Ginny Di interviews WotC's Kyle Brink

Continuing the D&D executive producer's interview tour, gaming influencer Ginny Di asks a WotC's Kyle Brink about the OGL and other things.

​

 

[dave2008]

I mean, "yes we're still looking at adding 3.x (and possibly 4e even though Brink specifically only mentioned 3.x)" is new.

He mentioned this in the last interview too. In fact, he said his impulse is to just release the 3./3.5 SRD, but he has to due his due-diligence.

 

[dave2008]

He committed to a future SRD ("SRD 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, and so on"), AND under both CC and OGL 1.0a.

Yes, the OGL part surprised me honestly. I thought they would just do CC going forward.

 

[Haplo781]

i.e. the only other ones that have an SRD..

 

[ko6ux]

But I run into this on Roll20 too. I have a player who pitched a warlock who's mother may or may not be a goddess of the moon... he asked if I could make a fun little critter for him to have as a familair... and I came up with the funny idea of a green anthropomorphic rat (still rat sized) that looked like he was smoking a cigar made of green cheese... needless to say all searches online have failed to find me art to use

What I am getting from this is that WotC's VTT needs something like Midjourney for 3D assets.

 

[Haplo781]

What I am getting from this is that WotC's VTT needs something like Midjourney for 3D assets.

Or an in-house version of HeroForge.

 

[dave2008]

What I am getting from this is that WotC's VTT needs something like Midjourney for 3D assets.

AI is not there yet, but there is an AI software that plugs into the 3D modeling program we use in my firm (architecture). It uses our 3D model to create "renderings" incredibly quickly (like 7-10 secs) based on prompts like ChatGPT. However, it has some strange artifacts like you see in AI art and it can't move, it is just static images. It is impressive though and good for exploring design ideas, but can't really "design."

 

[mamba]

.

yeah, one worth the name rather than just a collection of terms. I made that point in another post in this 4 page long thread, did not think it was worth repeating

 

[Malmuria]

1) that is obviously true, we knew that already 2) the 3d VTT is not required to play D&D

The question was whether wotc products would continue to support homebrew. The given answer was that homebrew was crucial to the game and so all wotc products would support homebrew. But the actual answer seems to be that running the game via the books and/or dnd beyond will more easily support homebrew, and the vtt will not. But I can see why, from a PR perspective, Brinks doesn't want to come out and say that

 

[The Shadow]

I really don’t know what she expected him to say about how Wizards will regain trust. Trust is built on a pattern of behavior. Once lost in the manner in which Wizards did, it’s going to take time to regain, and that can only be done by communicating intent and then following through. So, action, rather than words.

I dunno, man. I'm not a 3PP, but I do own a small business (not related to the hobby). And I'm telling you right now, if a company betrayed me to that extent and put me in grave fear for my livelihood, there's no way I'd ever trust them again. Even if the current people do everything right, who's to say the next people won't pull the exact same stuff a few years down the road?

And who's to say they are, in fact, doing everything right? Changing course because they caught flak doesn't exactly inspire confidence in their sincerity.

 

[mamba]

The question was whether wotc products would continue to support homebrew. The given answer was that homebrew was crucial to the game and so all wotc products would support homebrew. But the actual answer seems to be that running the game via the books and/or dnd beyond will more easily support homebrew, and the vtt will not. But I can see why, from a PR perspective, Brinks doesn't want to come out and say that

sure, but anyone who knows the first thing about 3d VTTs could have told you that. It simply is a lot more work. This is not some nefarious plot, it is the reality of using a 3d environment.

 

[mamba]

I dunno, man. I'm not a 3PP, but I do own a small business (not related to the hobby). And I'm telling you right now, if a company betrayed me to that extent and put me in grave fear for my livelihood, there's no way I'd ever trust them again. Even if the current people do everything right, who's to say the next people won't pull the exact same stuff a few years down the road?

That was the point of putting the SRD under the CC, rather than just telling us they won't revoke the OGL. No trust required.

 

[Uni-the-Unicorn!]

I dunno, man. I'm not a 3PP, but I do own a small business (not related to the hobby). And I'm telling you right now, if a company betrayed me to that extent and put me in grave fear for my livelihood, there's no way I'd ever trust them again. Even if the current people do everything right, who's to say the next people won't pull the exact same stuff a few years down the road?

