#SOLASTA CROWN OF THE MAGISTER FACTIONS LICENSE#

D&D but with different flairĪll in all, SRD comes with three caveats: a) whoever wants to self-publish they can use the basic fifth-edition ruleset, b) this ruleset is quite trimmed and, up to point, may prove restrictive, c) no mention to already established IP is possible. And fine they did, because Solasta: Crown of the Magister is, quite boldly, the modern Temple of Elemental Evil (by Troika Games). However, we are not here to discuss BG3, but a small gem from a small team that decided they could do just fine by using the SRD of 5E ( SRD version 5.1, 2016) to release a D&D-based videogame. It was quite astonishing, even though it was a well-founded rumour, when they agreed with Larian on the release of Baldur’s Gate 3, as the only established game by that time was D&D Online. WotC have been quite protective of their IP especially after the release of subpar quality material for 3E/3.5E under the SRD. In 20 years, we have seen in the videogames medium some stellar titles (Infinity Engine games) and some subpar ones. Quite importantly, WotC decided to return to SRD once again. The success of Critical Role provided the necessary breakthrough for the hobby to be embraced and become mainstream. It reinvigorated the interest of a whole audience who, like me, turned to Pathfinder when they saw that 4E deviated too much from what they have been used to. The release of D&D Next (now known as 5 th edition) saw the return to the basics with simplified rules, a complete overhaul of the combat system (compared to the MMO-ish 4E), and a far grittier feeling which was tagged as a “return to the basics” bringing together concepts from both AD&D 2.5E and 3.5E. So close for the 6/6… Solasta offers classic dice rolls and the point-buy system during character creation. Silver lining: due to this strict license, Pathfinder emerged as the “definitive 3.75 D&D” experience, based on the original 3E SRD while trying to fix some of the game system errors (that is another story, though).

#SOLASTA CROWN OF THE MAGISTER FACTIONS LICENSE#

This partly affected the decision to move to a stricter license with the release of the 4 th edition of D&D which, despite personal preferences, has its merits (no, it doesn’t). The result was quite confounding and 3E despite its simplification(s) became a different beast on its own. On the other hand, 3E was plagued by an absurd number of 3 rd-party supplements, but also core books due to the “conquer with volume/quantity” publishing strategy adopted by WotC. On one hand, we had the development of amazing systems which finally broke away and became great, if lesser known, RPGs on their own (e.g., 13 th Age). The plan would unfortunately produce some controversial effects. The SRD would provide an opportunity for extra exposure (and revenue) to both the game and the companies using it. D&D had, for the most part, cast off its stigma and had started to break into the mainstream with momentum, owing quite substantially to videogame legends ( Baldur’s Gate, Icewind Dale series) which introduced the game to a whole new generation. It was a decision that seemed (and was) altruistic in concept. The SRD was under the Open Game License (OGL) and the aim was quite simple: provide the opportunity and motivation for 3 rd-party companies to publish more material for D&D 3E. That edition simplified some of the more confusing rules found in Advanced D&D 2nd edition (yes, THAC0 I am looking at you) to streamline the experience, but also marked another major event: the decision to release the foundations of the new system in a document known as… System Reference Document (SRD). After purchasing TSR in 1997, Wizards of the Coast (WotC) rolled-out the 3rd edition of Dungeons & Dragons in 2000.

Solasta crown of the magister factions