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

[Umbran]

I get that you like to criticise WotC but given you have no idea,

You probably want to back off from that aggressive stance, telling other folks what they like to do, and what they do and don't know.

Everybody: Address the content, not the poster personally, please.

 

[Mark]

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.

You hit three of the nails right on the head. Without changes in these things (though not limited to these), they might as well not even bother, IMO. If this turns out to be yet another non-starter of a license and all it really accomplishes is getting 3PPs to keep their traps shut through Marktober 1st (Yes, I wrote "Mark"tober), more than a few of us will not be amused.

 

[El Mahdi]

I'd like to add my thanks to LurkingLidda and The Rouse also (however, I still think ya'll screwed up on the PDF prices).

 

[Henry]

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.

I really don't think that would be an issue to most companies. For most of the bigger-name d20 companies, business is business, and if the terms of the new GSL are amenable, then I can see every one of them using it sometime in the future (if not the near future, due to their current schedules).

[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]

That, on the other hand, I could see, because the fan community holds grudges far longer than publishers do; the goodwill may already be spent, and an OGL challenge to the GSL, or EVEN MESSIER, a copyright law-based challenge to the GSL, might gain ground.

In either case, I look forward to an amended GSL. Hopefully, 3PP's will find it palatable enough to use, and we'll see some high-quality companies starting to enter the running. I like a lot of WotC's product, but let's face it, a LOT of good talent has left those training grounds into other companies, people who could add some seriously good material to 4E.

 

[Wayside]

Edited per Umbran's post. Waste of a de-lurk.

 

[Gundark]

So either (A) The GSL has been a major PR blunder, (B) 4th edition isn't doing as well as they would lead us to believe and they're trying to create more sales by making is friendlier to 3PPs who will help drive sales by tying their own products to it, or (C) Both.

I don't know your history, I know that you used to work for WotC. Did they burn you or something (I know I myself have been negative to former employers when the job ended badly) ? I ask as I see negative overtones in serveral of your posts regarding positive news about 4e/WotC. Not an attack by any means, I'm honestly curious.

 

[Zaukrie]

Thanks to Lidda and Scott. Wish I could be at Gen Con to thank you both personally. Here's hoping we see great products from Necromancer and others soon....

 

[Darrin Drader]

I don't know your history, I know that you used to work for WotC. Did they burn you or something (I know I myself have been negative to former employers when the job ended badly) ? I ask as I see negative overtones in serveral of your posts regarding positive news about 4e/WotC. Not an attack by any means, I'm honestly curious.

Burn me? No, I left on my own terms when the company was clearly going in a direction that I disagreed with. They've burned many people far worse than they ever burned me. It's more along the lines of being sorely disappointed seeing the type of company they were and comparing it to the company they have become. In my opinion, WotC's potential has been squandered.

On another point, I know some of the thinking that went into 4E. I was opposed to it when I heard it, on a purely conceptual basis, and now that it has been realized I find myself disappointed. Don't ask for specifics because they aren't forthcoming.

 

[tenkar]

... or EVEN MESSIER, a copyright law-based challenge to the GSL, might gain ground.

Henry, I think that hits the nail on the head. If going copyright is more appealing to publishers then using the GSL then the GSL serves no purpose. The GSL was supposed to put some restrictions on the use of WotC's IP, but by being too restrictive it has prevented some publishers from supporting 4e and encouraged others to go 4e without the use of the GSL.

Hold something to tightly and it can slip through your fingers... it might be that WotC's lawyers are seeing that... or at least Scott and Linae have convinced some of the bean counters that the current GSL situation isn't the most profitable one in the long run for WotC

 

[Delta]

(a) So this is like a rewind to November 2007. Here we go all over again. Personally I'd recommend that any 3PP's not delay their publishing plans (again) in anticipation of this "very soon" GSL plan.

(b) The link in the OP (D&D welcome page) doesn't have any info on this topic at the moment.