And who's to say they are, in fact, doing everything right? Changing course because they caught flak doesn't exactly inspire confidence in their sincerity.

CC, they can’t go back on that

 

[The Shadow]

That was the point of putting the SRD under the CC, rather than just telling us they won't revoke the OGL. No trust required.

Yes - though there's at least one lawyer on here who thinks even the CC isn't ironclad. I was replying to someone saying what it would take to restore trust: and if I were a 3PP, I don't think there would BE anything.

 

[Haplo781]

Yes - though there's at least one lawyer on here who thinks even the CC isn't ironclad. I was replying to someone saying what it would take to restore trust: and if I were a 3PP, I don't think there would BE anything.

The D&D community is going to be irrevocably splintered. The only question is, how badly?

 

[Retreater]

CC, they can’t go back on that

If you like 5e, it's true there's not a lot they can go back on. And that's great for fans.
What can they still go back on (even if it's not likely at this time)?

• Compatibility with OneD&D.
• Messing with the original OGL - which would potentially impact many systems including DCC, OSE, Pathfinder, & Level Up.
• Could charge big subscription fees for Beyond and their VTT.
• Could pull the licenses to official content for Roll20, Fantasy Grounds, and other VTTs.

I'm not saying any of this is likely, but I feel that the CC of 5.1 is just a start for fans.

 

[Parmandur]

If you like 5e, it's true there's not a lot they can go back on. And that's great for fans.
What can they still go back on (even if it's not likely at this time)?

• Compatibility with OneD&D.
• Messing with the original OGL - which would potentially impact many systems including DCC, OSE, Pathfinder, & Level Up.
• Could charge big subscription fees for Beyond and their VTT.
• Could pull the licenses to official content for Roll20, Fantasy Grounds, and other VTTs.

I'm not saying any of this is likely, but I feel that the CC of 5.1 is just a start for fans.

Pretty good start: the most important part is that it negates the business case for taking any of those actions, crippling any faction at WotC who would be tempted to for money. There's no print to be made anymore.

 

[mamba]

Yes - though there's at least one lawyer on here who thinks even the CC isn't ironclad.

nothing is I guess, even if they put it in the public domain they can still sue you over some made up stuff.

I was replying to someone saying what it would take to restore trust: and if I were a 3PP, I don't think there would BE anything.

that was the point of me saying the CC removes the issue of trust.

If however you do not trust them to the extent that you would not put it past them to start a fraudulent lawsuit they would likely lose, just so they can screw you over for no discernible benefit to them, expecting that you do not have the resources to defend yourself, then yes, there is nothing they can do.
Maybe over time they can, maybe not, but certainly no action they can take now.

I would not consider this a rational fear however.

 

[mamba]

If you like 5e, it's true there's not a lot they can go back on. And that's great for fans.
What can they still go back on (even if it's not likely at this time)?

• Compatibility with OneD&D.
• Messing with the original OGL - which would potentially impact many systems including DCC, OSE, Pathfinder, & Level Up.
• Could charge big subscription fees for Beyond and their VTT.
• Could pull the licenses to official content for Roll20, Fantasy Grounds, and other VTTs.

I'm not saying any of this is likely, but I feel that the CC of 5.1 is just a start for fans.

agreed, they can ‘go back on’ all of this. Not all of this is so much a going back though as something they never promised in the first place however (3).

I am certainly cautiously optimistic and watching what they do with regard to all of these.

 

[Uni-the-Unicorn!]

If you like 5e, it's true there's not a lot they can go back on. And that's great for fans.
What can they still go back on (even if it's not likely at this time)?

• Compatibility with OneD&D.
• Messing with the original OGL - which would potentially impact many systems including DCC, OSE, Pathfinder, & Level Up.
• Could charge big subscription fees for Beyond and their VTT.
• Could pull the licenses to official content for Roll20, Fantasy Grounds, and other VTTs.

I'm not saying any of this is likely, but I feel that the CC of 5.1 is just a start for fans.

It is the only thing the is irrevocable. Everything else can change based on who is in charge at WotC st the time

 

[darjr]

I suppose WotC could become super duper scrutinizes of everything that uses that cc license and become letigous about anything that crosses the line by even a hair. And still leave the cc intact.

I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t do that. Really, I dint think for a second they’d do that. I do actually trust them that they won’t. But I never thought they’d go after the OGL either.