OSE help

[Malmuria]

 

[RealAlHazred]

I am still waiting eagerly and (hopefully) patiently for my Advanced Fantasy box set...

 

[Jack Hooligan]

So, how’d it end up some other company can publish what are basically the B/X rulesets of DnD? Does WotC not own these older versions of the DnD rules?

 

[Retreater]

So, how’d it end up some other company can publish what are basically the B/X rulesets of DnD? Does WotC not own these older versions of the DnD rules?

They can't own a rules system, I think.

 

[Malmuria]

So, how’d it end up some other company can publish what are basically the B/X rulesets of DnD? Does WotC not own these older versions of the DnD rules?

it’s covered under the open gaming license, which started the whole “retroclone” phenomenon

 

[RealAlHazred]

You can copyright text, but you can't copyright a concept. So, Gavin rewrote the rules, with an aim toward clarity and organization. Gavin can copyright his text, even though it's basically about the same thing as Moldvay's. It's sort of how two people can write books about the same subject and not sue each other for copyright infringement.

 

[Jack Daniel]

Just get Labyrinth Lord or Basic Fantasy RPG or a D&D Rules Cyclopedia. Much less confusing.

 

[Voadam]

So, how’d it end up some other company can publish what are basically the B/X rulesets of DnD? Does WotC not own these older versions of the DnD rules?

More than two decades ago Wizards of the Coast released the non-revocable Open Game License which authorizes third party companies to develop and publish gaming material including things like OSE as long as certain rules are followed.

Wizards still owns the copyrights on things like the B/X Moldvay Basic Set which WotC still sells as a PDF. Wizards even still benefits from people buying the OSE rule books because the old classic B/X modules that WotC also still owns and sells as PDFs can be used with OSE.

 

[GreyLord]

For the BX experience I would buy these from DM's Guild ($10 total at full price)

BX Basic rulebook

BX Expert Rulebook

And then either print them off yourself and then get them bound or get them printed and bound at a local printshop.

If you want the BX experience why go for a copy, clone, or someone else trying to sell someone else's rules as their own?

Go for the original and play the original BX.

It's what Gary did, it's what I did, and it's worked out pretty well for us thus far...

PS: Kudos to those who get what this references to...