4e D&D GSL Live

[Wulf Ratbane]

Funny enough, it could be done, I think, or at least to about 75% of the system, without legal consequence, because all the components needed are already Open Game Content, and as long as you were to go out of your way to avoid terminology from the GSL, or anything not based on an exact mathematical formula, you could do it... The core solutions that 4e provide are already in place.

Not all of them, but most of them.

 

[LeaderDesslok]

I can't see anything preventing this, WotC's right to revoke a publishers right to use the GSL at any time notwithstanding (which they could certianly use in this situation to get rid of the pre-wizards product). By my reading, any published product must comply with the most recent version of the SRD or License, so if WotC defines something in one of their products and adds it to the SRD, any 3rd party product redefining that term is now in violation (even if they defined it first).

If what you say turns out to be correct, then I can't see any publisher ever wanting to create anything for 4E, since the life expecancy of any product is essentially determined by the whims of WotC. You might have 5 years, you might have 5 weeks. Not worth the investment of time and money.

 

[Zil]

So, where the psionics be? Has this question already been answered? I'd go wading the WotC forums for an answer but ... I'd rather not.

If you search the SRD, you'll find a single reference to psionics (and just the word as a power source).

 

[Hawke]

I'm really disappointed. I feel like the third party content just got castrated and now I'm faced with a restrictive choice - how much do I want to buy into wotc. I like 4E... but this really concerns me.

 

[Kichwas]

So I guess I could add rules for henchmen, mass combat, summoning and controlling summoned creatures and the like, right?

What happens when WotC puts out a splatbook later on and adds its own version of these things, then SRD's them? Are you then forced to pull your product from shelves and burn unsold stock?

 

[Kez Darksun]

After seeing the GSL & SRD and the discussion on it so far, my first reaction was to go download the Pathfinder RPG to check it out. I'm still planning on taking a look at more of the 4th edition products from WotC, but I am extremely interested in seeing the reaction to the GSL from 3rd Part Publishers who had previously stated an interest in developing for 4th edition. If I see some of them move away from 4th edition back to 3.5 based on how restrictive the GSL is, I may make that move with them.

 

[JVisgaitis]

Sure, easy to use, but what about the guy who wants to create the product that is entirely open? What language can he use to designate all of a book's content as fair use for other third party publishers? Under the OGL it was as simple as a statement such as, "The entire contents of this book are designated as open game content."

You create a similar statement that says something to the effect of: "The contents of this product can be redistributed as Third Party IP under the terms of the GSL." You have a lawyer check it over and you're done.

Again, its something simple that really isn't a big deal. The whole product designation piece was a major pain. I'm glad this has been cast to the four winds.

 

[xechnao]

What happens when WotC puts out a splatbook later on and adds its own version of these things, then SRD's them? Are you then forced to pull your product from shelves and burn unsold stock?

Yep, sounds problematic.

 

[Psion]

They don't own the tarrasque, either, but it doesn't stop them from claiming they do.

The displacer beast was ripped off from A.E. Van Vogt's "Black Destroyer," and that was verboten content for 3.5, so it's not like there isn't precedent for this sort of thing.

I am reminded about when West End Games was contacted by Chevrolet over the use of the term "corvette".

 

[Kichwas]

After seeing the GSL & SRD and the discussion on it so far, my first reaction was to go download the Pathfinder RPG to check it out.
. . .
If I see some of them move away from 4th edition back to 3.5 based on how restrictive the GSL is, I may make that move with them.

Heavily dependent on Pathfinder getting it -right- from the fan's POV, and others joining in with them rather than competing.

One risk is that every single 3rd party house will put out its own 'Pathfinder' like version of 3.5, leaving fans with a thousand different games to choose from.

At that point, any sane fan will go with 4E even if they don't like it...