willing to
> push OGL material that doesn't comply with the D20 STL as "100 %
compatible
> with D&D" both by shelf placement and in speaking with customers. And when
> you get right down to it, there really is no mechanism to stop them
either.
> The manufacturer can't do it, but the retailer can.
>
> Hyrum.
> OtherWorld Creations
> http://www.otherworlds.cx
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Alec A. Burkhardt" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Sent: Thursday, February 22, 2001 11:55 AM
> Subject: Re: [Open_Gaming] D20 Earthdawn a possibility
>
>
> On Thu, 22 Feb 2001, Paul Jackson wrote:
>
> > I wish they'd go the D20 route. You could fairly easily translate most
> > of the things that make Earthdawn "better" into D20. Hmm. There
> > might be a legal problem, though. One of the things that definitely
> > differentiates Earthdawn is character advancement (characters buy
> > skill levels one by one until eventually they meet the requirements
> > of the next level) and it would be challenging to state this without
> > violating the OGF rules.
>
> There are no OGF rules. There is the OGL, under which it is perfectly
> permissible to include whatever character advancement information the
> publisher wishes. And the D20STL, which restricts character creation &
> advancement. Currently everyone wants to publish under the D20STL for
> obvious marketing reason. Eventually I think some are going to be willing
> to publish material that is at its essence using the D20 system but do so
> just under the OGL in order to include the type of information the D20STL
> prohibits. Unfortunately it will require a publisher having enough faith
> in the quality of their project to not need the D&D attention getting link
> that the D20 logo provides. An established product line such as Earthdawn
> might be more willing to go that route than a producer of a new product
> is.
>
> alec
>
> -------------
> For more information, please link to www.opengamingfoundation.org
>
>
> -------------
> For more information, please link to www.opengamingfoundation.org
-------------
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