Pathfinder videogames - What does the OGL say about them?

[Winter_Born]

Was just watching the trailer for the new DnD iPhone/iPad game called Arena of War, and I wanting my Golarion fix in the same theme!

I seem to recall the are some OGL issue with certain aspects of videogame license, or am I incorrect there?

I know Paizo isn't in the market of making videogames (outside of Goblinworks upcoming Pathfinder Online) but I'm hoping with the brand exposure and growth upcoming with the MMO, comics, card game, etc, some decent developer will jump in and inquire about releasing some PF videogame goodness.

I dream of a Action RPG ala the Lord of the Rings TTT/RotK series from EA, or Stormfront's Forgotten Realms Demon Stone, or even a full on Dragon Age Origins!

But even a fun smartphone game would be a step in the right direction!

[Skeld]

IIRC the SRD contained some restrictions with regard to software (in terms of automatic rolling, I think), but I think there is enough of a gray area around OGL that anyone with the capability of pulling off an OGL-based PFRPG game hasn't been willing to assume the legal risk.

-Skeld

[KingmanHighborn]

I want a turn based 3/4ths top down strategy game like Final Fantasy Tactics, using the Pathfinder rulesets. All the races and classes/archetypes available right out of the box. Make a party of 5 and send them on an adventure.

[deuxhero]

I know Knights of the Chalice (pretty good, but as someone who doesn't care at all about graphics, the weird prospective makes it unplayable for me) managed to be a 3.5 based game with the OGL rules. I'd imagine something like that is possible with the PF stuff under the rules (KotC2 will have mod-tools actually, so you'd probably not even need to make a new game).

Golarion isn't in anyway OGL though, so on that front you're boned.

On a related note: You either use a turn based systems rules or you don't, the "invisible turns" hybrids Bioware inspired have been nothing but horrible (biggest thing of note: Actual movement in combat is impossible to be useful beyond "get closer to the enemy". You can't withdraw in any of them.).

[Neko Witch]

I'd be interested to see a golarion game but i prefer real time action rpg (dragon's dogma & dark souls). If not entirely open world maybe like a size of lordran from dark souls area in golarion for a game just throwing it out there.

[ShadowcatX]

KingmanHighborn wrote:

I want a turn based 3/4ths top down strategy game like Final Fantasy Tactics, using the Pathfinder rulesets. All the races and classes/archetypes available right out of the box. Make a party of 5 and send them on an adventure.

Gods I would love that.

[MadBeard]

I would like to see something like Temple of elemetal evil, but with PF rules (Golarion), better story and gameplay.
I always wondered why there is no games based on PF rules.
Btw, it's a shame that Chaos Chronicles is cancelled :(

[Gorbacz]

OGL isn't perfectly clear on how it's supposed to interact with a video game. And areas that aren't perfectly clear are very risky legal-wise - WotC won't tell you how to interpret the OGL, and if they decide to sue you ... you might even win, but you'll burn a six-digit number in legal costs, so it actually counts as a loss.

[Sloanzilla]

Ditto- Temple of Elemental evil had awesome turn based mechanics, just a really weird plot that involved wandering around Hommlet for 1/2 the game and running errands for people.

[Vic Wertz]

The OGL is actually kind of clear about the topic, in that it states the requirements you must satisfy... but it doesn't provide any advice on how to actually go about satisfying them.

Wizards of the Coast did post a couple of FAQs in 2004 that touch on the topic:

Main OGL FAQ:

OGL FAQ wrote:

Q: I want to distribute computer software using the OGL. Is that possible?

A: Yes, it's certainly possible. The most significant thing that will impact your effort is that you have to give all the recipients the right to extract and use any Open Game Content you've included in your application, and you have to clearly identify what part of the software is Open Game Content.

One way is to design your application so that all the Open Game Content resides in files that are human-readable (that is, in a format that can be opened and understood by a reasonable person). Another is to have all the data used by the program viewable somehow while the program runs.

Distributing the source code not an acceptable method of compliance. First off, most programming languages are not easy to understand if the user hasn't studied the language. Second, the source code is a separate entity from the executable file. The user must have access to the actual Open Content used.

See the Software FAQ for more information.

The other challenging part of OGL software development is this clause in the OGL:

OGL wrote:

No other terms or conditions may be applied to any Open Game Content distributed using this License.

That suggests that you need to carefully inspect the terms of any software development licenses you're using, as well as the terms of any distribution methods you're using, to ensure that they don't conflict with that.

[Vic Wertz]

Skeld wrote:

IIRC the SRD contained some restrictions with regard to software (in terms of automatic rolling, I think)...

You're thinking of the d20 System Trademark License, which explicitly cannot be used to create "interactive games."

[KingmanHighborn]

ShadowcatX wrote:

KingmanHighborn wrote:

I want a turn based 3/4ths top down strategy game like Final Fantasy Tactics, using the Pathfinder rulesets. All the races and classes/archetypes available right out of the box. Make a party of 5 and send them on an adventure.

Gods I would love that.

I think it's seriously needed.

[Kain Gallant]

KingmanHighborn wrote:

ShadowcatX wrote:

KingmanHighborn wrote:

I want a turn based 3/4ths top down strategy game like Final Fantasy Tactics, using the Pathfinder rulesets. All the races and classes/archetypes available right out of the box. Make a party of 5 and send them on an adventure.

Gods I would love that.

I think it's seriously needed.

Honestly, I'm surprised there hasn't been a turn-based tactical RPG using the 3.5 or PF ruleset. That whole genre seems perfect to replicate tabletop gaming.

[Kyras Ausks]

that what i thought Pathfinder online would be like but oh well (*holding back nerd rage)there is a couple "game makers" programs that are free you could do it with but my understanding of programing is nill and i suck at even the most user friendlily one

[ikarinokami]

Kain Gallant wrote:

KingmanHighborn wrote:

ShadowcatX wrote:

KingmanHighborn wrote:

I want a turn based 3/4ths top down strategy game like Final Fantasy Tactics, using the Pathfinder rulesets. All the races and classes/archetypes available right out of the box. Make a party of 5 and send them on an adventure.

Gods I would love that.

I think it's seriously needed.

Honestly, I'm surprised there hasn't been a turn-based tactical RPG using the 3.5 or PF ruleset. That whole genre seems perfect to replicate tabletop gaming.

I know this complete thread necro, but i can't leave this post unanswered.

Temple of Elemental Evil is what you want. the most incredible faithful 3.0/3.5 computer game ever made, and with the CO8 mods, goes all the way to level 20.

the only problem is that you realize just how many dead levels were in 3.0, but other than that the game is incredible.

[DM Crustypeanut]

Problem with ToEE (And I would like to first say that I did complete the game), is that its buggy to hell and even with the Circle of Eight modpack (Which I couldn't beat the game without due to the bugs) its glitchy and leaves out a ton of content.

I do agree that ToEE was the most accurate representation of D&D to this date as far as gameplay goes. I love the game, but the execution of it was horrible. So. Many. Bugs.

But yes, a Pathfinder version (Minus the bugs! We need a Colossal +5 Holy Vermin-Bane Greatsword over here!) would be AMAZING.

[KingmanHighborn]

Well only D&D based video games I've played is Eye of the Beholder GBA, (Played it on my ds though), Baldur's Gate on PS2, and Eberron: Unleashed.

EotB was the only one that really felt 'close' but it did have some major annoyances for me. (Only 4 classes! Boo!)

[ikarinokami]

i havent had any issue with bugs with the game since the co8 mods (of course i finished the original unpatched game). A lot of additional content save for the prestige classes are in the co8 mod also they just the keep on the borderlands mod for the game