tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724254580047847936.post1305029353908390729..comments2024-03-27T20:09:00.283-04:00Comments on Tenkar's Tavern: It's Official - Free 15% of Player's Handbook (and MM and DMG) is "Basic D&D"Tenkarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05159289652051155824noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724254580047847936.post-39115721546783505182014-05-27T18:01:40.939-04:002014-05-27T18:01:40.939-04:00The SRD didn't have advancement rules to my kn...The SRD didn't have advancement rules to my knowledge until much later. Pathfinder has them and the various retro-clones did. You didn't have a full game without the books.<br /><br />Castles and Crusades, though they put the OGL in their books, don't offer an SRD. They do have something of a free sample but it is far from enough to play the game.<br /><br />What is a game changer is that a company with WotC's marketing muscle is offering a free version. While Pathfinder is selling more, the name Dungeons and Dragons as a brand (eh geez I hate talking like this) reaches into more venues. With its other products like Magic, WotC has more reach still.<br /><br />While I don't see D&D achieving 80s level of success, I do wonder if D&D could become a viable choice to the people that play board games. <br /><br />While my best games are amongst long friends, many of those started as strangers across the gaming table. More players makes for more games.redbeardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04600098550347299095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724254580047847936.post-81078033081414680162014-05-27T15:25:01.511-04:002014-05-27T15:25:01.511-04:00"This is a game-changer in many ways: it mean..."This is a game-changer in many ways: it means that there's a free version of the rules online and for those saying that WotC is late to the game on this, let's not forget that the OGL/SRD had free rules out in 2000-2001; most free rules versions out there now were in response to, inspired by, or made possible by the availability of the D20 system originally. Go back to 1999 and earlier and count how many free rule sets were floating around....I can count one (GURPS). So in short WotC has to do this: but because of their own precedent."<br /><br />That's a <i>really</i> good point.<br />kesherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17494262159858200847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724254580047847936.post-23500530092287986992014-05-27T13:51:41.792-04:002014-05-27T13:51:41.792-04:00I am now interested in the Free PDF of Basic D&...I am now interested in the Free PDF of Basic D&D - at least to look it over. I was interested in picking up the Starter set but now I'm not sure what will be in it that'd add value to the PDF.Danny Clinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06492549476409358773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724254580047847936.post-84679834707642254692014-05-27T12:37:58.820-04:002014-05-27T12:37:58.820-04:00WotC is getting smart. I wasn't even consideri...WotC is getting smart. I wasn't even considering paying for the boxed set, but I'm sure I'll at least give this a look.<br /><br />I wonder if the game itself will be any good.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724254580047847936.post-20086788881225595312014-05-27T11:48:51.970-04:002014-05-27T11:48:51.970-04:00This is a game-changer in many ways: it means that...This is a game-changer in many ways: it means that there's a free version of the rules online and for those saying that WotC is late to the game on this, let's not forget that the OGL/SRD had free rules out in 2000-2001; most free rules versions out there now were in response to, inspired by, or made possible by the availability of the D20 system originally. Go back to 1999 and earlier and count how many free rule sets were floating around....I can count one (GURPS). So in short WotC has to do this: but because of their own precedent.<br /><br />So the free rules compete directly with the OSR side of things by offering a contemporary D&D brand for those who are interested in a streamlined edition but aren't set in their ways (or just like to remain current). It's a free set of rules I can point my players to who may want to try 5E without an initial investment to see if they like it. And it's a free set of rules that will effectively let anyone play D&D without having to worry about cost. <br /><br />In a way, it means that the prestige of affording a $50 rulebook means I am subsidizing gamers who refuse to pay such prices. But you know what....I'm okay with that. Doctor Futurityhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02586371999646337047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724254580047847936.post-30246597568238628112014-05-27T11:39:18.529-04:002014-05-27T11:39:18.529-04:00It's a game changer for me. I just pre-ordered...It's a game changer for me. I just pre-ordered the starter set. I completely agree with +Newt Newport. Make the rules free (as in free speech) and I'll be in the Happy House with Newt.