I'm posting this here because I am at a bit of a crossroads with a project/campaign setting I have been wanting to make. And possibly develop to become an actual game supplement.

I'm not looking for snark. I'm looking for honest feedback to help me determine what sort of direction to take.

Originally I thought to make it just a campaign setting for 5th Edition D&D. But the setting might be too politically incorrect for that company. So that brings the OSR into consideration. But it also might take a game system that includes social combat and politics.

But I am not sure what direction to take at this point.

The setting? Hell. The PCs are demons/devils at the lowest grade. All trying to make a name for themselves and gain personal power in any way they can. With the ultimate goal being to end up as high in the hierarchy as possible before someone else takes them down.

I have a history wiith a certain publisher's highly politically oriented RPGs. And decided: Why not take that to the ultimate degree?

I haven't published anything so take all this with a grain of salt.

It seems that if you publish through WOTC, you risk the "selling your soul to the devil" conundrum. Setting aside the whole politically correct angle, they may simply buy out your supplement and then mangle it in comittee.

On the other hand, if you self publish, you run the risk of being yet another supplement in a sea of supplements starving for attention.

Hopefully someone with actual experience can give you some feedback.

Quote from: Darrin Kelley;1081181Originally I thought to make it just a campaign setting for 5th Edition D&D. But the setting might be too politically incorrect for that company. So that brings the OSR into consideration. But it also might take a game system that includes social combat and politics.

The OGL does not include any 'political correctness clause'. You are free to use the 5e SRD to create politically incorrect games & settings.

Personally I'd say dual-stat for 5e and Swords & Wizardry (also OGL), and include social combat & political sub-systems if you want.

Some thoughts.

1: I assume you mean you want to publish this setting via a non WOTC publisher? Or were you thinking DMs Guild? Last check WOTC itself does not accept submissions unless you have some really intense connections, and even so they seem to use mostly in-house staff instead.

Going the outside publisher route is likely the best approach and considering how Demon-centric 5e is... Your campaign idea fits right in. Some might complain. But they'd complain no matter what you do. And as of last check DM's Guild had some pretty odd stuff up allready.

2: Something to keep in mind is that much like 3e's advent, 5e is flooded with all manner of product so it can and will be hard to get noticed in the sea of DM Guild submisisons and self published stuff.

3: Make your game! In todays climate you are damned no matter what you do. Someone will find a way to be offended. You have to learn to ignore it and hope your publisher does too.

Quote from: Omega;10812712: Something to keep in mind is that much like 3e's advent, 5e is flooded with all manner of product so it can and will be hard to get noticed in the sea of DM Guild submisisons and self published stuff.

Using the DM's Guild is problematic due to several creative restrictions. In regards to Darin's question it has the same issues as the old d20 Trademark license. A work can be yanked if it offends Wizards in some way (even with no IP violation). Futhermore due to licensing restriction the author will not be able to republish the work anywhere else including releasing under the OGL or for a different RPG system.


I concur with S'mon, the best route is to go with the 5e SRD or other open content SRDs under the OGL

I think you might get yourself in trouble with this ... it sounds like you're publishing an advance copy of D&D 7th Edition.

1) You SHOULD publish your own game as an OSR setting.
2) If you stick with the OGL you can draw inspiration from various OGC sources. This would require you to publish a whole game setting + rules.
3) You could look at supporting one of the many OSR systems out there. Many have compatibility licenses and some are not as restrictive as WOTC.

I'm currently digging the system behind Solar Blades & Cosmic Spells (and the recently released Dark Streets & Darker Secrets). Both games are dark with adult subject matter. SB & CS has a compatibility license AND is released under the OGL. You can download the logos and license from DTRPG for free. It has a basic social conflict advice in it, but leans heavily old school (players bring the social, not the stats...).

Lots of indy publishers are doing great these days making small focused boutique games! So, if you have misgivings about a compatibility license's terms you absolutely should pilfer what you like about the games you enjoy and build your own Fraken-clone. In the end, this may be the best way to ensure your Hell is portrayed in precisely the way you want it to be.

Good luck and happy designing!

Quote from: estar;1081274Using the DM's Guild is problematic due to several creative restrictions. In regards to Darin's question it has the same issues as the old d20 Trademark license. A work can be yanked if it offends Wizards in some way (even with no IP violation). Futhermore due to licensing restriction the author will not be able to republish the work anywhere else including releasing under the OGL or for a different RPG system.

The DMsGuild also has some heavy restrictions on what settings can be used. For places like the lower planes or the Nine Hells, that leaves the entire project in a very grey area. One that is entirely on WOTC's good graces as to whether it can exist or not.

That's why I am heavily considering the OGL, the OSR, and other game systems. So I don't have to be subjected to that sort of derailing uncertainty.

Quote from: estar;1081274Using the DM's Guild is problematic due to several creative restrictions. In regards to Darin's question it has the same issues as the old d20 Trademark license. A work can be yanked if it offends Wizards in some way (even with no IP violation). Futhermore due to licensing restriction the author will not be able to republish the work anywhere else including releasing under the OGL or for a different RPG system.

I was not saying use the guild. I was saying that there is alot of 2nd and 3rd party 5e stuff out there. Which makes it harder to be noticed. The same problem as back with 3e or even the OSR. Or even the RPG boom way back. It is one matter when there is just a handfull of stuff vying for the customers attention. But when there are hundreds?

Would recommend going through with self-publishing! Speaking from experience, it will be a lot easier than you think, if you're prepared to stick at it - and you can get a lot of visibility by using Kickstarter to crowdfund the launch. Wishing you the best of luck