Do you think the OGL was a good idea?

[DaveMage]

AFAIK, few individuals are responsible for more OGC than Mike Mearls.

True.

But those who made the brand decisions from 2003-2009 likely weren't interested in listening.

 

[Mark CMG]

Really? I mean, I think I am and I'm small fry.

I'm looking for a list of OGL books on which he was the main author or major contributor to link but my Google-fu is coming up short. Between Legends & Lairs and the one word AEG books in which he was as per above, plus many adventures and other works during the 3.XE Era, plus Iron Heroes. Should I have clarified that I meant as an author or would that still manifest as a bone of contention for you? Certainly as the primary publisher of record for Nat 20 through its current form, you're responsible for at least as much even if we were to only count the years prior to 4E once he was out of the OGC biz.

 

[Mark CMG]

True.

But those who made the brand decisions from 2003-2009 likely weren't interested in listening.

That seems likely true though I guess he said some things aloud since he now has the post. Still, makes you wonder if something changed for him regarding how he views the OGL or if he simply has to follow party lines to have his position but might prefer to do things differently.

 

[Morrus]

I'm looking for a list of OGL books on which he was the main author or major contributor to link but my Google-fu is coming up short. Between Legends & Lairs and the one word AEG books in which he was as per above, plus many adventures and other works during the 3.XE Era, plus Iron Heroes. Should I have clarified that I meant as an author or would that still manifest as a bone of contention for you?

Not really. Loads if people write more OGC than him. Rangerwickett has written about 50 books. Some Pathfinder freelancers have written much, much more. Mearls' OGC output isn't particularly voluminous. I'm surprised to find someone thinks it is. He'll, remember the sheer amount people like Philip Reed or Louis Porter used to output? Mearls' total on a weekly basis.

 

[Mark CMG]

Not really. Loads if people write more OGC than him. Rangerwickett has written about 50 books. Some Pathfinder freelancers have written much, much more. Mearls' OGC output isn't particularly voluminous. I'm surprised to find someone thinks it is. He'll, remember the sheer amount people like Philip Reed or Louis Porter used to output? Mearls' total on a weekly basis.

Oh, I don't doubt there are a handful but I think you underestimate how much he put out in his time during that period. I'm sure the volume and quality is one of the reasons Monte Cook tapped him to work together. I'm surprised you're surprised anyone would think so, given the resume one can attribute to him just off the top of ones head, as per my previous post. Let's also not discount his OGC days were close to ending when he was brought in to WotC in 2005 then was moved over to work on 4E making his volume (and, again, quality) that much more remarkable.

Ah, yes, should have turned to RPG Geek in the first place -

http://rpggeek.com/rpgdesigner/13108/mike-mearls

 

[Morrus]

Oh, I don't doubt there are a handful but I think you underestimate how much he put out in his time during that period. I'm sure the volume and quality is one of the reasons Monte Cook tapped him to work together. I'm surprised you're surprised anyone would think so, given the resume one can attribute to him just off the top of ones head, as per my previous post. Let's also not discount his OGC days were close to ending when he was brought in to WotC in 2005 then was moved over to work on 4E making his volume (and, again, quality) that much more remarkable.

Ah, yes, should have turned to RPG Geek in the first place -

http://rpggeek.com/rpgdesigner/13108/mike-mearls

No, I know exactly what he's written. It's my job. You're underestimating what a hundred or more other writers have output over the last 15 years. Dozens of authors have written over a hundred products. Several have written hundreds. Mearls' output isn't particularly prolific.

 

[Tequila Sunrise]

Obviously the OGL was good for us, the customers. Variety, business competition, and all that.

And obviously putting out the OGL and then taking it away turned out to be a huge mistake for WotC.

I'm not convinced that putting it out in the first place was good for WotC's interests, even if it had incorporated 4e.

I myself am not much interested in 3pp, so I don't much care either way.

 

[Mark CMG]

No, I know exactly what he's written. It's my job. You're underestimating what a hundred or more other writers have output over the last 15 years. Dozens of authors have written over a hundred products. Several have written hundreds. Mearls' output isn't particularly prolific.

That seems hyperbolic. I've given a link. I'm happy to look at others if they're provided. However, can we agree that at the point Mike Mearls was brought into WotC in 2005 while the OGL was being set aside, he was one of the more prolific authors? Then we could set aside the argument and the point remains the same, given the context of my original statement.

 

[Morrus]

That seems hyperbolic. I've given a link. I'm happy to look at others if they're provided.

OK, Mark.

 

[Mark CMG]

OK, Mark.

There's more.