Time for a change. I don’t know about you but I’m sick of GDJ columns. So I’m going to quit while I’m behind. Nobody really cared about Starfaring, anyway. History repeats itself. Not to worry for those of you who actually did care. I will keep working on it. I plan to publish it in one way or another by the thirtieth anniversary of the original edition in 2006. I’m just not going to bore you with the development details anymore. That is, unless I get a really juicy nugget that’s worth sharing.

Instead, I’m going to try to go back to my original concept for this column: an outsider’s inside view, if that makes any sense. Basically at look at what it takes to make it in the RPG industry and what it really means to not have it.

This week, a look at those three little letters that are causing buzz in the industry. I am referring to, of course, the D20 System^TM and the whole Open Gaming License© thing.

I know, I know. After that lengthy “I hate D&D^TM” rant a few months ago I have a lot of nerve to be talking about d20^TM or D&D^TM at all. There’s a darn fine explanation for it. If I ever figure it out I’ll be sure to tell you. Near as I can figure, I’ve finally cooled off enough to actually look at this whole d20/OGL deal and Maybe consider writing a d20 game.

Yes, I said Maybe, capitol M; I’ll write a d20^TM game. Don’t hold your breath.

First thing I did was visit the web site for the Open Gaming License© at http://www.opengamingfoundation.org/ and did some reading. Then I went to the official d20 site on Wizards of The Coast’s^TM web page http://www.wizards.com/D20/main.asp?x=welcome,3.

The first thing I learned is that the whole thing is darn confusing because there are quite a few things going on at once. They suggest you consult a lawyer before attempting to publish a d20^TM product or using the OGL©. They’re right. Especially if you plan to sink any money into this.

Basically, as far as I could decipher it, the OGL© is not the d20^TM license is not the d20^TM system reference document is not Dungeons & Dragons^TM.

Got it?

Good. I said it was confusing.

In plainer English what we’re talking about here are three different things at once. The OGL© is a license which would allow any game company to release their games, in whole or in part to the public domain. That means that if White Wolf^TM chose to, they could release their Storyteller System^TM under the OGL (so that other people could publish games using their system). The D20^TM System Reference Document (SRD) is what part of the d20 System Wizards of The Coast^TM (WOTC) has released under the OGL©. The d20^TM License are a set of restrictions and regulations for using the d20^TM trademark. Dungeons & Dragons^TM is a separate trademark altogether and is licensed separately, although the game uses the d20 System^TM. Actually D&D^TM is the basis for the d20 System^TM, but it’s easier to look at it as a derivative system.

The whole thing is really weird. From what I’ve heard about the wargaming hobby, apparently wargames would borrow from each other freely in a way similar to the OGL© but without any legal document. Wargames would have designer notes where they would admit what games they had pilfered ideas from, giving credit where credit is due. Sad how the RPG market is more legal-orientated and an Open Gaming License is actually needed. Chances are, an OGL© would’ve been needed in wargames eventually except nothing became quite as high profile as D&D^TM in that hobby market. It’s just sad to see what should be a community built on the freedom of ideas and information has to be carefully regulated like this. It’s a lot like the Internet^TM, isn’t it?

Unfortunately, while reading up on d20^TM, I remembered exactly why I got all worked up about the whole d20^TM thing in the first place. It mostly has to do with many quotes by former brand manager Ryan Dancey. Things to the effect of d20^TM and the OGL© will reduce the number of other systems etc, etc.

A friend of mine hates REM^TM because several years ago front man Michael Stipe said that their new album would revolutionize rock’n'roll^TM. I’m not sure which album he was talking about but it sure as hell didn’t revolutionize anything. The result is my friend is still turned off to REM^TM because of that instance of arrogance. It’s a shame, really because there are so many real reasons to hate REM^TM and their music.

Well, Dancey’s comments have had the same effect on me and probably a couple other people around here. How dare the little brain monkey claim his crummy game will take over the industry! His game isn’t all that good in the first place.

Almost ranted again. Sorry about that.

In any case, I have serious doubts that d20^TM will have much effect at all on the industry. First of all, the game isn’t that good. Oh, there’s nothing wrong with it, I suppose, but there’s nothing Earth-shatteringly great about it either. Nothing that makes it the best game on the market or even the best game to use. Furthermore, the d20^TM Trademark License (d20^TMTL) is highly restrictive on key points of game design. True, it’s only restricted to character creation and advancement. The idea is that any game using the d20^TMTL will require the Player’s Handbook^TM.

This is all true only if you want to have the d20^TM trademark on your game. If that isn’t important to you, you can use the released Open Gaming Content of the d20^TM system and make a new game, include all of the rules you want (as per any stipulation in the OGL©. Like I said, consult a lawyer.)

But doing that would mean you can’t use the d20^TM logo on your game. Why anyone would use the d20^TM system without the benefit of being able to advertise that fact is beyond me.

Waitaminute! No it’s not.

If d20^TM has any impact at all it won’t be the d20^TM logo on a myriad of products. Mark my words, once this initial flood subsides, you won’t see that many d20^TM products ever again. But there may be a few games using the d20^TM system under the OGL©. Maybe even quite a few games will have open content, too. Imagine combining d20^TM with GURPS^TM and Woof Meow^TM.

It would be absolute freedom, although carefully regulated freedom. Freedom is great power and with great power comes great responsibility. It appears we need lawyer to carefully spell out those freedoms and responsibilities for us.

Welcome to the world we live in.

Wizards of The Coast, “Wizards”, WTOC, d20 system, Dungeons & Dragons, “D&D”, Open Gaming License, “OGL”, and probably Ryan Dancey are all owned by Wizards of The Coast, Inc. A division of Hasbro, Inc.

GURPS is owned by Steve Jackson Games

Storyteller System is owned by White Wolf

Woof Meow is owned by Game Systems, Inc.

The letter “m” is public domain. Use it however you see fit.