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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Akasen" data-source="post: 8514130" data-attributes="member: 7034133">I'm just gonna start from the top here and say that the OGL, or any such deal, neither makes or breaks some new RPG.Let's really focus on what the OGL is really meant to do here, especially for WotC in like the early 2000s. The real goal of the OGL is NOT to make a free game, it's to allow other developers to make content for your game or system. That being things like custom source books, new race books, possibly your own game that you can proudly say is a "d20 system game" if you really felt like getting the trademark slapped on your book.Bringing up Linux as an example kind of misses the point of FOSS (Free and Open Source Software) and why the model works under the various licenses such as the GPL, MIT, or other such license.The major thing you get from your software being free and open source is the mere fact that people can contribute back to the project, and their contribution helps everyone who uses that software. In the case of the Linux kernel, many distributions exist that use the Linux kernel, as do many companies and their servers. And as such, when Amazon puts in work to improve the kernel, every company and user benefits from this.For something like D&D, especially now with the dmsguild, the fact that if I so desired I could find probably thousands of materials published specifically for 5e, whether it's adventures, classes, weird rules, and more, is really the thing WotC ideally wants. It's brand being so powerful it doesn't have to publish new materials for their game left and right themselves. That's the (ideal) contributing back for WotC with their OGL is various devs and publishers bringing new material to 5e that helps give continued life to brand.Until D&D5.5e releases in like two years and suddenly it's the end times. Or 6e comes around and we have to see if Level Up is alive and kickingHeart of the matter: Does having the core rules of your game free to read and distribute hurt your game? I don't think so. If your game has horribly explained rules, or just frustrating mechanics, it might not catch on. If said game has remarkeably interesting lore to it and it is built on this system with more inside if you purchase the core book for 20 USD for the pdf and 150 for the high quality POD book? I mean maybe it will catch on.Fact is it's all chance if something catches on or not. The price tag doesn't really matter if no one is interested in your game for whatever reason. And I suppose core to this is what your success criteria is, cause I'd think Dungeon World to be moderately successful; the fact i've heard of it on a number of occasions while people discuss RPG stories gives me the impression it's done solidly .</blockquote>

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