4e / GSL WotC to Revise D&D 4th Edition GSL and SRD

senna · 11th August 2008, 10:28 PM

Wotc is going to revise the GSL because of the poor suport from the 3PP! Good news to a lot of people!!

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/4news/20080811

lurkinglidda · 11th August 2008, 10:28 PM

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/welcome

New FAQ and SRD will be posted when the revised GSL is available.

No ETA at this point. It will be available very soon.

Agamon · 11th August 2008, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lurkinglidda

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/welcome

New FAQ and SRD will be posted when the revised GSL is available.

No ETA at this point. It will be available very soon.

Good news, thanks for the heads up Linae.

Brown Jenkin · 11th August 2008, 10:35 PM

It seems that the Public Relations department has finaly convinced Legal that any benefits that the GSL may provide are being overwhelmed by negative publicity. That, plus I think the staff manning the booth a Gen Con demanded this announcement before they had to deal with the issue all con long (Disclaimer: just my observation and in no way is based on any knowlege of the actual company politics).

lurkinglidda · 11th August 2008, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brown Jenkin

It seems that the Public Relations department has finaly convinced Legal that any benefits that the GSL may provide are being overwhelmed by negative publicity. That, plus I think the staff manning the booth a Gen Con demanded this announcement before they had to deal with the issue all con long (Disclaimer: just my observation and in no way is based on any knowlege of the actual company politics).

Actually, Scott and yours truly pushed for this possible CLM. We intended to have everything buttoned up by GenCon. Realizing that was not going to happen I requested we put up the announcement.

Dax Doomslayer · 11th August 2008, 10:41 PM

GREAT NEWS! I hope some of the more vocal 3PPs can now jump on board and support 4E (i.e. Necromancer Games). This is a good day indeed . . .

blargney the second · 11th August 2008, 10:41 PM

Interesting! What general direction are the changes going? Is the hope for them to be easier for 3rd parties to access?

Whizbang Dustyboots · 11th August 2008, 10:41 PM

Quote:

“We recognize the important role third party publishing support plays in the success of the 4th Edition of Dungeons & Dragons. We have listened to the community and our valued colleagues and have taken their concerns and recommendations to heart. Our commitment to the health of the industry and hobby gaming lifestyle is reflected in the revisions to the Game System License.”
--Linae Foster D&D Licensing Manager

While the delivery date is not yet firmly established, the revised documents will be available in the very near future.

The new fan site policy, to be made public at a later date, will be posted upon completion.

Cautiously optimistic here. I want my Folio of Fiends from Necromancer, I want my 4E Freeport Companion, I want more great products that make my group able to play 4E (with WotC books) in a way that works better for us.

Waldorf · 11th August 2008, 10:43 PM

For better or worse, Wotc is starting to resemble TSR more and more.

Brown Jenkin · 11th August 2008, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lurkinglidda

Actually, Scott and yours truly pushed for this possible CLM. We intended to have everything buttoned up by GenCon. Realizing that was not going to happen I requested we put up the announcement.

Well if you guys pushed for it hopefully this is good news and not a further tightening of the contract.

jgbrowning · 11th August 2008, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lurkinglidda

Actually, Scott and yours truly pushed for this possible CLM. We intended to have everything buttoned up by GenCon. Realizing that was not going to happen I requested we put up the announcement.

Linae, glad to hear the news! As one of the bigger 3PPP to sign the GSL I'd love to see a cure period in place, preferably one of 30 days length or greater. It would help me breath easier knowing that if I make a boneheaded mistake that I didn't catch, I would have some time to correct that mistake before being in breach of the license.

I'm very glad to hear this and look forward to additional details.

joe b.

lurkinglidda · 11th August 2008, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blargney the second

What general direction are the changes going?

Is "opener" a word?

Quote:

Is the hope for them to be easier for 3rd parties to access?

That's the hope.

Terwox · 11th August 2008, 10:52 PM

Excellent news! I've got high hopes for this.

Cadfan · 11th August 2008, 10:53 PM

Here's hoping that the revised license deals with the reprinting of monster stat blocks in 3rd party adventures. I totally understand why WOTC didn't want to make this possible, but its just so darn useful that I don't think I'd ever have much interest in buying an adventure that didn't have the relevant stat blocks right on the page.

Other than that, I'm probably going to ignore the issue and block everyone involved in more drama.

Wyrmshadows · 11th August 2008, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lurkinglidda

Actually, Scott and yours truly pushed for this possible CLM. We intended to have everything buttoned up by GenCon. Realizing that was not going to happen I requested we put up the announcement.

Any chance that 3pps can create a single product line for both the OGL and the GSL? If so, then I would be more interested.

Wyrmshadows

Mallus · 11th August 2008, 10:58 PM

Good for WotC. It's nice when people, or corporate entities, learn from their mistakes and adapt.

Alzrius · 11th August 2008, 10:58 PM

Very interesting! I didn't think WotC would actually do it.

I think the most important change to make, however, is to nix the policy regarding WotC's ability to revise the GSL at will and third-parties must comply with whatever the newest version is. So long as that's in there, any other changes, no matter how beneficial, could vanish at any time.

Beyond that, it'd be nice to see the removal of restrictions on publishing OGL content, of the "pay WotC's legal fees" clause, and of the various bindings that survive the termination of the license.

Brown Jenkin · 11th August 2008, 10:58 PM

Don't think they will do it but I would like to see companies still be able to sell old OGL products from the same line as converted products so that we don't lose lots of valuable products forever.

GVDammerung · 11th August 2008, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brown Jenkin

It seems that the Public Relations department has finaly convinced Legal that any benefits that the GSL may provide are being overwhelmed by negative publicity. That, plus I think the staff manning the booth a Gen Con demanded this announcement before they had to deal with the issue all con long (Disclaimer: just my observation and in no way is based on any knowlege of the actual company politics).

2nd post and we have a thread winner!

But let's wait and see just what changes get made:

1) At will termination clause?
2) Absolute termination of content when termination occurs?
3) Can't use OGL and GSL?

Let's wait and see. I think that this move to adjust the language, we'll see how much of an actual change there is, is indicative of how well 4e is _not_ doing. Seems 4e, at the least, wouldn't mind some help from 3PP. If 4e were kicking and taking no prisoners, I doubt we'd see this development. Its finger in the dike time!

Shemeska · 11th August 2008, 11:01 PM

One can only wonder though if they've already soured the pot by first delaying and then putting out the initial -horrible- GSL? Whatever this ends up being, it might be too little, far too late.

[gleeful speculation and rumor-mongering]

And speculate as you like if it might be a late attempt to head off OGL alternatives to 4e, especially if sales thus far for 4e have been good but not up to what Hasbro expected given the investment in the edition change and its associated digital products.

[/gleeful speculation and rumor-mongering]