WotC Unveils Draft of New Open Gaming License

As promised earlier this week, WotC has posted the draft OGL v.1.2 license for the community to see.

A survey will be going live tomorrow for feedback.

Starting the OGL ‘Playtest’

In this article, you can review a draft of OGL 1.2, submit feedback via survey, and learn about a Creative Commons license that puts D&D's core mech...

www.dndbeyond.com

The current iteration contains clauses which prohibit offensive content, applies only to TTRPG books and PDFs, no right of ownership going to WotC, and an optional creator content badge for your products.

One important element, the ability for WotC to change the license at-will has also been addressed, allowing the only two specific changes they can make -- how you cite WotC in your work, and contact details.

This license will be irrevocable.

The OGL v1.0a is still being 'de-authorized'.

 

[Matt Thomason]

On the VTT Subject: How will the strange line in the sand WotC drew affect existing and future VTT developers. It seems to suggest to me that you couldn't, say, code into your OGL VTT adventure animated tokens or spell effects, but what about the VTT in general. Does that mean you can't use an OGL module in a VTT that inherently had "video game like qualities" of its own? And where is the line? I 3D terrain a problem? I can use 3D terrain at home. Is lighting a problem? I can use lighting in that 3D terrain at home.

The most likely answer here is "stuff that makes your VTT anything more than a flat, amateur-looking effort with a terrible UI will be too much"

 

[Matt Thomason]

So there are separate rules for VTTs, what's the likely route for other software? Character generators, random treasure tools etc.?

So far, I think it's safe to assume they're all categorized as "VTT", being "software that replicates and/or automates the tabletop". So far. Until WotC decide they're not. I'm very, very uncomfortable having these things picked out and not covered by the OGL directly.

 

[Aspirinsmurf]

This still looks blatantly illegal to me.

 

[Myrdin Potter]

I have RGB strips around my gaming table that I can trigger to make the table red orange and yellow like flames and shoot from my to the person with initiative. That "cannot be done at the table top" is weak wording.

Plus, most leading VTT have flickering lights, rain, and other animations already. I also can trigger sound effects via certain spell words.

Those restrictions are pretty bad.

 

[mhd]

What if my "magic missile animation" looks like a bit of graph paper I drew an arrow on with a pen? And the sound effect is a recording of me goin "zzzzzzt"?

 

[guachi]

This is really about protecting their exclusive right to sell Owlbear plushies.

Yes. Someone needs to interview a Hasbro rep and point blank ask this as a question.

Also, it's about destroying VTT competition.

 

[Parmandur]

Holy crap on a cracker $600 million lost in share holder value, that is more then it cost to make the D&D movie. How does Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks, WotC President Cynthia Williams, and D&D VP Rawson still have jobs at this point?

The stock is higher than it was a month ago.

 

[Haplo781]

The new license only covers the 5.1 SRD. What does this mean for people publishing material for older editions e.g. 1e or 3e? Are those editions now locked in the vault?

Keep your eye on the ball (protecting 3pp) but this is poasibly a hell of an olive branch.

 

[mamba]

But 1.2 isn't a share alike license and doesn't seem to include provisions for building on others works so I'm not sure how that works.

"Your Content. This is your creative contributions to your works that are not Our Licensed Content or Our Unlicensed Content. This license permits you to combine Your Content with Our Licensed Content and distribute the resulting works as authorized by this license."

sounds like it does that to me, otherwise it is just restating

"Our Licensed Content. This license covers any content in the SRD 5.1 (or any subsequent version of the SRD we release under this license) that is not licensed to you under Creative Commons. You may use that content in your own works on the terms of this license."

 

[Vaalingrade]

Keep your eye on the ball (protecting 3pp) but this is poasibly a hell of an olive branch.
View attachment 273146

Here we go. That's what's missing.