Does the OGL allow computer games? Pathfinder-style computer games may well be the only sane successor to D&D, now that 4e is simplified. Thing is, simple games are well and good for table top, but on the computer 'complex games' such as Pathfinder/3.5 can shine cos the computer does all the work for you.
So how about it, lads and lasses? Pathfinder NWN-style? Even better--with the Forgotten Realms out of the picture, maybe the pathfinder campaign world, hell maybe even let these crazy game designers create their own world. Paizo can call keeps on the pnp spinoff campaign setting.
Could be good eh? Eh?
Also, entirely contingent on the 'OGL'.

Does the OGL allow computer games? Pathfinder-style computer games may well be the only sane successor to D&D, now that 4e is simplified. Thing is, simple games are well and good for table top, but on the computer 'complex games' such as Pathfinder/3.5 can shine cos the computer does all the work for you.

So how about it, lads and lasses? Pathfinder NWN-style? Even better--with the Forgotten Realms out of the picture, maybe the pathfinder campaign world, hell maybe even let these crazy game designers create their own world. Paizo can call keeps on the pnp spinoff campaign setting.
Could be good eh? Eh?
Also, entirely contingent on the 'OGL'.

OGL content may be used in computer games, though persons doing that should make sure they *really understand* the OGL. (Note that while the Pathfinder RPG mechanics are OGL, our world stuff is not.)

OGL content may be used in computer games, though persons doing that should make sure they *really understand* the OGL. (Note that while the Pathfinder RPG mechanics are OGL, our world stuff is not.)

I can't believe I'm point this out off a quote from Vic, as he's usually the one to say this but...

We are also working on a community use policy for Pathfinder material and are quite willing to talk about licensing for IP that is not open content.

Thing is, simple games are well and good for table top, but on the computer 'complex games' such as Pathfinder/3.5 can shine cos the computer does all the work for you.

I would disagree; computer RPGs are quite simple and table top RPGs are vastly more complex. There's no way current game engines and software can take into account and calculate everything involved in a table top RPG as complex as D&D or Pathfinder. Computer RPGs leave MUCH to be desired compared to table top RPGs.

In order for the computer to do 'all the work for you' they take away a lot of your free will, assume a lot of things, pigeon hole spells so that they have predictable results, and even completely leave out other things.

Zeevico wrote:

Thing is, simple games are well and good for table top, but on the computer 'complex games' such as Pathfinder/3.5 can shine cos the computer does all the work for you.

I would disagree; computer RPGs are quite simple and table top RPGs are vastly more complex. There's no way current game engines and software can take into account and calculate everything involved in a table top RPG as complex as D&D or Pathfinder. Computer RPGs leave MUCH to be desired compared to table top RPGs.

In order for the computer to do 'all the work for you' they take away a lot of your free will, assume a lot of things, pigeon hole spells so that they have predictable results, and even completely leave out other things.

I think he's talking solely mechanically. It's easier for a computer to do all the record-keeping than it is for a player/DM. Seems to me what you're talking about is the role-playing element. The standard computer answer to that is, "Multiplayer!"

I would disagree; computer RPGs are quite simple and table top RPGs are vastly more complex. There's no way current game engines and software can take into account and calculate everything involved in a table top RPG as complex as D&D or Pathfinder. Computer RPGs leave MUCH to be desired compared to table top RPGs.

That used to be true, but with sophisticated scripting like in Neverwinter Nights, live GMs who can change the campaign world on a whim, and real people controlling characters to interact with, computer RPGs can be every bit as much a roleplaying and complex experience.

You're talking PRPG Mods for NWN? That's a good idea, but it would be a lot of work. But the PRC is probably the most interesting thing in NWN, and a PRPG Modpack would be gravy!

Penny Sue wrote:

I would disagree; computer RPGs are quite simple and table top RPGs are vastly more complex. There's no way current game engines and software can take into account and calculate everything involved in a table top RPG as complex as D&D or Pathfinder. Computer RPGs leave MUCH to be desired compared to table top RPGs.

