Anyone have an Open Source Systems list?

[Michael Hopcroft]

Does anyone have a liost of all the game systems that have Open Gaming License-like licenses on them? In other words, all the pre-existing systems I can make commercial products with without paying a royalty fee?

I know of three: D20, Action! and FUDGE. I'm not sure about Greg Porter's EABA. Are there any others? (Note that Action!'s license is somewhat nebulous at the moment -- Mark is evidently still deciding on the language and has been huddled with his lawyer for months on the best way to do it).

Systems I know that are NOT Open License: Hero, GURPS, Tri-Stat.

[Rich Stokes]

I assume that you know this, but it's also worth pointing out that Fuzion isn't open, although a lot of people seem to think it is.

[Mike Holmes]

I assume that you know this, but it's also worth pointing out that Fuzion isn't open, although a lot of people seem to think it is.

I'm not sure about that. It might not be "open" but I think that FUDGE isn't either by that definition. You have to get approval for both, I think.

The Action! system from some of the same people as produced Fuzion is, I think, open in some sense. Here's a link to its license:
http://www.action-system.com/astl.html

I'd take a look at each individually before deciding that it's as "open" as what you want.

Mike

[ThreeGee]

Hey Michael,

I hate to blow my own horn, but both Slayer of Dragon RPG and DRAGON SUN : JAZZ NINJA are open. Slayer was first released under the OpenContent License (OPL), and is now under the Open Gaming License (OGL). DS:JN is also under OGL.

I imagine there are a number of independent games that are open, but honestly I cannot name any at the moment.

It might be worth looking at this link: http://www.opengamingfoundation.org/licenses.html

Later,
Grant

[ethan_greer]

I know of no game system more "open" than my own Pollies.

[talysman]

I think S John Ross's game Risus: the Anything RPG is open, although perhaps that is debatable; the license is similar to FUDGE, but I believe you don't have to ask permission to use the Risus rules, as long as you follow the proper procedure.

[iago]

I assume that you know this, but it's also worth pointing out that Fuzion isn't open, although a lot of people seem to think it is.

I'm not sure about that. It might not be "open" but I think that FUDGE isn't either by that definition. You have to get approval for both, I think.

Last I'd heard, using Fuzion required cash outlay.  FUDGE is open (all you have to do is include the license statement, plainly available with the core rules) unless you want to publish things for it commercially; if you want to go commercial, you ask FUDGE's creator for permission, sign a couple papers, get those papers and a couple copies of your product to the creator.  Rob and I picked one up for Fate; it's a breeze.

[bladamson]

http://www.openroleplaying.org/
http://www.greylotus.org
http://www.mirimatyalie.org (shameless plug)
http://www.freeroleplay.org (site is down atm, strange)

worth a read if the site is ever back up: http://www.freeroleplay.org/faq.php#NonFreeLicenses

[axonrg]

Thanks for the heads up bladamson (and well done on an excellent RPG BTW. The FRPGC web site is back again - we irritatingly had problems with our ISP. All resolved now (I hope).