It's not that he had an opinion, it's that he wrapped it around a big black ball labeled "Edition Wars Bomb" with the fuse lit.
Yes, how dare he have an opinion?
Assume 3.5 type SRD, with Section 15 remaining part of the license.As a publisher, I can firmly say that no matter what WotC produces its worth a look. But there are a good many details to consider.
1) SRD: We're assuming OGL. But there's alot that can be included/excluded in this. Is it just a list of feats, ability, skills, classes, spells, etc names that I can make an alternate ability from or can I reprint a spell whole cloth for easy referencing? While not a deal breaker, it could inhibit me signing on board.
2) License restrictions: Again, OGL, but is the SRD declared closed content except those that use the new d20STL? Can I release two different versions of a book, one being 5E another being pathfinder? This is a potential deal breaker.
3) Additions to the SRD: As any game company does, they will add more crunch options. Will these new crunch options be added to the SRD? Are the cool options never going to be available for me to use while I"m stuck with the fighter? Again, not a deal breaker, but it could inhibit me signing on.
Assume whatever races will keep you happy.4) Personal desires: Are Elves a class? If they are, deal breaker. Are gnomes/half-orcs missing from the PHB while replaced with new race of the week? If so, that's another deal breaker. Similar things I like in my D&D-style fantasy RPGs and I am not going to work without.
Hmmm, WotC being WotC.... A downloadable version of the Character Builder, 3PP not allowed to produce their own 'official' generator, but are allowed to make CB data files for races, classes, and treasures, as long as those modules are available for free. WotC, of course, does not have to worry about the free part....5) Computer support: Can I sell electronic version of my books on D&D insider and similar character/race creation pieces of software? Believe it or not, this is the biggest deal breaker of the group.
Let us assume that Ponies of the Coast have learned an important lesson about openness and sharing. That treating their supporters as rivals is not something that helps you keep friends, and that friendship is magic!6) Misc: Is the company giving off an attitude that I am in competition with them? If I make a book that would directly support something that is big at that moment (i.e. Book of the River Nations) and I asked them first if they minded, should I ever expect to hear back from them? Would WotC mind if I wrote something that directly supported something they did (i.e. Book of the River Nations)? Do the books fire the imagination or are they just bland boring text books? These are not deal breakers but stuff to take into account.
7) My opinion of future sales: Do I think the game is going to sell well? Do I like how it is marketed? Are they striking the right balance of nostalgia while new shiny? Are they saying this is great because it is so much better than its predecessors (i.e. 4E run up)? Deal breakers.
To be fair, WotC already did a lot of the hard work back when they were doing 3.0....Paizo did all the real work, now Wotc will lead from behind?
Let us assume that Ponies of the Coast have learned an important lesson about openness and sharing. That treating their supporters as rivals is not something that helps you keep friends, and that friendship is magic!
I was being sarcastic. But you quoted Henry quoting me, so that wasn't really my sarcasm there.To be fair, WotC already did a lot of the hard work back when they were doing 3.0....
A statement that works, even if you were being sarcastic.... (I have no idea whether you were being sarcastic or not.)
Assume 3.5 type SRD, with Section 15 remaining part of the license.3pp material not added to the SRD (way too much work) but can be used by other publishers, as long as they give credit where credit is due.
Hmmm, WotC being WotC.... A downloadable version of the Character Builder, 3PP not allowed to produce their own 'official' generator, but are allowed to make CB data files for races, classes, and treasures, as long as those modules are available for free. WotC, of course, does not have to worry about the free part....