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 Reference Document as it works on a new edition of Dungeons & Dragons. For weeks, rumors have swirled about the future of two documents critical to the publication of third-party material for Dungeons &...

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.

 

[Hussar]

And as far as I know, they never admitted to that lie (if they did, fair enough).

Thinking about it though, there is some context to be aware of.

They were releasing 3.5, what, two years (or was it 3?) after 3.0. 3e was a complete revision of the game. I know people talk about how 4e was a complete change to the game, and fair enough. But, 2e-3e was easily as big of a change. So, when they announced yet another edition, there were some pretty strong concerns that the game would be as large a change again. And, let's not forget, that this is long before the era of public play tests, so, there was virtually nothing to tell people what to expect from the 3.5.

Like a lot of things, the devil is in the details.

To be entirely fair though, I imagine that OneD&D will be a lot less of a change than 3.5 was. Never minding that it's coming 8 years later as well.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

It's a problem if they don't know (in broad terms) what they're doing. But there's no particular reason to be concerned about them not sharing that with us.

Broad terms in that case is not enough. They already shared their broad terms: they will support 3rd parties.
They just can't say specifics, because they are in the middle of a playtest.

If they now stated, that the SRD is done, people would claim, that the playtest is only a marketing ploy, otherwise they would not know what needs to be in the SRD or if the OGL needs to be updated...

So regarding clickbaiters, it is a lose - lose situation.

 

[DEFCON 1]

Never minding that it's coming 8 years later as well.

10 years, by the time it hits shelves. Even longer.

And to be honest... that length is exactly why I don't care at all whether it's a new edition, just an errata, or anything in between. I'll have played 5E for an entire decade by the time it's released. At that point playing a "new game" (however it ends up looking) sounds good to me. I'm not one of those people who has any desire to play just one game for my entire life. I never would have moved on from AD&D if I was.

 

[SkidAce]

10 years, by the time it hits shelves. Even longer.

... I'm not one of those people who has any desire to play just one game for my entire life. I never would have moved on from AD&D if I was....

I'm kinda in a similar boat, just on the other side of the deck.

I play all kinds of games. Our primary game is D&D, but we bounce around to many different systems for our secondary games. (Shadowrun 6, Fate Core, Rifts, Savage Worlds Rifts).

However,

I am reaching fatigue in "upgrading" my home campaign over the years. For example, what class makes the best "Runemaster", how are my fighter schools set up, rebuilding the legendary Gray Necromancer, etc.

So I think I am "technically" done, and will keep the main game/setting in 5E for the duration. (might poach good ideas from OneDnD)

 

[Micah Sweet]

Thinking about it though, there is some context to be aware of.

They were releasing 3.5, what, two years (or was it 3?) after 3.0. 3e was a complete revision of the game. I know people talk about how 4e was a complete change to the game, and fair enough. But, 2e-3e was easily as big of a change. So, when they announced yet another edition, there were some pretty strong concerns that the game would be as large a change again. And, let's not forget, that this is long before the era of public play tests, so, there was virtually nothing to tell people what to expect from the 3.5.

Like a lot of things, the devil is in the details.

To be entirely fair though, I imagine that OneD&D will be a lot less of a change than 3.5 was. Never minding that it's coming 8 years later as well.

They are completely re-writing the core books of the game, and expecting people to buy them again. That doesn't scan with insisting it's not a new edition, even if the changes are minor (which we don't know yet).

 

[Micah Sweet]

Broad terms in that case is not enough. They already shared their broad terms: they will support 3rd parties.
They just can't say specifics, because they are in the middle of a playtest.

If they now stated, that the SRD is done, people would claim, that the playtest is only a marketing ploy, otherwise they would not know what needs to be in the SRD or if the OGL needs to be updated...

So regarding clickbaiters, it is a lose - lose situation.

I thought the playtest was a marketing ploy. They have to convince people to re-buy the books somehow.

 

[Bolares]

I thought the playtest was a marketing ploy. They have to convince people to re-buy the books somehow.

I doubt people will need much convincing to buy the new books. Most people won't even check the playtest. They will see a new logo and some rebranding and buy the books.

 

[Hussar]

They are completely re-writing the core books of the game, and expecting people to buy them again. That doesn't scan with insisting it's not a new edition, even if the changes are minor (which we don't know yet).

Huh. My copy doesn't seem to be the same as yours.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Huh. My copy doesn't seem to be the same as yours.

You have an advance copy of the re-written core books in 2024?

 

[Hussar]

You have an advance copy of the re-written core books in 2024?

No, but apparently you do since you claim that the game is being entirely rewritten.