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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Najo" data-source="post: 3561608" data-attributes="member: 9959">I can see this possiblity as the likely route. Either that, or they will use the DI to reveal the 'road to 4e' getting subscribers who want insights into it and take feedback from subscribers. This would gaurantee subscribers. I don't think 4e will be ready to launch with DI, but an announcement is likely. As for the comments by other posters about the SRD. The SRD is a base line that anyone can do anything to that doesn't infringe on WOTC's trademarks and copyrights. The D20 liscense gives a lil' bit of ability to tie yourself to their brand that WOTC owns. Nothing in the OGL stops some one from copying the game mechanics of 4e and building on them and publishing as OGL, espcially if the base mechanics (six stats, ability bonses and d20 test) remain the same. That cat is out of the bag, and the OGL is designed to build on with whatever mechanics you like as long as you follow the rules.The reasons WOTC did this is two fold, on the visionary side Ryan Dancy saw the benefit of sharing mechanics and everyone contributing (which he was right, but few publishers used the OGL to the fullest that they could have) and on the business side it is impossible to legally protect rolling dice, adding modifiers and other basic functions in a RPG because their is no Patent surrounding D&D's mechanics and even if there was, the basic math functions and random numbers are used in so many game systems and programs outside of RPGS and wargames that they would be hard pressed to have any legal ground to stand on. In turn, the WOTC suits gave the project the green light, as all players of their system eventually make their way back to the player's handbook. I would actually expect to see a developers kit for 4e that includes essentially a d20 liscense, limited ability to reference corebooks and certain supplements (or all of the complete series and so on), perhaps the ability to get the 'officially wotc product' stamp and "maybe" a D&D brand. The license would follow similar code of conduct as before, but WOTC would get a upfront fee and 3rd parties would get more direct tie in (like the video game systems now). They could require a certain level of production standards too. This approach allows WOTC to make the corebooks and the direct addons, and then 3rd parties can make material with support materials, adventures and campaign settings. Essentially D&D and its core materials would become the game system (like an xbox, wii, PS3) and the adventures, campaigns and support books the video games.</blockquote>

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