<br />Well played, +Mike Mearls. Well played.Allanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06555983863617446174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724254580047847936.post-34538407509114553572014-05-27T11:09:39.987-04:002014-05-27T11:09:39.987-04:00Sooooo....with the Starter Box on pre-order for ro...Sooooo....with the Starter Box on pre-order for roughly $13 at Amazon, and this free Basic D&D PDF . . . it definitely has my attention now. $13 is less than I spend on OSR zines every month or two!Matthew Schmeerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11348372645986806502noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724254580047847936.post-22973399143098639562014-05-27T10:55:11.906-04:002014-05-27T10:55:11.906-04:00Rar! Basic D&D marketing coup of the century! ...Rar! Basic D&D marketing coup of the century! Now all we need is a workable OGL or third party publishing licence and I'm in the Happy House :)Newt Newporthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14526248931436220381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724254580047847936.post-86955548522031171552014-05-27T10:41:05.492-04:002014-05-27T10:41:05.492-04:00Well hot damn. D&D 5 now has my complete atten...Well hot damn. D&D 5 now has my complete attention.Josh Burnetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13010068908384481313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724254580047847936.post-8511468707104362782014-05-27T10:36:14.883-04:002014-05-27T10:36:14.883-04:00If its free, how does one get hold of it?If its free, how does one get hold of it?Fr. Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16869676716891199486noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724254580047847936.post-40120819968773677372014-05-27T09:24:25.164-04:002014-05-27T09:24:25.164-04:00It's only free because who would pay for it? P...It's only free because who would pay for it? Pretty much anyone who wants D&D already has it in one form or another.Doc Savagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08783244633195233970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724254580047847936.post-81154745678527928922014-05-27T08:57:14.231-04:002014-05-27T08:57:14.231-04:00I suppose it's a game changer for them, the co...I suppose it's a game changer for them, the company with the D&D brand has gone from founding and leading the industry to following along.<br /><br />If they are goign adventure heavy they have to design adventures for novices, veterans, and experts across character levels and not try to please everyone all the time with each adventure release (you can't).JDJarvishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07691101939920824546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724254580047847936.post-53982544004814223622014-05-27T08:24:04.304-04:002014-05-27T08:24:04.304-04:00They have been doing that for a long time. Riddle ...They have been doing that for a long time. Riddle of Steel, GURPS, Savage Worlds, all those games JDJarvis mentioned. WOTC are kind of late to the game but it's a pretty big deal because now "Dungeons and Dragons" is doing it. Pathfinder might be the current financial leader but I still say "Like dungeons and dragons" when I talk to a non gamer about role playing.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07776215594792715329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724254580047847936.post-59194277678903612252014-05-27T08:20:03.904-04:002014-05-27T08:20:03.904-04:00Good for them. And good for us. I'm glad to he...Good for them. And good for us. I'm glad to hear they're going to do this.Peter Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14246000382321978462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724254580047847936.post-13597595599448093122014-05-27T07:14:55.941-04:002014-05-27T07:14:55.941-04:00Its going to force other game publishers to follow...Its going to force other game publishers to follow suit. Chris Malerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16072107873801833922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724254580047847936.post-53289195874108981152014-05-27T07:14:01.173-04:002014-05-27T07:14:01.173-04:00Well, it's certainly a game-changer for WotC. ...Well, it's certainly a game-changer for WotC. At least they seem to "get it" for a change. And, honestly, I had no interest or intention of picking up or checking out D&D until now. But I am intrigued enough to see what they're trying to pull together. Will it be enough to get me to change systems? Doubtful, but at least I'm now willing to see what the hoopla's about at no cost.Tim Sniderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17390608104314125626noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724254580047847936.post-84042485090551401382014-05-27T07:12:40.466-04:002014-05-27T07:12:40.466-04:00a game changer for WotC, not the industry.
it als...a game changer for WotC, not the industry.<br /><br />it also indicates an emphasis on adventures, not splat books. that's a huge shift on WotC's part<br /><br />I'll have a post later today about how WotC is always behind the market it wants to emulate - MMORPGsTenkarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05159289652051155824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1724254580047847936.post-12634854405301732662014-05-27T07:03:02.601-04:002014-05-27T07:03:02.601-04:00How is this a game changer when they are doing the...How is this a game changer when they are doing the same thing as Paizo, Frog Gog Games, LotFP, Goblinoid Games, BFRPG, OSRIC, and more? JDJarvishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07691101939920824546noreply@blogger.com