NEWS: OGL and SRD dates/info announced

[Rechan]

New article: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x...news/20080108a

Behind cut, for those with the meh issues.

Spoiler:

D&D 4th Edition System Reference Document and OGL Designer’s Kit
Wizards of the Coast has developed a new, two-phased release structure for the Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition System Reference Document (SRD) and Open Gaming License (OGL).

Phase One
The first phase of the 4th Edition developer materials release will be marked by the January 2008 availability of the OGL Designer’s Kit. This kit is designed for independent publishers looking to obtain early access to 4th Edition rules in order to develop compatible products to release just after the 4th Edition launch. These publishers will pay a one-time fee of $5,000.00 USD for access to the OGL Designer’s Kit, which includes first looks at the 4th Edition rulebooks, the SRD, final galleys and more.

The OGL Designer’s kit includes:

Pre-publication versions of the 4th Edition rulebooks:
4th Edition Player’s Handbook
4th Edition Dungeon Master’s Guide
4th Edition Monster Manual
Pre-publication version of the System Reference Document (SRD)
Open Gaming License (OGL)
License Guide
FAQ
Registration Card
Updated documents as the rules are finessed and finalized
Final galleys including typeset text and artwork
Advanced copies of the finished core rulebooks
Developers purchasing the OGL Designer’s Kit will receive updated pre-publication versions of the 4th Edition Dungeons & Dragons core rules through the time of launch. They will also receive the right to publish OGL products on August 1, 2008, one month earlier than the general public.

Parties interested in the OGL Designer’s Kit must possess a business license and execute a Non-Disclosure Agreement prior to contract communications.

Phase Two
Wizards of the Coast will release the second phase of the developer materials on June 6th, 2008 with the free, public availability of the Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition SRD and OGL. The SRD will be live immediately upon release. The OGL will go-live on January 1, 2009.

For further information contact linae.foster@wizards.com.

FAQ
Q: Why are you charging for the OGL Designer’s Kit?
A: We want to encourage publishers who are serious about the business of OGL publishing to create compelling, quality products to complement the hard work we’ve put into creating 4th Edition material.

In that spirit, the OGL Designer’s Kit helps to establish a minimum bar for early entry into the OGL publishing world. We feel that publishers and developers with a proven track record of creating quality products will be able to cover the cost of the OGL Designer’s Kit and continue to create new material for 4th Edition.

Q: What about new publishers that can’t afford to pay for the kit? Won’t they be left out?
A: All of the material included in the OGL Designer’s Kit will be available for free starting on June 6, 2008. Parties who find the cost prohibitive can begin developing their products at that time.

Q: Can anyone purchase an OGL Designer’s Kit?
A: Interested parties are required to possess a business license. Wizards of the Coast reserves the right to limit participation in this program as appropriate to the business.

Q: When can I start publishing OGL products?
A: Purchasers of the OGL Designer’s Kit can begin publishing their OGL products on August 1, 2008. Other publishers may begin publishing their OGL products on January 01, 2009.

Q: Why do I have to pay to publish an OGL product for 4th Edition?
A: You don’t. Starting in June, the core rulebooks will be available on shelves everywhere, and you can use those books to craft your OGL product for sale on January 01, 2009.

Q. What about the d20 license? Will that still exist in 4th Edition?
A: We are making the OGL stronger by better defining it. We’re rolling certain elements that used to be in the d20 license into the OGL, things like community standards and other tangible elements of the d20 license.

[Rechan]

Edited the title, and a bump.

[Haffrung Helleyes]

Never mind , they fixed it.

Ken

[EricNoah]

Wow, interesting. Particularly the limits on when publishing can begin...

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Interesting about the January 1, 2009 thing. It's going to be a long year for the smaller 3rd party publishers. Hopefully they can consolidate into coalitions big enough to pay the $5k up front.

[Rechan]

Originally Posted by EricNoah

Wow, interesting. Particularly the limits on when publishing can begin...

Too soon for your adoring fans to ask how you feel about this?

[EricNoah]

It just makes me wonder why. It would be nice if there were a lot of 3rd party support right out of the gate. Not that it actually affects me...

[lurkinglidda]

Originally Posted by Haffrung Helleyes

In the body of the text, they indicate that people who buy the OGL devkit get the right to publish one month earlier than the general public. Later on, in the question and answer sections, it is 5 months earlier.

Which one is correct? And why can't WoTC employ a proofreader on such an important communication?

Ken

It's been caught and updated. Hit refresh

[Piratecat]

I was part of the conference call. My writeup is in the news item here.

[Grymar]

The 5k fee seems too small for WotC to actually plan on it being a revenue source, more likely it is a "keep the little boys out of the first wave" plan. Is this a good thing though?

[Moon-Lancer]

I have a question

i saw this line

"The 4e OGL will contain some aspects of the old d20 license, and is more restrictive in some areas than the prior Open Gaming License. We are tying the OGL more closely to D&D. There is a free registration process, a community standards clause, enforceability clauses, and no expiration date. Phase One publishers who sign a NDA will have the opportunity to read the OGL before they pay the $5000 early licensing fee."

does this mean I could be in phase one, sign the nda but not pay the fee and get a ogl?

[Rechan]

Originally Posted by Grymar

The 5k fee seems too small for WotC to actually plan on it being a revenue source, more likely it is a "keep the little boys out of the first wave" plan. Is this a good thing though?

More likely, it's a "Keep crappy products out of the first wave" plan.

Yes, there were some great, great 3.0 products from 3rd party people. But there was also a glut of awful, awful stuff, some of which wasn't even right, rules wise. And I think that a lot of FLGSes got burned on 3rd party stuff because they picked up too much crap from the getgo.

The 5K thing is pretty much "If you're going to publish right out of the gate, we're expecting you to be committed to putting out something worth your 5K investment."

[Rechan]

Originally Posted by Moon-Lancer

does this mean I could be in phase one, sign the nda but not pay the fee and get a ogl?

From the FAQ:

Q: Can anyone purchase an OGL Designer’s Kit?
A: Interested parties are required to possess a business license. Wizards of the Coast reserves the right to limit participation in this program as appropriate to the business.

If you have a business liscence, I guess you could.

[grimslade]

5k up front eats a lot of profit. Not that 3.X stuff is selling like blazes, but still. 5k for a 5 month head start? Can Expeditious Retreat swing that? ENWorld publishing? Both are solid producers of quality material but are small.

I like that the Tool kit keeps the publishers in the design loop with updates in real time. The proof is in the pudding, though.

Will WotC IP be opened up for the 5k license? Could we see Green Ronin illithid adventures in 4E? Or Paizo Yuan-Ti stuff? That would be an ongoing advantage after the head start.
I am glad that the SRD will go live with the release of the rules. It might sway some fence sitters to pick up the core.

EDIT: I should have refreshed before posting some questions answered by Mr Kulp's report.

[frankthedm]

Ok, lets get this straight, to publish for 4E befor NEXT year, it is $5000 out of pocket for a company?

That means about $15K more in cost for the print consumer who supports the FLGS since it is $5K to the company, 10K at distributor level and 15K at FLGS level.

Great...