How do you feel about WOTC, the 3PP and the intent of the GSL

[ExploderWizard]

I am asking these honestly and openly:
Why do we want WotC to dominate the market via something like the OGL?
Why do we want all other gaming systems to look just like DnD?

It sounds like the OGL made everyone the same.

The OGL did not make everyone the same. It gave everyone the opportunity to produce products using the d20 game mechanics. The quality of those products varied a lot.

What the OGL did was allow new companies to make profit based partially on the D&D brand name which WOTC is not so keen on anymore.

 

[Aus_Snow]

I am asking these honestly and openly:
Why do we want WotC to dominate the market via something like the OGL?
Why do we want all other gaming systems to look just like DnD?

It sounds like the OGL made everyone the same.

The OGL isn't a system. Nor is it tied to any system(s).

And it 'belongs' (in effect) to everyone. Forever.

 

[Weregrognard]

Even if it is deemed to have 'failed' though, I'll still have my 4e books and I can run campaigns for years using just them and my own development of them for my campaigns.

This. Although I'm saddened that I won't be seeing 4E product from these very fine companies, it won't stop me from enjoying the latest version of my favorite roleplaying game. Their loss.

It's really sad all around. I respect their decision to not go with the GSL, and wish it could all have gone better, but I frankly think that in the long run, not going with the GSL might not be the best business decision if your best product has been based on support for D&D.

 

[delericho]

I would prefer the GSL to look a lot more like the current OGL, or at least the d20 license. However, it is WotC's IP to license however they see fit (or not at all).

As it turns out, it doesn't seem that 4e is going to be my game of choice. That being the case, that the current situation is likely to lead to alternatives being better represented in the marketplace, the GSL seems to work in my favour.

 

[scruffygrognard]

To be honest, I haven't cared for WotC's practices (for the most part) since they released 3.5 in 2003 (barely 3 years after the release of 3.0). I attribute the shift in how they do business and treat their customers/3rd party associates to Hasbro's growing influence over them.

If I continue to play D&D, it'll be 3.5. Once it comes out, I will replace 3.5 with Pathfinder. My hope is that Hasbro decides D&D isn't lucrative enough in the long run and sells off the various D&D licenses off to publishers that care for the game, its history and its long-term fans.

 

[hexgrid]

I don't feel strongly about it either way.

If I come across a third party 4e product that looks interesting and useful to me, I'll buy it. I bought plenty of 3rd party 3e stuff.

But at the same time, WoTC produces more than enough products on it's own to keep me busy playing D&D. My game would continue just fine if no 3rd parties existed at all.

 

[Mercule]

I've been a supporter of WotC's right to close their IP, but I'd be lying if I said Clark's announcement didn't shake me a bit.

That said, if I stop playing D&D, it won't be because Necromancer didn't sign on or the GSL sucks. It'll be because I find out the 4e system isn't for me.

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

The reason the GSL is so restrictive is either a) WOTC is trying to protect their brand from abuse by amature 3PP or b) WOTC is trying to wipe out the OGL and regain a RPG monopoly with the D&D brand.

Well, it can't be (a) because WotC is not stupid, and even they must realize that the GSL is going to be MORE attractive to amateur publishers and LESS attractive to serious publishers.

Your poll is missing the option to keep playing D&D via Pathfinder and other OGL systems.

 

[Zaukrie]

Why would anyone quit playing D&D entirely over this?

I believe WotC intentionally wrote this to keep existing, "big name", companies from participating. I have no data to back this up at all, of course. I just believe it from reading the document and watching the logical conclusion. I hold out hope that things will change, and we'll see some great 3pp content, but I don't know if that is true.

One thing I will say, this does not get more money to WotC from me. I have no interest in $30 modules/adventures with re-used art, heck, even with new art.

 

[Cadfan]

Don't care about the GSL either way.

My only real recollection of the OGL is that it resulted in a LOT of OGL games, but that most of them sucked, and a good part of what made them suck is that they were using an inappropriate architecture for what they were trying to accomplish. To this day I continue to believe that an RPG is more likely to be a success if it is designed from the ground up to accomplish its specific goals, rather than as an adaptation of a game system that had different goals.