I think a few of the original OGL big names like Mongoose and Kenzer will do some things, but I wouldn't be surprised if the hydra of the online small publishers put the first foot forward.

Quote from: AlnagHopefully Kenzer will do some stuff...

That's a dead cert. They're very proud of Kingdoms of Kalamar being an official D&D setting, with the D&D name on it and everything, and they won't be able to keep that boast if they don't upgrade - I expect that we'll see a new iteration of the d20 licence once 4th edition comes out demanding compliance; otherwise, there'll be a host of books on the market that say "Requires the D&D Player's Handbook" on the cover which don't actually work with the currently-available PHB.

Quote from: DrewAnd yet it's the procedures through which many of the concepts are expressed.

Now the changes from first to third editions were nowhere near as sweeping, but they did alter the tone of play. At least in my experience.

My impression of D&D 3.x it was vastly different in feel than 2nd or 1st edition. Much more like GURPS or HERO system where are my systems of choice, particularly in how I GMed the Mechanics in actual play.

I don't know if people remember but in the first days of 3.0 All we had were the 3.0 books followed shortly by the Forgotten Realms setting book. A lot of the prestige classes and feats were there not only to grant a benefit but to fit into some aspect of the world.

I agree there is a different feel to the play of D&D 3.x than previous edition.

Quote from: DrewFurther to that we've only just had a thread where Mike Mearls supports the idea of 3.x having problems enabling the kind of play that older editions did. It's not just me saying this.

Here I am going to disagree with you and agree more with Settembrini. D&D 3.X does old school fine. However the D&D/D20 audience is not old school in mindset. I found that in general they tend to play with the mechanics quite a bit in that they have several books (sometimes dozens) and they try to get their DM to use one or more their favorites so they can pull together a optimal set of classes, and feats.

That they want the best feats and classes for their characters there is pressure not use broken stuff. There is a perception that D20 material is full of broken and crap rules and that WoTC is of better quality.

I will concede that it is from what I experienced that formed this viewpoint. While this is not how I like to play there is nothing wrong about it and many seem to have fun with it. In the hands of a different GM D&D 3.X can do different things, can be run old school, GURPS-like or whatever. It is still a general purpose RPG for fantasy gaming.


However this popular style of play has issues with 3.X. Issues that are fueling the "fixes" of 4.0. There are dead spots in leveling classes. Not all classes can function all the time. When today's players throw together their classes and feats they are trying to overcome these limitations.

Plus there is a culture around 3.X that I ran into while working on Badabaskor and the other JG modules. Stuff is needs spelled out more than previous editions. Stat blocks have to be complete, etc.

A recent discussion revolved around a Wall of Fire in a room. We were running tight for space in layout. The author wanted to put a stat block in for a "Wall of Fire" trap. I said "Why? Your text says it just appears. That works." The author replied "People will expect a mechanic for it."

I can see how this approach would fuel some of the "fixes" behind 4th edition.

Adamant Entertainment will give it a go, depending on what we see when we get a look at the rules.    

The majority of our d20 work, though (like Thrilling Tales and The Imperial Age) is based on d20 Modern -- which, according to WOTC, won't even be considered for revamp in 2008.   If it gets done at all, it won't be done until 2009, so we'll be continuing those lines under the current rules set.

Will people still be able to produce 3.0/3.5 content, or will they have to switch? I ask because there are tons of 3.x books out there already, and the market is hardly tapped.

Quote from: WerekoalaWill people still be able to produce 3.0/3.5 content, or will they have to switch?

The existing OGL license is non-revokeable, so people can continue without a problem.   The d20 TRADEMARK license, on the other hand, is revokeable, so they won't be able to slap the logo on it.