That used to be true, but with sophisticated scripting like in Neverwinter Nights, live GMs who can change the campaign world on a whim, and real people controlling characters to interact with, computer RPGs can be every bit as much a roleplaying and complex experience.

So I can bull-rush opponents off a gangplank into the ocean, and then make a swimming/jump check out of the water onto the gangplank with my Orca-man-sorcerer-pirate character, take a bite out of somebodies neck and scream "I will eat your flesh!" while my parrot flies overhead screaming "It's an ambush! RAWRK!"

Sorry, I strongly disagree that computers will ever live up to the human imagination. If they do, we will never know it because they will replace us.

True--NWN2 can never really accurately reflect every element of a pnp game. There are two options I guess:
- A Paizo online game system. Dice rolls, character sheets, etc, all done for you--quick and easy from the DM and player's perspectives. Make it free, stick a banner with your name on it and a link, and see who starts buying Paizo games.
- A Pathfinder-system RPG single player/multi player game--essentially NWN2, but done better. Or maybe a Pathfinder expansion to NWN2 (heaven knows who would be open to that).

Both would be great, if done properly. Besides, I'm tired of Elmo's forgotten realms adventures and the +5 swords the local clerics of Lathander must hand out at baby showers. If Golarion [is that the name of this setting?] injects a bit more sense into the format and I'd be gladder for it.

NWN2's problem is that it was butchered. They should have improved on NWN1, not taken the best parts out of the game. But that's not the topic:

Just let me say that I'd very much like a Pathfinder computer game. There's so many possibilities: Computer RPG, Strategy (both realtime and turn based), First/Third-person Shooters/Slashers, combinations of all that (how awesome would something like Deus Ex or Vampire Bloodlines set in golarion be?)

Hell, nothing fancy but I would love to have a decent GM tactical tool with a player client. I have not been terribly impressed with the one out there presently. RPG Explorer looks to be nice and they are much nicer to talk to in person than the "other guys" but the "other guys" have an application with player clients that a GM can push maps too (though I know RPGEx is going to push a GM version that looks nice but don't know about player version that syncs with it tho).

I don't want to rule out use of minis and just have ppl staring at laptop screens but I would relish a game where a player group storms a castle only to have to duck and weave their way through the field of fire from longbows at long range. Or a party on mounts runs from mounted soldiers and, as a GM, I am able to deal with variations in movement from the mounts (or players chasing somebody for that matter). Or heaven forbid, flying encounters without minis standing on giant D6's or other eleveation tools.

I mean, most battle mats can't handle that kind of range and conventions to fence them in are OK but I like to give my players freedom - heaven forbid if the player compounds the issue and takes feats that expand their range. Not to mention the dreaded "I go off the side of the your battle mat 50 feet" (which can be tracked but those methods are unsexy).

Point being that a lot of developers are in the right direction but I don't think we're there yet. I guess I will have to keep cheering on RPGEx or hoping that the "other guys" can work out the kinks.

NWN2's problem is that it was butchered. They should have improved on NWN1, not taken the best parts out of the game. But that's not the topic:

Just let me say that I'd very much like a Pathfinder computer game. There's so many possibilities: Computer RPG, Strategy (both realtime and turn based), First/Third-person Shooters/Slashers, combinations of all that (how awesome would something like Deus Ex or Vampire Bloodlines set in golarion be?)

Morrowind:Golarion Edition- Release several versions for different areas of the world.

Or maybe a 'Eye of the Beholder' type of game with a party to control.

I'd have a field day with something like this. I loved those games (though third one was fairly 'meh'). I'd play something like Dungeon Hack too (with a 3.P update of course).

Fake Healer wrote:

Or maybe a 'Eye of the Beholder' type of game with a party to control.

I'd have a field day with something like this. I loved those games (though third one was fairly 'meh'). I'd play something like Dungeon Hack too (with a 3.P update of course).

