Why Character Generation is not an optional add-on for a RPG Starter Set

Warthur · June 04, 2014, 05:13:46 PM

Quote from: LibraryLass;755292Because 1) what the fuck would it even be about, 2) there may very well be rights issues, 3) it's not the 80s where every popular movie needs a cartoon spinoff.

There are most definitely rights issues.

The Tolkien estate is very, very unhappy about the terms ol' JRR signed away the movie rights under and are generally seen to be watching like hawks for any opportunity to declare breach of contract and swipe back the rights. Any cartoon would pretty much have to be based on the film licence because the Tolkien estate is hostile in general to derivative works, any work derived from the film licence needs to be pored over by lawyers with a fine toothcomb to avoid anything which could open the way to the Tolkien estate suing.

Omega · June 05, 2014, 05:41:46 PM

Quote from: Warthur;755396There are most definitely rights issues.

The Tolkien estate is very, very unhappy about the terms ol' JRR signed away the movie rights under and are generally seen to be watching like hawks for any opportunity to declare breach of contract and swipe back the rights. Any cartoon would pretty much have to be based on the film licence because the Tolkien estate is hostile in general to derivative works, any work derived from the film licence needs to be pored over by lawyers with a fine toothcomb to avoid anything which could open the way to the Tolkien estate suing.

See. Perfect example of why they should have gone with character creation instead of pregens... :rolleyes:

aheh.

Well we know character creation isnt in the starter. Its over in Basic. Fits with the design goal.
We also know the pregens are not open ended for the player to name and flesh out. They come with their own backgrounds and such, probably named too at this rate.

That just leaves the adventure to wonder about.

RPGPundit · June 06, 2014, 11:02:17 PM

Quote from: Marleycat;754121He really did mention that he was frustrated about the order in which things were being leaked like it was ass backwards or somesuch but couldn't say what they aren't leaking because of the NDA. And now with knowing all that we know now he was completely correct.

Indeed, I said it several times in several places. I'll say it again now. And I think that whatever you think about how significant the Basic PDF is (and I continue to say its extremely significant), you can probably agree with me about that statement.

RPGPundit · June 06, 2014, 11:02:45 PM

Quote from: Simlasa;754402The real problem there is the '48 pages of feats'... on top of skills and special class abilities and whatnot. Is 5e still going to have all that crap to wade through?

The Basic D&D game won't.

Marleycat · June 06, 2014, 11:26:42 PM

Quote from: RPGPundit;756184The Basic D&D game won't.

Just a thought given with all that we know currently...you could add the 8 other classes without any fuss under BASIC if you wanted. Maybe not certain subclasses of course like the maneuver fighter or the chaos sorcerer...the obvious stuff. No feats no stat adds..heck even I showed how to make the magic system for a wizards pure vancian in 3 seconds on another thread today.

The reason why I'm all in is..

1) Even I can alter/ Retro con huge swaths of the game to my preferences right now
2) It's just screams 2e's pick and choose then play ethos to me
3) The DMG basically sounds like FantasyCraft to me (a tinkerer's dream 3e game)

RPGPundit · June 15, 2014, 11:20:26 PM

Quote from: Marleycat;756188The reason why I'm all in is..

1) Even I can alter/ Retro con huge swaths of the game to my preferences right now

That's a huge part of the appeal to me, too.

Marleycat · June 16, 2014, 01:20:49 AM

Quote from: RPGPundit;758434That's a huge part of the appeal to me, too.

It's a 2e/NWoD game thing....yeah I know you think they are story games but they are seriously configurable to your vision as long as you ignore the outside voices.

RPGPundit · June 17, 2014, 11:24:17 PM

Quote from: Marleycat;758463It's a 2e/NWoD game thing....yeah I know you think they are story games but they are seriously configurable to your vision as long as you ignore the outside voices.

Um, well, its certainly nothing invented by either 2e or NWoD. As dozens and dozens of OSR games have shown, early-edition D&D is incredibly configurable.

Marleycat · June 18, 2014, 12:39:36 AM

Quote from: RPGPundit;758990Um, well, its certainly nothing invented by either 2e or NWoD. As dozens and dozens of OSR games have shown, early-edition D&D is incredibly configurable.

I can only cite games I actually play on a regular basis but I see no reason to disagree with your view. To me 1/2e are basically interchangeable and I never played anything before 1e. Read them? Yes. I even have a copy of Moldvay.