Thommy H:
Mutants & Masterminds, True 20, The Wheel of Time RPG and quite a few others had full systems derived from d20, using the OGL without requiring the PHB, actually. I don’t think the console analogy is that applicable because, in my experience, it was mostly totally self-contained games that used it. There was even at least one game that didn’t use d20 mechanics at all, but still used the OGL as a framework for licensing itself, because it provided a certain amount of legal protection for free distribution.
That said, I never though the OGL was a bad idea - it was clearly highly successful - I could just see that it was going to lead to some issues down the line. Hey, if nothing else, we all got free D&D rules for a few years via the System Reference Document!
khedyarl:
I’m actually interested to see how the 5th edition OGL pans out. From what Dias has told me, it may be more flexible than fourth.
Ugly Green Trog:
I am not sure how I feel about seeing GW go under, Sure they seem to care little for their customers and the long term survival of the industry these days (this I level at the shareholders and senior management, not the game devs and designers themselves.) however I really like the style of alot of their miniatures and the quality of said miniatures is currently unrivaled on a large scale (Mantic models suck and AoW are yet to produce an entire army range) and I also love the warhammer and wh40k universes and have years of happy memories within those settings even though some modern codex fluff from 40k makes me want to cry (Matt Ward I’m looking in your direction).
I haven’t really looked at kings of war ruleset yet but I don’t know anyone who plays with it so have no real interest. Even if another fantasy ruleset caught my eye I would most likely only use it if enough of my gaming group felt the same and my WH armies could be used with that ruleset and I could continue to use the warhammer background and lore without too many gaping holes.
Kera foehunter:
when you are talking replacement for warhammer is this 1000 pt or more
or smaller games under 1000pt …
MLP:
I think the problem is that almost everyone who wargames already plays Warhammer or 40k. You go to a gaming club anywhere and you will get a game with warhammer. The massive background and history of warhammer is 30 years ahead of any new company.
I’ve seen new games played in my local gaming group but it’s never more than one game being played for a few months then you don’t see it again. People like the fact that everyone plays one system so they don’t need to learn different rules or carry around different army lists and models for each system if you don’t know what you’ll be playing.
I think the chances of any new gaming system getting as mainstream and accepted as GW systems is extemely unlikely. People do use other company’s models in their armies(mantic is big in my area) but they still play warhammer and mostly use GW models.
AGPO:
MLP makes an excellent point here. I’ve always said the big strength of GW’s business is the hobby centres because they provide not only high street advertising but a ready made gaming club for new players with dozens of different opponents.
I now play Tomorrow’s War rather than 40k. The rules set is infinitely superior if you want a proper military strategy game rather than an army list writing exersise. It can be adapted to different scales easily and can be played with any range of minis. However, I only have one regular opponent, and when I move in August we’ll rarely get a chance to get a game in. With 40k, I know the city I’m moving to has a hobby centre, and most gamers I encounter will probably play 40k or Fantasy or know people who do.