WotC Rumor: OGL will not be supported starting with One D&D

[Morrus]

Yeah at most you’d not be able to publish things using the new terminology, and even that is probably arguable. NAL obviously.

If they change all the terminology then the game won't be compatible any more. And they're making a big deal out of reassuring everybody that it will remain fully compatible.

 

[DND_Reborn]

I really have no idea why this rumor is abput

I really have no idea why you quoted me...

or what "abput" means?

 

[Sacrosanct]

Between the compatibility issue and OGL being what it is, there isn't any need to be remotely concerned unless you were planning on using IP allowed only on the GM's Guild.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

It's very hard to believe that Wizards as an organisation are so profoundly short-sighted, forgetful and just dim-witted that they'd try this bum move for the second time in 16 years, assuming they try it in 2024.

It was obviously a huge backfire in 2008. Like, unquestionably. 4E could have gloried in intense 3PP support, instead WotC blew that all up with the extremely restrictive (and charged-for, at least initially) GSL, and managed to create a game which was a genuine competitor to 4E in the process.

It's one of the RPG industry's great historic mistakes, and a really obvious one too.

On the other hand, rich companies and rich people sometimes do incredibly stupid things. C.f. Twitter right now and the blue checkmark debacle. Everyone knew how dumb that was. Loads of people explained in detail why it was dumb. And yet it happened, and it's still on fire and rolling downhill at time of posting lol.

Obviously if they did this, I don't think I could support 1D&D, because honestly 1D&D is not that exciting. 4E was that exciting (for better or worse). 1D&D is just a weirdly tweaked 5E so far, that does not seem like a clean improvement. If I want a weirdly tweaked 5E, I daresay several companies will be eager to provide me with one if the OGL gets ditched for 1D&D! Sheesh Paizo might even do a spin-off Pathfinder that is basically a tweaked 5E.

 

[JEB]

If they change all the terminology then the game won't be compatible any more. And they're making a big deal out of reassuring everybody that it will remain fully compatible.

They could change the terminology and still keep it compatible with existing 5E material, if they provide "term X is now term Y" in some conversion guide or the like. It's against the spirit of full compatibility, and would certainly add a barrier (if a surmountable one) for third parties trying to rely on the older SRDs, but it would technically count.

 

[Hussar]

Yeah. I Kickstartered a 5th ed thing before the actual SRD came out. There will be lots 3PP for OneD&D and whatever comes in the distant future..

Primeval Thule?

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Just spotted in the wild (Kickstarter): A book that has 5E/One D&D branding: Dr Dhrolin's Dictionary of Dinosaurs

So, yeah, even if there's no OGL, publishers will likely continue on just fine.

 

[JEB]

Just spotted in the wild (Kickstarter): A book that has 5E/One D&D branding: Dr Dhrolin's Dictionary of Dinosaurs

Heh. A release date of November 2023 may be a wee bit early to ensure One D&D compatibility...

 

[vecna00]

Yeah, I don't think there's anything to worry about here. Especially after the verbatim quotes that Morrus posted and broke down.

 

[kenada]

WotC has been pretty lax about enforcement. For example, there was a thread a few months ago about a game that lacked the required open gaming content declaration. If WotC really wanted, they could turn heel and start enforcing the OGL strictly. That could give them leverage to force people into a more restrictive licensing agreement.

However, I think that’s unlikely. What I expect to happen is the SRD won’t be updated past version 5.1, but that should still be good enough as long as the 2024 version of D&D deliveries on compatibility with the 2014 version.