There’s more to the OGL than d20 (Paizo Edition)

Recently I wrote about the various games that have been released under the OGL and for which a system reference document is available. A few days ago, Paizo released its new Pathfinder RPG, which a lot of gamers consider the true successor to D&D 3.5 Edition.

The SRD to the Pathfinder RPG is now available in HTML format which the Paizo people call “Pathfinder Game Reference Document”. So, what’s the big deal with the Pathfinder RPG anyway? Here’s what the official site tells us:

The Pathfinder Roleplaying Game is an evolution of the 3.5 rules set of the world’s oldest fantasy roleplaying game, designed using the feedback of tens of thousands of gamers just like you. Players need only the single 576-page Pathfinder RPG Core Rulebook to play, while the Game Master who controls the action will also want the Pathfinder RPG Bestiary, a massive tome containing more than 350 fantastic foes for you adventurers to face. The Pathfinder RPG is a fully supported roleplaying game, with regularly released adventure modules, world sourcebooks, and complete campaigns in the form of Pathfinder Adventure Paths like Council of Thieves and Kingmaker.

The Pathfinder Roleplaying Game has been designed with compatibility with previous editions in mind, so you’ll be able to use your existing library of 3.5 products with only a minimal amount of confusion. In fact, the Pathfinder RPG is designed to smooth over a number of the rough spots in the 3.5 rules set, making several existing books even easier to use. On the other hand, the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game contains numerous additional options and exciting new takes on classic character classes and races, infusing the game with a level of excitement that will carry it years into the future.

Ok, this posts title is perhaps a bit misleading because Pathfinder is of course another game based on the d20 System. But I believe it’s one of the few d20-based games that might be strong enough to stand on its own two feet. A Pathfinder SRD is a step in the right direction, since it will allow other publishers to jump onto the bandwagon and produce adventures and supplements themselves. And the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Compatibility License is much less restrictive than the GSL.