D&D 5E So, 5e OGL

[Mistwell]

I thought it was on topic. The answer being that D&D will never be OGL again. I think they'll use limited licensing costing anyone that wants to produce something for D&D a royalty fee unless they pay them to produce something for D&D like modules.

There is nothing you're saying that others have not already said, and that others have not responded to, and back and forth, for literally years and years. You're free to do it some more - I am just giving you my opinion that it's not productive.

As for "D&D will never be OGL again, for sure!" Mearls publicly asked people if they thought 5e should be OGL, and asked them to Tweet their opinion to Mearls. So, it is definitely under consideration. Maybe it will, maybe it won't, but only the folks at WOTC know the answer to that.

 

[The_Gneech]

Maybe it will, maybe it won't, but only the folks at WOTC know the answer to that.

Assuming, even, that they do. They may not have decided yet. They're currently working on books!

-TG

 

[Celtavian]

It's arguably on topic. Your exact points have also been brought up and argued several times in this thread alone. -I- don't care if you post them again, but it's not a new insight.

I just got back. I tossed my vote in with no OGL because I know if it were my business, my entire focus would be on regaining market share and never opening the door to a splintered market again. Better to have 100% of a smaller market than a smaller percentage of a splintered, highly competitive market.

 

[Nellisir]

I just got back. I tossed my vote in with no OGL because I know if it were my business, my entire focus would be on regaining market share and never opening the door to a splintered market again. Better to have 100% of a smaller market than a smaller percentage of a splintered, highly competitive market.

The door is open. It's been open.

If you just got back maybe you don't know about Frog God Game's kickstarter, but they successfully funded three hardcover books for 5e rules using the OGL. It's a pretty clear statement; either provide an open license, or companies will use the OGL. Either way, the door is open. WotC does not and will not have 5e to themselves.

 

[Celtavian]

The door is open. It's been open.

If you just got back maybe you don't know about Frog God Game's kickstarter, but they successfully funded three hardcover books for 5e rules using the OGL. It's a pretty clear statement; either provide an open license, or companies will use the OGL. Either way, the door is open. WotC does not and will not have 5e to themselves.

We'll see what kind of legal recourse WotC has to stop this kind of infringement. If a company tried that kind of stuff with Microsoft, they would destroy that company or buy it. I doubt WotC has the legal resources to pursue it that aggressively, but Hasbro might. We'll see how zealous they are about defending their product.

I don't mind OGL personally. I think it's better for the fans of gaming. More minds creating content makes for a better game from a fan perspective. I'm sure Mearls and game designers would prefer OGL. He seems like a gaming fan as well as designer. He has business people to answer to. They will make the decision on the matter including how aggressively they will move to hammer companies like Frog God games attempting to apply the old OGL to the new game.

 

[Morrus]

We'll see what kind of legal recourse WotC has to stop this kind of infringement.

They'd need to establish it's infringement first. Frog God Games knows what it's doing. As long as they stick to the terms of the OGL (and they will), there's no case to answer.

 

[Umbran]

They'd need to establish it's infringement first. Frog God Games knows what it's doing. As long as they stick to the terms of the OGL (and they will), there's no case to answer.

Yah. More's the question - if they cannot use the language that's not covered in the OGL, will their work be interesting, in the long run? I think their strategy works fine for the early days, when support for the new game is scarce. But as WotC does provide material, and as WotC opens up its fan alternatives, there may be question of whether Frog God's work will be particularly compelling by comparison.

 

[prosfilaes]

We'll see what kind of legal recourse WotC has to stop this kind of infringement. If a company tried that kind of stuff with Microsoft, they would destroy that company or buy it. I doubt WotC has the legal resources to pursue it that aggressively, but Hasbro might. We'll see how zealous they are about defending their product.

Game mechanics aren't copyrightable. TSR settled against Mayfair (in their first case) on generous terms probably because they didn't have much of a case to stand on, even without the OGL. (Just like WINE, a Windows emulator for Linux has been around for over a decade without a lawsuit.) Hasbro can sue, but they've got a really weak case.

 

[Morrus]

Game mechanics aren't copyrightable. TSR settled against Mayfair (in their first case) on generous terms probably because they didn't have much of a case to stand on, even without the OGL. (Just like WINE, a Windows emulator for Linux has been around for over a decade without a lawsuit.) Hasbro can sue, but they've got a really weak case.

Copyright has nothing to do with it. The OGL comes under contract law; it's a license, and is designed to remove copyright complications from the picture. As long as companies stick to the terms of the license, copyright doesn't enter the equation.

 

[sidonunspa]

They'd need to establish it's infringement first. Frog God Games knows what it's doing. As long as they stick to the terms of the OGL (and they will), there's no case to answer.

Also, I bet most players would be shocked by the number of 5e mechanics developed under the OGL by other companies in the last 10+ years.

Attributes as saves for example was first introduced in Castles and Crusades...

Advantage is the only 100% original mechanic I can think of in 5e.

Heck in Arcanis we came up with the Attribute Boost or Special Ability paradigm (see what I did there ) for our Val race... which looks a LOT like Attribute Boost or Feat mechanic.