D&D controversy leads to major dev starting its own tabletop RPG system

Cover artwork for Tome of Foes II by Kobold Press
(Image credit: Kobold Press)

Following the controversy surrounding new D&D licensing rules, numerous developers are breaking away from the tabletop RPG - and some are creating their own systems.

One such studio is Kobold Press, the team behind numerous third-party publications such as Tome of Beasts and Campaign Builder: Cities and Towns that use the original D&D license. The group, which has been creating content for the game since 2006, put out a statement where it reveals a new fantasy ruleset codenamed 'Black Flag' that is "available, open, and subscription-free for those who love it." The post also notes that it is now "even more important for our actions to represent our values," a sentiment echoed by an open letter condemning changes to the D&D license, revealed by io9, that has been signed by over 60,000 people.

It's not the only one. As originally reported by Comicbook.com, Matt Colville of MCDM (the creators of various RPG books, minis, and a monthly tabletop magazine called Arcadia) announced during a Twitch stream that the company will start working on its own "tactical, cinematic, monster-fighting" tabletop RPG system imminently which emphasizes political intrigue and abilities derived from working with your party. Although Colville mentioned that the group had been planning to create mechanics of its own for over a year, the D&D controversy has made them "a lot more confident we're making the right decision." In addition, it's getting started as early as next week - members of the MCDM team will be flying in on Monday "to spend a week on game design. And our goal is rapid prototyping... before the week is out, I would like to run a combat."

Cubicle 7, which is responsible for Warhammer Fantasy RPG and the Doctor Who Roleplaying Game, will also move future projects away from the D&D license. Revealed in a post on Kickstarter, upcoming releases "may instead move to the award-winning C7d6 system."

They are unlikely to be the last. As pointed out on Twitter by original Fallout developer Jesse Heinig, "if there's a similar market resistance to OneD&D as there was to the transition from 3rd to 4th edition - which prompted the opening for [D&D rival] Pathfinder to succeed - this year could see the rise of competing games and undercut the release of OneD&D." 

If you want a refresher on the D&D license controversy, check out our write-up. As for other major systems in the industry, don't miss the best tabletop RPGs.


It's been a busy week for D&D so far, but it hasn't all been about the OGL furore - the first official D&D Lego set was revealed earlier this month ahead of it joining the best Lego sets on shelves, alongside D&D Nerf blasters.

Benjamin Abbott
Tabletop & Merch Editor

I've been writing about games in one form or another since 2012, and now manage GamesRadar+'s tabletop gaming and toy coverage. You'll find my grubby paws on everything from board game reviews to the latest Lego news.

Read more
Guildmaster Rhys and others look on mockingly as a recruit falls flat on their face
Ex-D&D Designer says the OGL controversy has possibly rendered the game permanently “uncool”
D&D character sheet and cards from Heroes of the Borderlands box set
The new D&D Starter Set is the first one I've been excited about in years
Drow and Tiefling Toughs
D&D community wrestles over lack of Orc and Drow stat blocks in the 2025 Monster Manual: "They should have also removed the goblins, lizardfolk, gith, centaurs, bugbears, hobgoblins, kenku, and kobolds"
A wizard casts spells beside a dragonborn whose hands are wreathed in energy, divided from a person in mech armor and a woman holding up a potion bottle
I visited D&D HQ to see the 2025 lineup, and it includes everything from Eberron to the return of a classic adventure
Screenshots from the Legend in the Mist TRPG
D&D is "Great for sh*ts & giggles, but it's so saturated with magic that magic doesn't matter" says Legend in the Mist's lead designer
Sceenshot from Pillars of Eternity TRPG with the logo on top
RPG veteran Josh Sawyer finally drops screenshots of a potential Pillars of Eternity TRPG rework
Latest in Tabletop Gaming
Matt Mercer, Brennan Lee Mulligan, and art from the opening of Exandria Unlimited: Divergence
"He's right to think it's cool, because it is": D&D legends Matt Mercer and Brennan Lee Mulligan on Divergence, sharing worlds, and what they want next from Exandria Unlimited
Matt Mercer smiling and Brennan Lee Mulligan talking, with a white line dividing them
Matt Mercer thanks "lifelong threat of imposter syndrome" for keeping him and Brennan Lee Mulligan grounded, despite still thinking "People like it, what the hell?"
HeroQuest box, models, tokens, board, and cards on a wooden table
HeroQuest review: "The grandaddy of dungeon crawlers"
Talisman 5th Edition box with a "best deal" badge beside it
Get 22% off Talisman 5th Edition, the chaotic fantasy board game where you can get transformed into a toad
The Dungeons & Dragons: Builders of Baldur's Gate board game logo on a D&D dragon image
WizKids to bring us D&D Baldur's Gate city builder board game in Summer 2025, and preorders are far cheaper than I expected
Stylized art of a group of survivors fighting through a hoard of zombies
"Rising cost of living" has contributed to an estimated $2m loss for Zombicide publisher, CMON
Latest in News
the last campfire screenshot showing the protagonist talking to a giant frog
Can't wait for the No Man's Sky dev's new game Light No Fire? Well, its latest and much smaller game is $1.49 in the Steam Spring Sale 2025
Avengers: Endgame
The Russo brothers reveal that Marvel has an ingenious way of working out which actors they can use for upcoming Avengers movies
Zone of the enders 2 screenshot showing mechs battling
One of Hideo Kojima's most overlooked games is under $6 in the Steam Spring Sale 2025 to make the wait for Death Stranding 2 more bearable
Jenna Ortega as Wednesday Addams dancing during the Netflix series, Wednesday.
Wednesday star Jenna Ortega denies rumors of big Marvel role after her disappointing MCU debut 12 years ago: “I count that and I move on”
Silent Hill f key art showing the main character holding a pipe
Silent Hill f trailer suggests Konami’s newest nightmare will bring back an iconic weapon central to every game in the franchise
Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Percy Jackson series gets unusually early renewal for season 3 before upcoming season 2 even airs