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

[thundershot]

This can only be good. Even if it won't take care of EVERY concern, it should definitely bring more people on board.

As a side note, can we merge these two topics? It's kinda annoying jumping back and forth between them.



Thanks
Chris

 

[Lizard]

I am trying to write up a campaign I ran and would love to be able to publish it for 4E, and hopefully the new GSL will give me a little bit more leg room when it comes to what I can and can't put in my adventure.

I'm fairly certain that this campaign will help me break out of "doing what jobs I can to survive" and bust into "doing what I love for money" and I sure that a more open and friendly GSL will help me greatly.

Barring a one-in-a-billion long shot, just about anything you can do to earn money will earn you more money than RPG writing. Do it for the love, and consider the money an added bonus. And try to have a spouse with good health insurance.

 

[Lord Xtheth]

Not to sound too cynical, but have you spoken with people like Ari Marmel (Mouseferatu) and Phil Reed (Phil_Reed) yet? They're full-time and quite successful freelancers, and have some really good insights into getting into the field. Their advice might or might not be disparaging to you, but I highly recommend talking to them, and Clark Peterson (Orcus), if you haven't done so.

I haven't talked to anyone realy. My main focus is gathering the will to write it. Every time I try to, somthing distracts me. After I get the writing thing down, then I'll start talking about putting it into print.

 

[Voadam]

Is "opener" a word?


That's the hope.

Sounds like improvements.

Cautiously optimistic.

 

[phloog]

This can only be good. Even if it won't take care of EVERY concern, it should definitely bring more people on board.

I would just like to disagree in part...I would say that, as bad as the GSL is, it can only be bad or NEUTRAL. It is unlikely, but completely possible, that this announcement is meant to calm the masses, but that the actual changes are not enough.

My biggest worry is that they will have HUGE positive changes, but will keep the 'oh, and we can change the rules at any time and you must obey' clause...if that happens, all the positive changes are meaningless, and it appears even more like a trap for the foolish.

As far as the sales data, or success/failure of 4e...I don't know that I'll dispute the NYT list, but Amazon ranks are notoriously goofy on some product lines, and sales data from WOTC is likely unreliable.

I say that because more often than not big company sales figures are sell TO, and not sell THROUGH...they might not do it this way, but often the numbers quoted are sold INTO the channels...so if they sell 4M to stores, that is their sales figure, even if 3.9M are just sitting on shelves.

 

[catsclaw227]

Excellent news from WOTC!

Here's to being more opener and some Necro goodness.

 

[El Mahdi]

. . .My biggest worry is that they will have HUGE positive changes, but will keep the 'oh, and we can change the rules at any time and you must obey' clause...if that happens, all the positive changes are meaningless, and it appears even more like a trap for the foolish. . .

I have a question about this concept. I was looking at the old OGL and compared it to the new GSL. If I read them right, I think these are the differences:

OGL: WoTC could update the license at any time, however, if you had a product already in print, that was in compliance with the license at the time of it's development, then you could continue to print and sell that product even if it didn't comply with the current license.

GSL: WoTC can update the license at any time. If any products you are printing or selling are not in compliance, you cannot continue to sell them until they are made compliant.

Is this correct?

If it is I understand 3PP opposition to this part of the GSL. If this is correct, that means that WoTC could make a license change and leave you stuck with a bunch of stock you can't legally sell - and must redo your product to bring it into compliance - even if it was in compliance when originally produced.

Right? Yes? No? Kind-Of?

 

[Schmoe]

Is "opener" a word?


That's the hope.

If kisses could be digitized, well, consider yourself kissed. This is great news for D&D fans! While the general public will never know what sort of discussions have taken place, based on information from various sources it seems that you've been hard at work to make this a possibility. Thanks!

 

[Haffrung Helleyes]

wow

this is really great news! I look forward to reading about the changes!

Ken

 

[Jürgen Hubert]

Golly, what will we use to vilify Wizards now?

I am confident that we will think of something.

That reminds me: Has anyone started spelling WotC with "$" signs inside the name yet? That's vital for "sticking it to the Man", you know.