Flexor the Mighty!
18/100 Strength!
Yeah as someone who isn't interested in 5e or 6e losing OSE, OSRIC, and all the support for those will not be good.
Gavin Norman on the future of OSE
GreyLord
Legend
I would probably argue at that point that WotC had violated the trust and understanding of the agreement and thus had negated the contract. In that case, ANYTHING that WotC has taken from others because of the OGL would ALSO be cause to sue WotC in return. If the book is based on WotC IP than...sure...WotC has a case and perhaps more easily win. If it actually doesn't contain WotC IP or other items from WotC...
It would get VERY messy very quickly with a good lawyer I imagine.
Which is why I've been saying, I do NOT think this is focused on 3e players and those that worked on such things or still work on them. It is to prevent people who thought they could use the OGL 1.0a to give them full access to any new SRD's that WotC brings forth.
I don't think the intent is to go after those making material from 3e, especially as it could probably be easily demonstrated that they have incorporated some of the items placed under the OGL in later versions of D&D itself.
(Though, as I've said before, I could be absolutely wrong on this, we will just see how it pans out).
kronovan
Adventurer
I'm not schooled enough in contract law to effectively contribute. Regarding this case though, I've been told by people who know contract law, that WotC will likely fail on revoking the OGL 1.0 due to the legal concept of "contra proferentem." What it means is that the onus is on the worder/writer of the contract to defend the terms and intent of the original agreement. So WotC is now saying irrevocable wasn't in the OGL 1.0, but the onus will be on them to prove that the intent was that it could at some point in the future be revoked. Apparently because the OGL 1.0 has been in used for more than 2 decades, will weaken their case. And that an ex-VP is on record as claiming the intent of OGL 1.0 was to be irrevocable, won't bode well for them.
I personally remain skeptical, because these days legal positions that didn't seem defendable are being won and vice versa . But those folks I know who know contracts, say the law is tight and they're very doubtful a company could successfully defend the arbitrary revocation of an agreement like this.
I personally remain skeptical, because these days legal positions that didn't seem defendable are being won and vice versa . But those folks I know who know contracts, say the law is tight and they're very doubtful a company could successfully defend the arbitrary revocation of an agreement like this.
overgeeked
B/X Known World
As thoroughly discussed in the One D&D & OGL section of the forum, it's not just a question of law, it's a question of being able to afford to spend the money necessary to get through the legal process to get to a ruling by a judge. There's maybe one or two RPG companies who could maybe afford that. Necrotic Gnome isn't one of them. The community would likely band together once the first shot is fired, but we'll see.
schneeland
Hero
Necrotic Gnome have just posted a new statement: An Update on Old-School Essentials and the OGL. Basically, they think they should be good and Dolmenwood will not be delayed, but mid-term they will move away from the OGL. They consider the ORC, but will not rush any decisions in terms of licenses.
the damage done to the OSR is probably what will hurt me personally most. And many of the creators whose work I appreciate as well.
Last edited:
Whizbang Dustyboots
Gnometown Hero
They seem to not be sitting around waiting for OGL 2.0 or ORC. Basic Fantasy is posting on Facebook about their steady progress changing the game over from OGL to CC, including enough changes to the look and feel to the game to hopefully forestall anyone at WotC getting froggy in the future.
Basic Fantasy RPG | As you may or may not know, there are some monster changes in the upcoming BF4e in process of excising the OGL from 3e
As you may or may not know, there are some monster changes in the upcoming BF4e in process of excising the OGL from 3e. One such change is how the kobold is depicted. They will now be short...
www.facebook.com
ClusterFluster
Explorer
...
Last edited:
schneeland
Hero
Necrotic Gnome has shared an updated on their plans regarding Old-School Essentials w.r.t. the OGL developments: Another Update on Old-School Essentials and the OGL.
In short: no changes to OSE will be done, the respective plans have been scrapped. Dolmenwood will come out as a stand-alone game with a slightly tweaked ruleset as previously announced.
In short: no changes to OSE will be done, the respective plans have been scrapped. Dolmenwood will come out as a stand-alone game with a slightly tweaked ruleset as previously announced.
Hopefully now people will stop complaining. Though I'm still astounded that there are people who backed OSE just because they wanted to play in a setting (Dolmenwood) that was still in development.
