Announcing the e20 Project

The “e20: System Evolved” project has the goal of designing a genre-neutral roleplaying game whose mechanics allow for fast gameplay, streamlined character creation and advancement, and a cinematic storytelling experience. Its name is inspired by the decade-old “d20 System” license, and this project’s intent is to help that venerable rules system evolve into its newest incarnation.

Background
Since 2000, the “d20 System” license and the Open Game License (OGL) have allowed publishers to share a common framework for creating roleplaying games using the System Reference Document (SRD), which contains the same core mechanics as those found in Wizards of the Coast’s DUNGEONS & DRAGONS 3rd edition. Under the OGL, third-party publishers use the SRD as the basis of many different games meant for many different genres: fantasy, science fiction, horror, superheroes, spy thrillers, and many more.

However, the SRD is intended first and foremost as the rules system for a heroic fantasy game, and as such it requires substantial modification to adapt it to different genres. The result is the creation of similar but not completely compatible game systems for each setting. In addition, the last decade has revealed that the rules themselves have some issues with game balance, tempo, and playability; each publisher addresses these issues in slightly different ways, leading to further compatibility issues.

Eventually, Wizards of the Coast abandons the OGL entirely with DUNGEONS & DRAGONS 4th edition, and the new game is even more focused on heroic fantasy at the expense of other genres. In fact, its strict license requirements allow so little latitude that many third-party publishers choose not to continue creating compatible products. The result is a more fragmented roleplaying game industry, further isolating each game’s players and making crossover even more difficult than before.

Objective
The goal of the “e20: System Evolved” project is to create a new rules system that supports any genre. Though it uses the SRD and the OGL as a starting point, it is a complete revision meant to address the rules issues that have been found over the past decade. When complete, the e20 Core Rulebook will provide a common starting point for any number of genres and settings created by players and third-party publishers.

The e20 Core Rulebook will be a large hardcover book (at least 350 to 400 pages) with a full color cover, a fully illustrated black-and-white interior, and a target retail price of $39.95. In addition, the e20 Core Rulebook will be available for download, most likely as a PDF for $9.95. (Additional formats, such as that used by Amazon’s Kindle, are also being considered.) The target date for publication is late November or early December of 2010, allowing the game to be available for purchase in time for the holiday season.

Patronage and Funding
I have decided to follow the example of Wolfgang Baur and use a “patronage model” for this project. That what means is that those who are interested in the project can “buy in” at the beginning, giving them access to (and influence on) the design process at all stages. Once a sufficient number of patrons have pledged their support, the project moves forward.

To minimize risk for all involved, I am using a service called Kickstarter to handle the pledges and funding of the project. Here’s how the process works:

• An interested patron makes a pledge to support the project at Kickstarter. Pledges begin at $20, and higher amounts allow greater input on the development of the project.
• The patron is not charged for their pledge at this time.
• The project has a 10-week fundraising period, with a goal of raising $10,000 by March 15th. At that time, one of two things happen:
  • If not enough money has been pledged, the project ends and no money changes hands at all.
  • If the fundraising goal is reached by the deadline, all pledges are processed simultaneously at that time.
• Put another way: Either everyone is in, or no one is. This prevents you from pre-ordering a project that never gets enough money to get off the ground.

As I mentioned, the funding goal is to raise $10,000 in 10 weeks. Until now, I have been working on this rules system on a part-time basis, exploring different mechanics to determine if the project would be viable. Having determined that it is possible to meet all the goals I have for the new rules, I will need to work on the book on a full-time basis to complete it within one year, and even that requires a very ambitious production schedule.

Since the time I spend working on the e20 Core Rulebook is time that I can’t spend doing freelance writing and editing, the biggest reason for this funding is to pay the bills while I devote all my time to the project. In addition, a project of this scope will undoubtedly require the collaboration of other contributors (artists, designers, editors, etc.), so I need to have sufficient cash on hand to hire freelancers as needed for the project.

The fund-raising goal $10,000 is the bare minimum that I believe can move the project forward; ultimately, I hope the project will raise several times this amount, primarily through book sales after publication. The amount by which I exceed the $10,000 goal will help to determine how large a print run I can afford as well as how much work I can afford to farm out to freelancers who want to contribute to the game’s design.

Process
I will draw on my years of experience in the game design process, particularly the time spent developing, editing, and providing rules support for the STAR WARS Roleplaying Game: Saga Edition, which was itself an exhaustive revision of the rules found in the OGL and an effort to improve gameplay from that found in the two earlier d20-based editions of the game.

Furthermore, years of play have provided substantial hands-on experience — both my own and that shared by thousands of players — that give significant guidance on not only what most needs to be changed but also how.

In addition, the e20 Core Rulebook will have the direct input of fans from the very beginning. If you choose to back this project, you will have not only behind-the-scenes looks at the development process but also the opportunity to shape the final product by voting in polls, joining the discussion on forums at http://GMSarliGames.com, playtesting rules to provide direct feedback, and possibly even contributing content for the game.

In fact, if you contribute work to the final manuscript, you are paid at the same rate as other freelancers and given an additional design credit on the book — a great way to gain experience and build a resume for those interested in pursuing a career in game publishing!