Solar Stories has always been intended as a Table Top RPG setting that could make the leap into the world of Larp. While I’ve been thinking about the next Solar Stories post, a massive row has erupted in the world of RPGs regarding the D&D Open Game Licence (OGL). The quick version of the OGL row surrounds the release of information about a new version of the licence used to publish third-party dungeons and dragons material. The changes were not in favour of the Dungeons and Dragons Community. To say the community is unhappy is quite the understatement.
Obviously choosing, what you build something on is very important.
Creating something unique is always the temptation. But then so is working with a common standard, and that has the added bonus of the base rules being tested.
The OGL fiasco makes basing anything around the eternally popular Dungeons & Dragons out of the question.
So What Am I looking for?
Solar Stories is being built as source material for a game. All games need rules and that is what I am looking for. A rule set flexible enough for the emerging Solar Stories background. Its possible that characters created for a table top environment may jump to larp. That has to be a consideration.
Rules Considerations
- The rules must be from a licensing scheme which is clear, open and not owned by a publishing company
- The rules if published by an operating TTRPG company must come with a guarantee of being open and free to use in perpetuity.
- Any ruleset must be flexible and fast to play. It must be clear enough to translate to LARP play
Possible Table Top Rules Systems
There are plenty of free RPG systems and good few open source systems. Here are three in consideration
Fate
Fate is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Licence and has reference materials that offer a great deal of flexibility in subject matter. Bonus Creative Commons Licensing is managed by a Non Profit and not the publishers of Fate.
Basic Role Play
Basic Role Play is produced by Chaosium who are one of the oldest RPG companies in existence. Basic Role Play is licensed under an Open Game Licence unique to Chaosium which offers plenty of possibility for building a game
ORC
The new kid on the block. ORC (Open RPG Creative Licence) is a new initiative started by RPG Publisher Paizo but looking to put together an new licence and a new rules reference. The good news is that the licence looks to be managed by an independent organisation. Since its announcement ORC has gained some serious support. It remains to be seen how it will develop. Read about the announcement here.
LARP Rules
This is where the going gets tough. Over the years there have been open larp systems. However understanding the status of these at this point in time isn’t massively clear. In fact the top Google Response is LARPBook. LARPBook is a project I manage. The website is currently in hiatus although it is full of great material.
Unless I hear of a really good system then I think the approach for Solar Stories will be to write a Creative Commons Licensed Larp Converter Reference.
The job of the Larp Converter Reference is this. Take characters designed in the head or in a set of table top rules and translate these to terms which can be applied to a set of larping guidelines. That should do the job.
Final Thoughts
D&D dominates table top RPGs and any changes to it that are in the favour could only have ever created a furore. But the D&D OGL row has done the world a favour. It’s reminded everyone that community counts. And also its made the community move further towards creating something that is open flexible.
It’s also made me think about my plans. I appreciate that.
Stream of Consciousness 