Yeah, or Might and Magic:World of Xeen type of format. That was a cool experience also.

I'd prefer a 'gold box' or Greyhawk: Temple of Elemental Evil (but without all the bugs) style Pathfinder computer game.

I started to write some softwares to help me with Pathfinder RPG as soon as I got the Beta book. I never really got involved in D&D 3.5, but I liked the price of 24.99 $ really much. And me and my friends like what we see so far.

While I was reading this book I thought about making some tools to manage characters sheet, combats, items weight. These is a lot of rules, and I hope to streamline gameplay mechanics by putting these tools on my laptop during game sessions.

I am thinking about bringing these software under GPL license at some point in the future, but the artwork I have is just terrible. Well, I don't use artwork at all. I only use basic comboboxes, checkboxes and textboxes.

But with some help, I think I can bring these software to the masses in a couple of months. I develop for multiples operating systems. Windows, Linux, MacOS, and maybe iPhone/iPod touch are my targets. However, my tools only run on Windows and MacOS X for now and they are not yet complete.

I like what OGL offers to us and I would gladly accept any kind of deal with paizo to use some artwork for these "fan made" softwares. I don't know if asking for some kind of fan kits here may help, but it would add some visual value to the kit.

These softwares will be distributed for free. And they won't try to replace the game. They will only aim at helping people with their tabletop games by "crunching" the numbers and keeping characters stats on their laptop and/or their mobile device.

If someone is interested, or if someone at paizo wishes to contact me. Just reply.

Simon Deschenes
Professional programmer on week days
"Coding-for-fun" programmer on most week-ends

OGL content may be used in computer games, though persons doing that should make sure they *really understand* the OGL. (Note that while the Pathfinder RPG mechanics are OGL, our world stuff is not.)

As I am currently adding support for Pathfinder RPG in my automated Character Sheet product, I would require knowledge of 'what' is defined as world stuff as opposed to what I can use as part of the OGL.

Is there any way to contact you by email (or any person of authority on the PF RPG) you to discuss this? [apologies, I did not locate any 'private message' system available on this forum type]

Thanks!

Richard "RiTz21" Taillon
http://TheOnlySheet.com

Vic Wertz wrote:

OGL content may be used in computer games, though persons doing that should make sure they *really understand* the OGL. (Note that while the Pathfinder RPG mechanics are OGL, our world stuff is not.)

As I am currently adding support for Pathfinder RPG in my automated Character Sheet product, I would require knowledge of 'what' is defined as world stuff as opposed to what I can use as part of the OGL.

Is there any way to contact you by email (or any person of authority on the PF RPG) you to discuss this? [apologies, I did not locate any 'private message' system available on this forum type]

Thanks!

Richard "RiTz21" Taillon
http://TheOnlySheet.com

Same here

I like what OGL offers to us and I would gladly accept any kind of deal with paizo to use some artwork for these "fan made" softwares. I don't know if asking for some kind of fan kits here may help, but it would add some visual value to the kit.

These softwares will be distributed for free. And they won't try to replace the game. They will only aim at helping people with their tabletop games by "crunching" the numbers and keeping characters stats on their laptop and/or their mobile device.

We're working on a license that covers such things, but it'll be a few months. Keep an ear out!

As I am currently adding support for Pathfinder RPG in my automated Character Sheet product, I would require knowledge of 'what' is defined as world stuff as opposed to what I can use as part of the OGL.

The OGL allows you to use anything that we specify as "Open Game Content," and forbids you from using anything identified as "Product Identity."

In Paizo's products, we identify Product Identity as "All trademarks, registered trademarks, proper names (characters, deities, artifacts, places, etc.), dialogue, plots, storylines, language, incidents, locations, characters, artwork, and trade dress." So you can't use any of that without a separate license from us.

Everything else is Open Game Content, which you can use so long as you follow the rules of the OGL.