D&D 5E So, 5e OGL

[Nylanfs]

Well there was some "vague" info in Mearls Reddit AMA.

 

[sidonunspa]

Well there was some "vague" info in Mearls Reddit AMA.

Yep I saw that, and his focus on saying "players" is a little telling

I have a feeling their program will limit commercial ventures with 5e, though, apprently we are seeing companies use the original OGL to produce thinhs for 5e

I hope I'm wrong and they allow companies to produce 5e compatable products...

 

[dmccoy1693]

As an aside... I know of at least 4 companies waiting for the final word on 5e OGL...

Make it 5 if Jon Brazer Enterprises is not listed among those 4.

 

[Nylanfs]

Rite Publishing isn't waiting for the license.

http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/produ...ates-Headless-Horseman-5E&affiliate_id=200170

 

[darjr]

So awesome!

 

[MerricB]

At present, there are seven companies who have written adventures for 5E without the license. Some have used the OGL, others have not.

I really, really hope that Wizards does a good license for the game.

Cheers!

 

[Gundark]

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.

Hasbro only cares about the big stuff, Movies, video games, "ie" things that deal with millions of dollars. Hasbro doesn't give a rat's rear about some kickstarter that ultimately doesn't stop people from purchasing the core 3 books. Hell the lawyers fees are probably more than any "losses" that WotC might incur from what Frog God games did.

 

[prosfilaes]

Hell the lawyers fees are probably more than any "losses" that WotC might incur from what Frog God games did.

But that's not really the point. I'm watching what Frog God Games and friends are doing, and if it comes time that I release something for Pathfinder, it might behoove me to try and cover "Fifth Edition" too. (That is mostly hypothetical but possible.) If WotC comes down on Frog God Games, anything but a complete victory for Frog God Games is probably going to mean that I wouldn't do that. For the price of one lawsuit, you can scare away a lot of people.

 

[Morrus]

But that's not really the point. I'm watching what Frog God Games and friends are doing, and if it comes time that I release something for Pathfinder, it might behoove me to try and cover "Fifth Edition" too. (That is mostly hypothetical but possible.) If WotC comes down on Frog God Games, anything but a complete victory for Frog God Games is probably going to mean that I wouldn't do that. For the price of one lawsuit, you can scare away a lot of people.

Frog God/Necromancer are lawyered up. They even have a judge (Clark Peterson) as a close ally and advisor. They're using the OGL to access certain vocabulary, they aren't using any trademarked terms or mimicking trade dress, and they know exactly what they're doing and how to do it. WotC isn't going to "come down on" Frog God.

Some of the other smaller outfits I'm not so sure about, as I'm not very familiar with their products.

Hasbro only cares about the big stuff, Movies, video games, "ie" things that deal with millions of dollars. Hasbro doesn't give a rat's rear about some kickstarter that ultimately doesn't stop people from purchasing the core 3 books. Hell the lawyers fees are probably more than any "losses" that WotC might incur from what Frog God games did.

Hasbro's lawyers are employees. They're paid whether they sue somebody or not. That said, large companies *do* care about IP violation; they care very much, whether they're WotC (which has already sent C&Ds to some websites) or a massive movie studio.

 

[MerricB]

Some of the other smaller outfits I'm not so sure about, as I'm not very familiar with their products.

Some have been pretty borderline, from what I've seen.