WotC To Give Core D&D Mechanics To Community Via Creative Commons

Wizards of the Coast, in a move which surprised everbody, has announced that it will give away the core D&D mechanics to the community via a Creative Commons license.

This won't include 'quintessentially D&D" stuff like owlbears and magic missile, but it wil include the 'core D&D mechanics'.

So what does it include? It's important to note that it's only a fraction of what's currently available as Open Gaming Content under the existing Open Gaming License, so while it's termed as a 'give-away' it's actually a reduction. It doesn't include classes, spells, or magic items. It does include the combat rules, ability scores, and the core mechanic.

 

[Erdric Dragin]

1.0a still gone so I'm still gone from WotC. What don't they get?

 

[Ruin Explorer]

From DNDBeyond on Twitter:

I mean, they're going to need to actually do it, not just "look at it" lol

 

[Mistwell]

I mean, they're going to need to actually do it, not just "look at it" lol

That's what "actively looking at adding" means. In the context of the Twitter thread, they're talking on what's planned for the next iteration of the draft.

 

[Yaarel]

I mean, they're going to need to actually do it, not just "look at it" lol

If Hasbro-WotC continues to threaten the OGL 1.0a, anything they say and do is in bad faith.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

That's what "actively looking at adding" means. In the context of the Twitter thread, they're talking on what's planned for the next iteration of the draft.

I guess I'm just pretty cynical about companies (including ones I really like) saying they're going to "look into adding" something, because cut to LITERALLY 10 YEARS LATER in some cases and it still hasn't happened and they're still "looking into adding" it.

 

[The Scythian]

I'm not sure that's correct. I am not sure WOTC can effect a nullification of a sub-license someone else gave you for their product identity.

I am open to the possibility that I am incorrect here. The current 1.2 draft license deauthorizes 1.0a and then says that means that 1.0a ("or any prior version") can no longer be used to publish "SRD content". Is existing OGC that incorporates one or more existing SRDs (like Tome of Horrors or the vast majority of products published under OGL 1.0 or 1.0a) "SRD content"?

If it's not, and I can continue to use the OGL 1.0a to make use of that material, then that goes a considerable distance to winning me over. I'm still not excited about the morality clause, but that's another thing entirely.

 

[Parmandur]

I guess I'm just pretty cynical about companies (including ones I really like) saying they're going to "look into adding" something, because cut to LITERALLY 10 YEARS LATER in some cases and it still hasn't happened and they're still "looking into adding" it.

I mean, WotC spent two years looking into adding 5E to the OHL, so you are right.

If they did, though, that could be crazy.

 

[The Scythian]

It seems like the guys at Paizo are as confused as us:

I bet that's because Pathfinder is making use of the OGC presented in Tome of Horrors. If so, then they legally have to misspell it.

 

[MoonSong]

Back on topic. Re: Some mechanics on CC as a peace offering of sorts.

I'll take it, but the offer offends me.

 

[MonsterEnvy]

2) The VTT policy is geared to put every other VTT in the market out of business.

How?