Let's be clear about the motives behind the original OGL

[Oofta]

That's a transparently false statement.

Based on what? Your statement? How does that add to the discussion?

While I have no clue if the article was correct (and IMHO nobody does) I think it's interesting. I find it plausible. But hey, if you can just reply "nah uh" I guess I may was well acknowledge your well reasoned argument.

 

[Morrus]

That's a transparently false statement.

Also it’s irrelevant. Whether or not the plan was successful, that was the plan. That was the deal they made.

 

[Reynard]

Based on what? Your statement? How does that add to the discussion?

While I have no clue if the article was correct (and IMHO nobody does) I think it's interesting. I find it plausible. But hey, if you can just reply "nah uh" I guess I may was well acknowledge your well reasoned argument.

I honestly can't tell if you are arguing from ignorance, or are being disingenuous, but when you say things like "the OGL didn't help 4E" you display such an extreme misunderstanding of the subject that your arguments should be summarily dismissed.

 

[Oofta]

I honestly can't tell if you are arguing from ignorance, or are being disingenuous, but when you say things like "the OGL didn't help 4E" you display such an extreme misunderstanding of the subject that your arguments should be summarily dismissed.

I found an article I found interesting. If you have such great and insightful knowledge of how the OGL helped 4E please share.

If you can't explain, stop.

 

[DEFCON 1]

I just picked a random number. Why so combative?

Not combative... just commenting. When folks use hyperbole I think it's always good for other folks to point it out as such. Otherwise those statements have a chance of becoming seen as the normal response.

 

[Bedrockgames]

I was designing games before the OGL was a thing. If it never happened, I still would have. Probably not as successful because D&D brand is a big advantage, but I wouldn't have stopped.

I think people who like to make games will always make games (even if it is for a single audience in their living room). But to Morrus' point, lots and lots of people specifically decided to make d20 games and invest their resources in a line of d20 books, because they understood the OGL to be a permanent thing that wouldn't be eliminated. We all understood with each edition WOTC could put out a new license for that particular edition, and that meant people had to make a choice about whether to continue supporting an older system or invest their energy into the new edition, under a new license. But no one ever considered it possible for a new edition and a new license to destroy the original OGL. It was always believed you could make d20 material forever if you wanted to. Them suddenly coming out with a plan to de-authorize has a lot of people feeling like they've been screwed over.

 

[Bedrockgames]

I agree with most of the sentiment. My only disagreement would be the idea that 100 companies would have all made their own games if they knew the OGL was revocable.

In my opinion without the OGL most of those 100 companies would not even exist, let alone make their own games. They only existed because they were hitching their wagon to the comings and going of Dungeons & Dragons because it was the best way for them to make money from the work they did.

And that's even the case today. People make material for D&D not out of the goodness of their heart but because they know it's the best way to have people look at, try out, and buy their stuff. Without D&D and the "marketing" that comes with being compatible with it... most people and companies just wouldn't even make the attempt, is my belief.

I don't think this is true. I think you would have had a big boom in RPGs, because the nature of publishing was changing dramatically in that period. And the reason so many put out tons of games now isn't OGL, it is because Drivethru exists, because POD is a thing, etc.

 

[Steampunkette]

I've decided to view it like a big flower garden - the gardeners have taken umbrage at all the bees flying around and drinking their nectar, and especially at the sweet, sweet honey that the bees have made from it. So they're driving off the bees, not considering that they're not parasites; they symbionts who help pollinate the garden.

This is the most powerful metaphor for what is happening.

But it should be taken one step further: D&D is a big garden with bees, as you laid out. But it was recently purchased by people who don't know anything about gardening -from- the gardener. And they're the ones pissed about the bees.

 

[DEFCON 1]

I don't think this is true. I think you would have had a big boom in RPGs, because the nature of publishing was changing dramatically in that period. And the reason so many put out tons of games now isn't OGL, it is because Drivethru exists, because POD is a thing, etc.

I would disagree with almost all of this.

 

[Sorcerers Apprentice]

This is the most powerful metaphor for what is happening.

But it should be taken one step further: D&D is a big garden with bees, as you laid out. But it was recently purchased by people who don't know anything about gardening -from- the gardener. And they're the ones pissed about the bees.

The new owners give the impression that they would prefer to have a uniform flat lawn instead of an actual garden.