Home of the Odd Duk

Category: RPG Ideas and Projects (Page 1 of 42)

The Way Ahead in 2023

I had planned to write 1200 words a day, every day, for 2023. About half of that is intended to be outside of gaming. That said, with the possible changes to the OGL, the nature of those words will need to change.

OMG Not Another OGL Post

Not really, just saying that the system(s) behind my content will likely change. I had intended to reimagine the fundamental lore of 5e this year and release it for free under the OGL. Since that may not exist and OGL 1.1 may not allow for some of the things I had in mind, that goes out the window. We'll see, it's not like I will stop playing 5e, but I don't plan to buy anything else for it or buy anything for OneDnD. I have all this lore content that I want to put into something I can share and I see three possible options.

Basic Fantasy

The community is the very essence of what "Linux for RPGs" is like. Chris says that he is working on removing any SRD content from the core rulebook. He is working with an IP lawyer to ensure compliance. I find it ironic that this will create the 4th edition of Basic Fantasy because the last time WOTC did something like this was the 4th Edition of D&D.

The Cypher System

Monte Cook has said that the Cypher System Open License was modeled after the OGL as he was there when the OGL was created. Mechanically, the system is straightforward and all the rolls are player facing. It feels like Dungeon World in a way and it encourages the weird.

Stars Without Number

Kevin Crawford has created two great systems and provided so many free resources for creators. He has also famously never used the OGL, opting instead to rely on copyright law as written. When someone on reddit posted that OGL 1.1 is an opportunity for SWN, Kevin reiterated this stance. He even went on to explain things that folks can do without infringing copyright. It's not the same kind of system to release new subclasses, feats, etc. as 5e is, but I believe it would be fun to create material for.

Open D6 Anyone?

I would love to get Open D6 updated and have SRD content removed. Honestly, I don't think it has any SRD content at all. The issue with that is Nocturnal Media, the current owner of West End Games Open D6, only exists on DriveThruRPG after the owner passed away in 2017. The website went offline and their last product shipped just after his passing. Open D6 products are still for sale, but who knows for how long.

I couldn't offer any money for it, so I haven't entertained trying to contact anyone at Nocturnal. Gallant Knight was going to make a second edition of D6, but that project seems to be in hiatus. I use the magic system all the time, but I wish there was a way to do something like Basic Fantasy with it.

I mean, game mechanics can't be copyrighted, so I could write something based on it, but I'm not sure I'm up for it.

Now What?

Honestly, I don't know. I have to change a lot here because I rely on the OGL. Then again, I don't I am going to be sued, though I am still going to make the effort. If I made my own system (unlikely) it would be CC 4.0 BY.

I plan to write about the various characters in the Sycarion Continuum, especially football and travels in the Self-Organizing Aither. Work on the lore will continue while I search for a game.

The Elephant App

I continue to write about my 5e Relex project. For those just joining in, it is a reimagining of the almost 50 years of standard D&D lore from the bottom up. It incorporates the most recent understanding of Spelljammer from 5e with a handful of fundamental changes. These fundamental changes include more elemental planes, planes that comprise the life cycle, and myriad Lands of the Dead in the Ethereal Planes.

The primary reason for this post is to see the effects of configuring my website to be a part of the fediverse of Mastodon. With this setup, you can follow my blogposts from within Mastodon without a signup on the blog. Just follow @admin in Mastodon. It will come up as Bear (that's me) and you can follow like any other user.

I am trying to finish my post on Priests, Necromancers, and the Undead, but there are a lot of things to explain when you change how all three work. Wish me luck!

Lotus the Traveler

Lotus lives in dimension 2 Lotus XVII.  They qualify for the universe name not only due to being the first contact from their world, but from being the most distinctive quality of their universe. Sixteen variants from other second level dimensions have made contact, but only this Lotus maintains contact with the Compendium and other dimensions. They will say to everyone that they meet that exploring is the most meaningful part of their life.

Open and curious, Lotus discovered pithanotons early in their life. To understand these particles, they pursued a life of science and exploration. On one trip they encountered what others described as magic. Despite their intricate knowledge of various particles and mastery of hexaton fields, this power of magic opened yet more worlds to explore. They plunged into the study of magic with unrivaled enthusiasm.

They do not like the term magic to refer to higher dimensional particles.

Magic, like light, behaves as a wave and as a yet unstudied set of particles. Magic has definite principles that translate to axioms and formulas. Mathematics is comprised of an infinite number of dimensions, not merely the ten that you know. However, we name this magic and thereby remove the desire to understand it. In its place, the pseudo-mystical schemer peddles their circular reasoning and bewitching displays of color and pomp. Magic does not exist, but I can point to the higher dimensional particle that the most fundamental laws of physics and math proclaim should and do exist. Call them kruptothons enneathons, or super-dimensional particles. Call them Ralph, but in the name of humility, do not call them magic.

from The Touch of Math and the Myth of Magic

In the journey to learn and travel, they have created adaptations to allow for safer travel to outer dimensions. One such adaptation, the Boundary Sphere, allows them to navigate through three-dimensional space in a visible way. This sphere also protects others from their impossibly sharp edges.

A further refinement allows the ability to create sounds. Through practice, the Boundary Sphere serves as a voice by using the edges of their body to generate vibrations against the sphere. In their universe, communication happens only by touch. Using the sphere, Lotus rotates their body, touching the sphere at specific places with deliberate intensity to generate sounds and translate their touches into words. Creating their own spoken language from their native language, Compendium translation machines provide a more direct method of communication with Lotus, a development Lotus values highly.

Lotus is insatiably curious and enjoys sharing what they know. Aside from harnessing the power of super-dimensional particles, they hope to make contact with entities in various one dimensional universes. They are the foremost authority on multidimensional travel. Lotus continues to push the boundaries of what is possible.

In addition to their primary pursuits, Lotus possesses a keen mind. Their ability to think and process in multiple dimensions defies their inability to directly perceive these dimensions. Aside from math, Lotus loves chess and ranks with an estimated ELO of 3600. They enjoy defeating Artificial Intelligences in chess saying that the game cannot possibly be mathematically solved. There is such a thing as magic and it is the magic inherit in chess that allows the game to endure.

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