RPG Superstar 2015 Top 32, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
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I think here is as good a place as any, but I'm afraid I don't know much about other places.
Also, you're correct, WotC has not made their material available online, or even in PDF form (except the "basic rules"). Alas, I'm not aware of any databases of NPC stats, either.
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There are a lot of places to look for good resources, though nothing especially comprehensive. Try worldbuilderblog.me for a lot of cool things to add, as well as ENworld for either their en5ider magazine (for about a buck a month) or the page where they collect fan made materials (found HERE).
In terms of communities, I think that GiantIP and ENworld are it for now. Maybe we'll luck out and Kobold Press will take the lead. HINT HINT!
I'm hoping this site takes off, too. I really like the Paizo boards. The people are (mostly) nice and I like how it's organized.
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Also: I have the impression there's no 5e equivalent to the PFSRD, right?
Wrong
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Well, I can't really say that's "equivalent". I mean, it's nice. But it's two books. The PFSRD is 60+ books plus all rules, feats, NPCs and monsters from every module and AP, all lavishly hyperlinked to each other, and the whole thing regularly updated by a devoted fanbase. This is not really in the same class.Doug M.
There's not that much 5E material yet. The two basic books and the Unearthed Arcana free articles are a good start though. There have been a half dozen (? 7 now) or so UA articles.
WotC hasn't finalized a license for 5E, so no equivalent to the PFSRD or SRD yet. And you won't get that until (and if) they settle licensing issues and determine what (if anything) is "open content". A lot of the current 3PP material is produced using the existing OGL. Except the WotC hardbacks produced by partners...
Personally I'm fine with the lack of material. It's not difficult to create / adapt things for 5E and I enjoy doing it myself.
Unfortunately, other than the basic rules linked above, and the Elemental Evil player's companion, there isn't much in the way of anything near the SRD. Even then, the basic rules doesn't include much of what is in the PHB. And if you want the paladin, barbarian, sorcerer, druid, etc, or the other races, you will unfortunately have to purchase the books.
I'll second ENworld and GitPG boards, there are also some very active Google+ and Facebook communities. For idea mining, there are a lot of good blogs out there, and I also like Dragonsfoot alot. Though the focus there is primarily 1E, it hews pretty close to 5e in terms of both ethic and rules. Oh, and reddit I guess. Quality of discussion there rises and falls (unless you're really into identity politics), but there's some really cool home brew stuff if you dig around.
I don't think it is an unreasonable expectation to buy the books to play the game. They are after all, you know, a business.
I would hope that most people buy the key pathfinder books they use regularly and use the OGC for quick reference or to suss ideas out. We need to buy the books in order to justify publishers to keep making them.
I don't think it is an unreasonable expectation to buy the books to play the game. They are after all, you know, a business.
I would hope that most people buy the key pathfinder books they use regularly and use the OGC for quick reference or to suss ideas out. We need to buy the books in order to justify publishers to keep making them.
Paizo hasn't exactly gone out of business by producing PDF's or having their content online in SRD format. People do buy the books anyways.
I personally haven't purchased D&D 5E, but that's because they don't have them in PDF format, which is the sole format I buy RPG books in now and have for the past 5-6 years.
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I can see both sides of it for sure. I'd love pdfs of the books, but I also like having the physical books. I think that I would have gotten into the game sooner had I been able to get cheap pdfs.
WotC's current business model for the TTRPG specifically is predicated on the sales of those core books in a way that Paizo's is not, unfortunately. Even their adventures are meant to leverage more core book sales.
I've been noticing the strange methodic release of the prior edition core rules, and I have a weird feeling that they might be taking a different stance soon. I might be crazy, but I would bet that they are going to release a pdf very soon, now that they have a hefty chunk of print sales under their belts.
I believe that WotC business model with the current edition is more geared toward providing multilateral merchandise with every adventure theme. Tyranny of Dragons, had a TTRPG adventure, a module for NWN online, miniatures; Elemental Evil, had a TTRPG adventure, a board game, miniatures, a NWNO module; Rage of Demons, have a TTRPG adventure, a brand new computer game, a NWNO module, some minis, and a TTRPG setting book.
I don't know how important really is the TTRPG aspect to WotC...
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Well, I speak for the actual book part of sales. Multimedia is apparently a bigger fish to fry than the role playing segment, but the books are selling well for RPG product.
The actual book adventures seem geared to make you want/need to buy the core books (despite some support for playing them with basic rules, notably absent with Rage of Demons).
That having been said, it is a blip on the radar. I think it might be an after though, but I hope that my pdf theory is right, at any rate.
Contributor; Publisher, Kobold Press; RPG Superstar Judge
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In terms of communities, I think that GiantIP and ENworld are it for now. Maybe we'll luck out and Kobold Press will take the lead. HINT HINT!
Somewhat belated reply! That would be awesome, but I don't want a repeat of last time around (where spammers slowly destroyed the Kobold Press forums). I'd be very happy to host 5th Edition forums at KoboldPress.com, but they would need a moderator and/or a strong spam filter before I would consider it.
In addition to GitP and ENworld, there's a decent subReddit with some resources.
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I had that trouble with weird foreign product spam on an old message board. I think that there is a lot of discussion of what message board software is best these days, but sadly I am not as up on that technology.
If I remember right, the old board I was moderating had a relatively rigorous process for membership, and that was somewhat sound. Still, you need the man power, so I understand that. I only wish that the 5e discussions here were more active... or that the work filters let me go to any of the other three places, hehe.
I had that trouble with weird foreign product spam on an old message board. I think that there is a lot of discussion of what message board software is best these days, but sadly I am not as up on that technology.
If I remember right, the old board I was moderating had a relatively rigorous process for membership, and that was somewhat sound. Still, you need the man power, so I understand that. I only wish that the 5e discussions here were more active... or that the work filters let me go to any of the other three places, hehe.
Have you tried one of those forum apps? That may allow you to bypass your work filters to see the content you want to see. I downloaded one (tapatalk), but haven't tried it yet.
Edit: I just tried the app. It does not get GitP, but does get EN World.