Statement on OGL from WotC

Wizards of the Coast has made a short statement regarding the ongoing rumors surrounding OneD&D and the Open Gaming License. In a short response to Comicbook.com, the company said "We will continue to support the thousands of creators making third-party D&D content with the release of One D&D in 2024. While it is certain our Open Game License (OGL) will continue to evolve, just as it has since its inception, we're too early in the development of One D&D to give more specifics on the OGL or System Reference Document (SRD) at this time."

Dungeons & Dragons Clarifies Support for Third-Party Material as New Edition Draws Near

Wizards of the Coast has responded to rumors of changes to the Open Game License and System [...]

comicbook.com

It's not clear what WotC means when they say that the OGL will 'continue to evolve' -- while there have been two versions of the license released over the years, each is non-rescindible so people are free to use whichever version of the license they wish. Indeed, that is written into the license itself -- "Wizards or its designated Agents may publish updated versions of this License. You may use any authorized version of this License to copy, modify and distribute any Open Game Content originally distributed under any version of this License."

During the D&D 4th Edition era, WotC published a new, separate license called the Game System Licence (GSL). While it was used by third party publishers, it was generally upopular.

 

[jmartkdr2]

Yeah that's...a non-statement.

Which means it should have a non-impact. Whatever concerns I had before aren't changed by this lack-of-a-statement. The only thing communicated here is that WotC wants us to know that they know people are concerned. That's it. That's the sum total of the content here.

Well, if they're pretty sure they're not going to change anything, what is there to say? "We would like to assure you the books will continue to be available in English." They really can't be expected to release a statement about every conversation they're not having because someone on YouTube needs clicks.

 

[Reynard]

Well, if they're pretty sure they're not going to change anything, what is there to say? "We would like to assure you the books will continue to be available in English." They really can't be expected to release a statement about every conversation they're not having because someone on YouTube needs clicks.

The fact that they had to bother because YT culture is kind of sad, actually.

 

[Ancalagon]

What? I hope this is a joke that landed poorly. The people who write the game fluff are not the people who write the licenses and contracts!

If you are going to arbitrarily decide bits of game text are reasonable ways to interpret how corporate business policy is conducted, there is precious little reason for them to say anything, because you will be able to twist it around any darn way you want.

It is a joke yes.

BUT

PR is nothing more than PR. The actual rules is what is going to matter, not the fluff. The text of the licence, not this announcement. That's not a joke.

The fact that some of 5e rules illustrate that principle? Yeah, that is a sad joke.

 

[Micah Sweet]

It would be far worse for the 3pp if they gave an answer now, and then found they had to change it in a year and a a half because we rushed them.

Not to mention that 3pp are already allowed to use the core of D&D's creative product for free. Now... the complaint is that they aren't being assured of rights to more free stuff fast enough?

For better or worse, most people follow the leading edge of WotC's D&D. As soon as they announced changes, it throws the 3pp community into disarray. A long lead time like this is going to be hard on folks who make stuff for 5e.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Well, if they're pretty sure they're not going to change anything, what is there to say? "We would like to assure you the books will continue to be available in English." They really can't be expected to release a statement about every conversation they're not having because someone on YouTube needs clicks.

But, they did release a statement (which certainly surprised me). Why bother with that?

 

[UngeheuerLich]

Why would you take a press release from a for-profit, publicly traded company at face value? You don't have to assume they're lying necessarily, but you do have to assume that they think whatever they're saying will help them make more money. Understandable to read into it through that lens.

I am sorry that you look at it this way. For me this is a way too depressing way to look at life.
I have not seen a statement from the actual developers that they would kick the fans where it hurts, if that would generate more money in the short term.
They really have built a lot of trust in the last 10 years (with me). What other people at wotc do with magic is not my concern whatsoever.

 

[Umbran]

A long lead time like this is going to be hard on folks who make stuff for 5e.

Yes, well, they did choose a business model that makes then dependent on another company. That entails risk.

A short lead time, where they are surprised that changes are coming, wouldn't be better.

 

[Staffan]

This announcement is a Rorschach test.

And we're all trapped in here with it.

 

[LordEntrails]

For better or worse, most people follow the leading edge of WotC's D&D. As soon as they announced changes, it throws the 3pp community into disarray. A long lead time like this is going to be hard on folks who make stuff for 5e.

No, wrong. Most D&D customers do not follow the leading edge of WotC's decisions. Compare the number of customers to sales numbers, YT watches, Tweets or any metric you want. You will find that very few D&D customers and players actually follow things to the level of detail you are suggesting. A very small minority, like ENWorld etc, actually follow this stuff.

Yes, 3PP content providers are aware of this (mostly?). But has been shown in other threads, the OGL does not go away. The ability to create 3PP content for One D&D really does not change. Heck, we don't even know what One D&D is yet. It hasn't been published yet. It's a stragey, not (yet) a set of rules.

 

[Scribe]

Most D&D customers do not follow the leading edge of WotC's decisions. Compare the number of customers to sales numbers, YT watches, Tweets or any metric you want. You will find that very few D&D customers and players actually follow things to the level of detail you are suggesting. A very small minority, like ENWorld etc, actually follow this stuff.

Most D&D customers, probably dont have the faintest clue what the OGL is, or even DMsGuild.