Knights & Knaves Alehouse

In an effort not to clog up the OSRIC Products thread...

Why would this product:
http://edge.rpgnow.com/product_info.php ... ts_id=7816

which is just a set of maps, even need an OSRIC (or OGL, for that matter) license/logo/etc... associated with it? Are there any mechanics associated with it?

I'm not trying to be snarky, I just wonder what the reasoning might be for making it OSRIC compatible.

Just goes to show you the power of the OSRIC compatibility logo already. As long as your product complies, or as in this case, your product is not out of compliance, an OSRIC logo can help you reach clients.

francisca wrote:In an effort not to clog up the OSRIC Products thread...

Why would this product:
http://edge.rpgnow.com/product_info.php ... ts_id=7816

which is just a set of maps, even need an OSRIC (or OGL, for that matter) license/logo/etc... associated with it? Are there any mechanics associated with it?

I'm not trying to be snarky, I just wonder what the reasoning might be for making it OSRIC compatible.

OSRIC is a shared name brand for 1e. It's designed not only as a legal safe harbor but also as a marketing tool. The reason for this is to create widespread knowledge of what "OSRIC" means: the 1e rules. All publishers benefit from the name recognition that the others create. The objective behind this is to get critical mass, eventually getting OSRIC into bookstores and gaming stores as an introduction to 1e for those who haven't ever seen the original books and would never consider buying them (until they've tried OSRIC and want to see the real thing).

Technically, a product that doesn't use game rules doesn't need to state that it's compatible with anything. But if it does use the OSRIC name, both sides benefit: the publisher gets to ride on the OSRIC brand name and the 1e players can easily learn about a product that's compatible -- because we're often not just looking for products that contain 1e mechanisms, we're also looking for products that DON'T contain or use d20 material.

These generic products might or might not be old school 1e, and they might or might not suck quality-wise. That's something we'll have to sort out as a community, using product reviews and word-of-mouth at sites like K&KA. But for purposes of getting the 1e rules back into the gaming mainstream, the more products that come up on an OSRIC search at RPGnow or Lulu, the better. And the publishers get the benefit of coming up on that search too. Everyone benefits.

You would have to be a fool not to include OSRIC on your cover if your going after anyone not wanting 3E or 2E style gaming.

Mythmere wrote:

francisca wrote:In an effort not to clog up the OSRIC Products thread...

Why would this product:
http://edge.rpgnow.com/product_info.php ... ts_id=7816

which is just a set of maps, even need an OSRIC (or OGL, for that matter) license/logo/etc... associated with it? Are there any mechanics associated with it?

I'm not trying to be snarky, I just wonder what the reasoning might be for making it OSRIC compatible.

OSRIC is a shared name brand for 1e. It's designed not only as a legal safe harbor but also as a marketing tool. The reason for this is to create widespread knowledge of what "OSRIC" means: the 1e rules. All publishers benefit from the name recognition that the others create. The objective behind this is to get critical mass, eventually getting OSRIC into bookstores and gaming stores as an introduction to 1e for those who haven't ever seen the original books and would never consider buying them (until they've tried OSRIC and want to see the real thing).

Technically, a product that doesn't use game rules doesn't need to state that it's compatible with anything. But if it does use the OSRIC name, both sides benefit: the publisher gets to ride on the OSRIC brand name and the 1e players can easily learn about a product that's compatible -- because we're often not just looking for products that contain 1e mechanisms, we're also looking for products that DON'T contain or use d20 material.

These generic products might or might not be old school 1e, and they might or might not suck quality-wise. That's something we'll have to sort out as a community, using product reviews and word-of-mouth at sites like K&KA. But for purposes of getting the 1e rules back into the gaming mainstream, the more products that come up on an OSRIC search at RPGnow or Lulu, the better. And the publishers get the benefit of coming up on that search too. Everyone benefits.

What he said

Sure anyone can buy maps, but damnit these are OSRIC maps!

(I'm the guy behind Goblinoid Games)

Point taken.

And like I said, no snark was intended.

I think I'll go pick them and your module up from RPGNOW today, as I am very much in support of OSRIC.

francisca wrote:Point taken.

And like I said, no snark was intended.

I think I'll go pick them and your module up from RPGNOW today, as I am very much in support of OSRIC.

No problem, and no worries. I happen to think a little snark once in a while is ok anyway.

A staff reviewer at RPGnow did a very detailed review of the maps, so you may want to check that out before your purchase. Thanks for the interest!

francisca wrote:Point taken.

And like I said, no snark was intended.

I think I'll go pick them and your module up from RPGNOW today, as I am very much in support of OSRIC.

[hijack]

Heya Rich, still looking for those .doc versions of your submissions....

[/hijack]

joe b.

jgbrowning wrote:

francisca wrote:Point taken.

And like I said, no snark was intended.

I think I'll go pick them and your module up from RPGNOW today, as I am very much in support of OSRIC.

[hijack]

Heya Rich, still looking for those .doc versions of your submissions....

[/hijack]

joe b.

D'OH!

Look for them tonight.