Does this mean no more D&D software

[DonTadow]

I understand that a website like d20 might not exist anymore. But my big worry is software such as dmgenie or maptools. Does the new OGL prevent these products from going forward.

I thought about this because whereas I use hypertext sometimes for rules questions, a big portion of my rules comes from just looking up the spell or feat in dmgenie. I have no interest now in the tools portion of DI simply becuse it doesn't look at intuitive as a dmgenie. And unless they can import downloaded art like maptools i can't see the 3d dungeon all that great. What does the new oGL effect have on 3rd party software?

[Cergorach]

Originally Posted by DonTadow

What does the new oGL effect have on 3rd party software?

Unknown, because nothing specific regarding software and the new 'OGL' was mentioned.

Pure speculation:
It seems that there are certain measures being ported from the D20 license to the new 'OGL', if I would to have to make a guess, Software development will not be possible under the new 'OGL'. I base this on the fact that WotC is pushing their online presence very hard with the new DDI.

[2WS-Steve]

Originally Posted by Cergorach

Pure speculation:
It seems that there are certain measures being ported from the D20 license to the new 'OGL', if I would to have to make a guess, Software development will not be possible under the new 'OGL'. I base this on the fact that WotC is pushing their online presence very hard with the new DDI.

That's my guess too -- and even if they didn't specifically restrict it, the limitations on what is considered open and so on might effectively do do.

I figure stuff like DM Genie, PCGEN, and Hero Lab simply won't be able to work with 4e.

Fantasy Grounds will have to revert to being more of a generic online tabletop only with character sheets being more generic as well. They can probably swing that.

[BarakO]

Originally Posted by 2WS-Steve

I figure stuff like DM Genie, PCGEN, and Hero Lab simply won't be able to work with 4e.

Depends on what you mean... distribute data? Good possibility not.

Interpret/apply rules (entered by users in their own data files)? Most likely. I really don't see how they could be stopped here.

PCGen is basically a rules parser. The rules are entered via the data files. AFAIK, all D&Disms have been ripped from the code and put into the data files, so it is (more every release) becoming a generic gaming program.

I've only heard of one or two changes in 4e that I think PCGen can't handle right this moment, and some experimentation might even negate those obstacles.

Now other programs where most everything is hardcoded into the program are going to have a much harder time trying to deal with 4e, to the point it might not even be worth it for them to try.

So, I don't think any of the programs *have* to go away, or not support 4e, but it might be so dificult for some that they will just throw in the towel.