Goodman is clearly going to the GSL.

[Voadam]

The sale of DCCs seems to be in preparation of making GSL products.

If these three new DCCs are going to be 4e and commercially released before the GSL Oct. 1 authorized date then it looks like they will not be released under the GSL.

I would expect therefore that Goodman is planning on going GSL with its DCCs eventually but that it will get in on 4e early outside of the GSL.

The GSL does not prohibit companies from making 4e products outside of the GSL, it just contractually puts restrictions on what can be done under the GSL and prohibitions on OGL products in the same product line.

 

[catsclaw227]

The GSL does not prohibit companies from making 4e products outside of the GSL, it just contractually puts restrictions on what can be done under the GSL and prohibitions on OGL products in the same product line.

Yes, though I would venture to guess that those companies that want to make 4e compatible products outside the GSL will be looked upon with disdain by WOTC.

EDIT: Dude... I've wanted to mention this in the past... you are in a lot of PbP games!

 

[Jack99]

May I ask why?

Mostly because I don't have a clear understand in more concrete terms, on how "going outside the GSL" will affect their modules. And since I can't see them before I buy them (no-one in my country plans to sell them, I already checked) I will have to wait for some sort of online peak (cough) or asking here, before I purchase them.

I don't know if that makes sense? Basically I am worried that I will buy something that will take some work to fit in with 4e, or that I will need some sort of cheat-sheet to decode the changes they have to make, in order to avoid the whole copyright issue.

Cheers

 

[redcard]

Mostly because I don't have a clear understand in more concrete terms, on how "going outside the GSL" will affect their modules. And since I can't see them before I buy them (no-one in my country plans to sell them, I already checked) I will have to wait for some sort of online peak (cough) or asking here, before I purchase them.

I don't know if that makes sense? Basically I am worried that I will buy something that will take some work to fit in with 4e, or that I will need some sort of cheat-sheet to decode the changes they have to make, in order to avoid the whole copyright issue.

Cheers

But note that by going with the GSL you're not stopped from facing the same issues.

The quality controls on the GSL are just anti-porn, anti-racism, and anti-gore.

 

[Treebore]

"PDF Sale: LAST CHANCE! Later this year we will be discontinuing the 3.5 Dungeon Crawl Classics product line. Until then, we are offering the DCC PDF's at 50% off. Buy now while you still can! Visit our RPGNow PDF store now!"


Joe wouldn't be taking the 3.5 DCC completely off the market if he wasn't going GSL. The d20 STL sure wouldn't keep him from selling them, he would just edit his PDF's. He knows there is still a 3E market staying alive out there, so if he could he would keep product available for them to buy.

He is taking the DCC line to the 4E market, so that line HAS to conform to the GSL requirements, so this is the only reason he would completely discontinue the 3E portion of the line.

Now I am sure Joe G. is opening options for himself (he is starting new lines), so I don't know if we will never see the 3E DCC's outside of 4E ever again, but I bet Joe G. is making that option available to himself.

Now if it ends up he isn't under the GSL I will be doing the happy dance.

This announcement sure is a HUGE indicator that he will have the DCC line go under the 4E GSL. So until I see the DCC's, and they don't have the GSL license in them, I am going to follow the evidence and assume the DCC's will be GSL.

 

[Jack99]

But note that by going with the GSL you're not stopped from facing the same issues.

The quality controls on the GSL are just anti-porn, anti-racism, and anti-gore.

I get the anti-racism, but what is wrong with porn and gore? Sigh

Anyway, I am not sure I get your first comment - If GG publishes products under the GSL, they will be able to use all terms etc from the 4e SRD; right? My point is that if he goes outside the GSL, there will surely be some limitation as to which terms and rules he can use, in order to avoid a copyright issue.. right?

 

[redcard]

I get the anti-racism, but what is wrong with porn and gore? Sigh

Anyway, I am not sure I get your first comment - If GG publishes products under the GSL, they will be able to use all terms etc from the 4e SRD; right? My point is that if he goes outside the GSL, there will surely be some limitation as to which terms and rules he can use, in order to avoid a copyright issue.. right?

Kind of.

But a company signing under the GSL doesn't mean they HAVE to use the items under the GSL. It doesn't mean that you're going to get a better quality in product, it just means you're getting an end product with a "Licensed for D&D" on it.

I can make a module that uses orcs, and giants, and rats, and gnomes and elves and not step one foot on any wizards IP and not use the GSL. At the same time, I can make a module that uses the GSL and is completely horribly done.

Note that the GSL explicitly makes you have to look stuff up, too. I can't say , for example, "The marked X's on the map indicate Pit Traps. To avoid a pit trap roll.." Because that is reproducing running text. In a GSL licensed product, I have to say "The Marked X's on the map indicate Pit Traps. Pit Traps are Explained in the Dungeon Master's Guide, Chapter X." I'm not allowed to list page numbers either. Similarly, if I have monsters, I cannot stat them out if they are in the monster's manual. I simply can only refer to the MM.

So while I'm able to use the TERMS, it doesn't mean I'll be able to use the rules directly.

The long and short of it is this.. there is nothing in the GSL that says your product will work with 4e, or would work well with 4e.

All that the GSL is for is for approving products to have a licensed sticker on them.

 

[Corjay]

I get the anti-racism, but what is wrong with porn and gore? Sigh

Demons, naked chicks, and gore are not family friendly and therefore cut off a large demographic that could be enjoying the game.

What seems commonly acceptable to the most families:

• Violence (Remember, one difference between PG-13 and R movies is the amount of blood and gore allowed)
• Scanty clothing and Implied Sexuality (Remember, another difference between PG-13 and R movies is the amount of sexuality allowed, most notably that PG-13 doesn't allow sex scenes and nudity)
• More Conservative Use of Demons. Yes, demons have been put in positive light with Buffy and Reaper, but that still doesn't mean that families get all warm and fuzzy when they see demons splashed on everything. If demons were really so popular, you'd be seeing a lot more shows and movies with them.

There's a thing called saturation. It is the amount of any one thing that a demographic can withstand before losing interest. I think, in regard to the family demographic, that D&D, particularly 3.5, does over-saturate with these things in the mind of the family. It certainly does in my mind, because 1) I just don't like it and find it unnecessary to immersion, and 2) I keep my mind on what I want the kids in my family to be exposed to. I already know I'm not the only one, so please, no attacks on how select my view is, and no attacks on the hypocrisy of accepting violence but not gore.

 

[redcard]

Reason against porn:

The Book of Erotic Fantasy Fiasco.

 

[DaveMage]

Collector value of 3.5 DCCs increasing, Captain....