OGL: Kobold Press 'Raising Our Flag' For New Open RPG

Kobold Press has announced its plans regarding the upcoming new OGL v1.1, which involves a new, open game codenamed Project Black Flag.

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Kobold Press has been and always will be committed to open gaming and the tabletop community. Our goal is to continue creating the best materials for players and game masters alike.

This means Kobold Press will release its current Kickstarter projects as planned, including Campaign Builder: Cities & Towns (already printed and on its way to backers this winter).

In particular, Deep Magic Volume 2 will remain fully compatible with the 5E rules. We are working with our VTT partners to maintain support for digital platforms.

As we look ahead, it becomes even more important for our actions to represent our values. While we wait to see what the future holds, we are moving forward with clear-eyed work on a new Core Fantasy tabletop ruleset: available, open, and subscription-free for those who love it—Code Name: Project Black Flag.

All Kobolds look forward to the continued evolution of tabletop gaming. We aim to play our part in making the game better for everyone. Rest assured, Kobold Press intends to maintain a strong presence in the tabletop RPG community. We are not going anywhere.

Raising Our Flag - Kobold Press

Kobold Press is committed to open gaming. We are moving forward with clear-eyed work on a new Core Fantasy tabletop ruleset: available, open, and subscription-free for those who love it—Code Name: Project Black Flag.

koboldpress.com

 

[deganawida]

Never bought any KP stuff, but I signed up just for solidarity's sake.

 

[Riley]

Great!

I’ve been with the Kobolds since they were Open Design and creating their 3e/d20 Kingdom of the Ghouls.

I especially liked their non-GSL, non-OGL, but 4e-compatible adventures ‘Wrath of the River King’ and ‘Courts of the Shadow Fey.’

I trust Wolfgang, et al. will know how to thrive in this new era, as well.

 

[Zaukrie]

So much this! Having bigger companies like KP (and perhaps Paizo) with resources to spare putting out brand new games might actually lead to the best possible scenario: D&D no longer being synonymous with RPG, and also several very well-produced, slick looking games that are well supported across all the VTTs, Demiplanes, etc.





How many people really die on the hill of "I'll only play Monopoly at game night. Star Wars Monopoly, Mario Monopoly, whatever...it's just gotta be monopoly." That's the world TTRPGs have been living in for 50 years and it's really old. At the very least we are living in an age where it is easier to find other gamers who might have similar tastes. You are online talking about this, after all. And if the big 3PP companies start pushing out really slick, well-produced games of their own, with support across the VTTs and Demiplanes and so on of the world, maybe your players will come around to the idea of trying new stuff?

I bet there's something to be said about new games solving the GM problem. If anybody can do that, well, it's never been WOTC, but it quite possibly might be a rededicated KP, Paizo, Monte Cook, etc. working on their own games.

Maybe I like the people I play with.....

 

[jerryrice4949]

Signed up. I look forward to seeing where they're going with this.


So far, I have seen exactly two responses from companies affected by the change:

1. We will not sign on to OGL 1.1 and we are moving away from reliance on the OGL.
2. We are consulting with counsel and have no comment at this time.

Notably absent is anything along the lines of "We think we can work with WotC and look forward to using the OGL 1.1."

I have noticed that too. It really isn’t surprising though. The more we learned about OGL 1.1 it has become apparent it would be very difficult to continue for most companies. Whether intentional or not WoTC would make it almost untenable. That makes me wonder if perhaps they revisit some of 1.1.

 

[J.Quondam]

Notably absent is anything along the lines of "We think we can work with WotC and look forward to using the OGL 1.1."

Tbh, if I were a small 3pp, I might be feeling more than a little stuck between a rock WotC's OGL1.1 and a hardplace potential fan blacklash.

 

[Dausuul]

I have noticed that too. It really isn’t surprising though. The more we learned about OGL 1.1 it has become apparent it would be very difficult to continue for most companies.

Oh, yeah. The license terms are so absurdly, cartoonishly bad that I have trouble imagining anybody who is both a) savvy enough to build a successful 3PP and b) unsavvy enough to sign.

 

[Art Waring]

Very interesting news, as they were one of the biggest supporters of 5e (or at least one of the most well known).

I like the name of the project too.

 

[Zaukrie]

Tbh, if I were a small 3pp, I might be feeling more than a little stuck between a rock WotC's OGL1.1 and a hardplace potential fan blacklash.

I mean I publish only in dmsguild so far, but I have some stuff I've considered for drivethru..... Do I potentially piss off a lot of people that buy products? I have no idea what to do at this point. Well, I have two system free things I can post....

 

[jerryrice4949]

Weird times. Dream coming true of a D&D movie and tv show. Nightmare of OGL being threatened.

 

[overgeeked]

Never bought any KP stuff, but I signed up just for solidarity's sake.

That. We need a lot more of that.