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General Tabletop Discussion
D&D Older Editions
What will happen if 4E doesn't use the OGL?
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<blockquote data-quote="Desdichado" data-source="post: 3476517" data-attributes="member: 2205"><p>I'm not sure that's the worst case scenario, actually. Nor, honestly, do I think it's necessarily the most likely.</p><p></p><p>HOWEVER, since you asked for speculation about a specific scenario, I'll do my best.</p><p></p><ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Third Edition (or 3.5 if you prefer) has more "legs" than other older editions, due to the OGL. I mean, when you've got legal hypertext SRD's online for anyone to use, it's just too easy still, right? I imagine that while the player base by and large will migrate to 4e--assuming 4e is any good, and not another 2e where almost everyone seems to end up playing hybrids--more people will remain with 3.5 than has happened with any other edition change in the past.<br /> <br /> </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">The small press and pdf d20/OGL is already a niche "cottage industry" today, and will probably remain so. More guys will switch to pdf as revenue streams become more uncertain. How many people will pick up a product for an obsolete system? Well, if you cost of production is extremely low, that question becomes a lot less important than it used to be. Brand names that are well known in the pdf market will probably take the edition change in stride and continue running full steam ahead, at least in the short term.<br /> <br /> </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Some d20/OGL products with strong brand recognition of their own will continue unchanged. I'm thinking of stuff like Iron Kingdoms, which has products coming out slowly but steadily and even it's own magazine. Players of Iron Kingdoms probably don't care too much about changing editions and will continue to play the edition that their material is printed for. I'm sure there's a few other examples, but that's the one that immediately came to mind.<br /> <br /> </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Independent games will continue to use the OGL (although not the d20) because it's easier and often more convenient than developing a house system. Why not? If it's an independent game line that would otherwise be under a house system, then who cares if the system is "obsolete" or not in the greater D&D universe?</li> </ol><p>In any case; yeah--not the end of the world. Not my preferred way for things to shake out, but I could live with it.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Desdichado, post: 3476517, member: 2205"] I'm not sure that's the worst case scenario, actually. Nor, honestly, do I think it's necessarily the most likely. HOWEVER, since you asked for speculation about a specific scenario, I'll do my best. [list=1] [*]Third Edition (or 3.5 if you prefer) has more "legs" than other older editions, due to the OGL. I mean, when you've got legal hypertext SRD's online for anyone to use, it's just too easy still, right? I imagine that while the player base by and large will migrate to 4e--assuming 4e is any good, and not another 2e where almost everyone seems to end up playing hybrids--more people will remain with 3.5 than has happened with any other edition change in the past. [*]The small press and pdf d20/OGL is already a niche "cottage industry" today, and will probably remain so. More guys will switch to pdf as revenue streams become more uncertain. How many people will pick up a product for an obsolete system? Well, if you cost of production is extremely low, that question becomes a lot less important than it used to be. Brand names that are well known in the pdf market will probably take the edition change in stride and continue running full steam ahead, at least in the short term. [*]Some d20/OGL products with strong brand recognition of their own will continue unchanged. I'm thinking of stuff like Iron Kingdoms, which has products coming out slowly but steadily and even it's own magazine. Players of Iron Kingdoms probably don't care too much about changing editions and will continue to play the edition that their material is printed for. I'm sure there's a few other examples, but that's the one that immediately came to mind. [*]Independent games will continue to use the OGL (although not the d20) because it's easier and often more convenient than developing a house system. Why not? If it's an independent game line that would otherwise be under a house system, then who cares if the system is "obsolete" or not in the greater D&D universe? [/list] In any case; yeah--not the end of the world. Not my preferred way for things to shake out, but I could live with it. [/QUOTE]
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What will happen if 4E doesn't use the OGL?
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