sterlingvermin
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The OGL and Sterling Vermin Adventuring Company
🕑 Added 2023-01-11 00:38:28 +0000 UTCHello everyone!
I've been putting off this update hoping that Wizards of the Coast would provide clarity but they are, apparently, not in any hurry to provide us with that. Incase you haven't heard, Wizards of the Coast is pulling the Open Gaming License which allows 3rd party publishers (like Sterling Vermin) to exist. In its place, they are offering a new license with several onerous or exploitive clauses. This has caused a number of major 3rd parties to already announce their own game systems in lieu of continuing to support D&D.
According to the leaked documents, this change was meant to go into effect on the 13th. Yes, this 13th. As in Friday. I suppose Wizards of the Coast either didn't care about the chaos this would cause or thought 3rd party publishers would roll over and sign their awful contract to keep things flowing.
I'm sharing all this because it means I'm not really sure what will be possible with Sterling Vermin Adventuring Company not even in the years or months ahead, but in the days ahead. I'm not even sure by the end of this month I'll be able to legally publish a D&D compatible Patreon exclusive. That's how serious this is.
I want you all to know that I take your ongoing support seriously. I don't want anyone to feel like they aren't getting what they're promised but, as of right now, my ability to promise anything is compromised by Wizards of the Coast. What you can do now, the only thing we really can do, is leave a comment here or stop into the discord and share your thoughts about a post-D&D Sterling Vermin Adventuring Company.
Please be totally honest. I understand that some of you are not in a position to continue following me if I change games and I completely understand, no hard feelings. For those of you up for adventure though...what should come next? Tell me about your favorite games that offer 3rd party licenses or let me know if you'd like to see me develop a game of my own. Or both! I've got a lot of ideas brewing but before I make my first step, I'd love to get your input.
Thanks again,
Benjamin
Comments
Mike Cullen
What about something like https://www.cortexrpg.com/
The Everlasting Flame
I'd probably go a more setting agnostic route until the dust settles a bit or you find another system you enjoy making things in. Into the Wyrd and Wild by Charles Fergeuson-Avery and Veins of the Earth by Patrick Stuart & Scrap Princess are pretty good examples of what I mean. They're pretty easy to adjust for 5e or other systems out there while still being fantastic quality. The more toolbox feel to the books them useable in a lot of systems. Also the year zero engine by free league has a bunch of awesome games in it. My favorite being Mutant Year Zero
Benjamin Huffman
I have been kicking around an idea I was planning to write a rules light original system for but PbtA would actually probably be a great structure for it.
I enjoy Ironsworn, which is a PbtA game. Honestly, anything using PbtA because as a mechanical system I adore it. It's a damn shame that 13th Age is part of the d20 system, which I believe places it under OGL... jurisdiction, or what have you; 13th Age is, in my opinion better than modern D&D
Nicolas Desjardins
Apart from Pathfinder 1e & 2e, which runs under the OGL1.0a, I don't know enough about other systems that offers licenses.( I have played some Storyteller system a while ago though and that was fun. ) I'd keep an eye on Project Black Flag from Kobold Press though and maybe check on GMDave's Endless Journey SRD and his COOL (the Creator Original Open License) ;)
I've been looking into pathfinder 2 myself, not fully in love but it seems fun, and definitely feels like the game in the #2 spot behind dnd too
S L Hall
Pathfinder 2e is my poison of choice.
Jaron Mortimer
Ben, you know we got your back
Benjamin Huffman
Any specific systems you like or are interested in?
S L Hall
I think WotC has lost a lot of goodwill, and another system is good to explore no matter what.
