Kickstarter's Director of Games on Why The Platform Attracts Lower OGL v1.1 Royalties

Jon Ritter, Kickstarter's Director of Games, clarified why creators making over $750K using the new Open Gaming Licence v1.1. will only have to pay WotC 20% royalties on revenue over that $750K instead of 25% like they do on other platforms.

Kickstarter was contacted after WoTC decided to make OGL changes, so we felt the best move was to advocate for creators, which we did. Managed to get lower % plus more being discussed. No hidden benefits / no financial kickbacks for KS. This is their license, not ours, obviously.

When asked whether he was aware that those royalties would cut out the majority of most successful Kickstarter profit margins, Ritter acknowledged this with the words "Very much aware of the numbers."

The OGL -- Just What's Going On?

D&D fandom is in uproar again about purported upcoming changes to the Open Gaming License, and rumours are flooding social media regarding WotC's intentions to 'de-authorize' the existing Open Gaming License in favour of a new one. What's the OGL? The Open Gaming License is a share-a-like...

www.enworld.org

 

[bedir than]

Considering how much money Gavin Norman has raised there and how about 90% of Zine Month is OSR games, I think there's an argument that they stand in that group too. Not by any one single campaign, but all of them combined.

But the point is: sure, yeah, that too!

Right, but the 20% mark is only for a single company or individual that makes more than 750,000 in a year.

No one in the OSR is doing that.

 

[timbannock]

Right, but the 20% mark is only for a single company or individual that makes more than 750,000 in a year.

No one in the OSR is doing that.

While a fair point, if the OGL 1.0/a is revoked and all the OSR -- and frankly, quite possibly every D&D-related Kickstarter -- is shelved, that is money Kickstarter no longer sees by virtue of those campaigns never going live on Kickstarter. KS makes its money not just by the big campaigns, but by all campaigns that use its services. KS fees are a thing.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

While a fair point, if the OGL 1.0/a is revoked and all the OSR -- and frankly, quite possibly every D&D-related Kickstarter -- is shelved, that is money Kickstarter no longer sees by virtue of those campaigns never going live on Kickstarter. KS makes its money not just by the big campaigns, but by all campaigns that use its services. KS fees are a thing.

but if those companies have the legal wherewithal to know if and what is legal they could go indigo go still

 

[Grendel_Khan]

but if those companies have the legal wherewithal to know if and what is legal they could go indigo go still

Are you under the impression that Indiegogo doesn't charge processing fees? If they don't negotiate a deal with WotC similar to Kickstarter's (and they're not in a position to do that) creators would lose even more money there.

 

[overgeeked]

Are you under the impression that Indiegogo doesn't charge processing fees? If they don't negotiate a deal with WotC similar to Kickstarter's (and they're not in a position to do that) creators would lose even more money there.

Unless WotC doesn’t bother and just sets their lawyers to it.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

Are you under the impression that Indiegogo doesn't charge processing fees? If they don't negotiate a deal with WotC similar to Kickstarter's (and they're not in a position to do that) creators would lose even more money there.

if (as people keep saying) you can't deauthorize the old OGL, you can use the old OGL on indigogo and not pay ANY %

 

[Grendel_Khan]

if (as people keep saying) you can't deauthorize the old OGL, you can use the old OGL on indigogo and not pay ANY %

By that logic you could use the old OGL and publish on any platform and just hope WotC doesn't come for you. The deal Kickstarter made is just formalizing what you're going to have to do with OGL 1.1 to avoid WotC's wrath.

 

[darjr]

Right, but the 20% mark is only for a single company or individual that makes more than 750,000 in a year.

No one in the OSR is doing that.

I thought OSE did it? in one Kickstarter they hit close but they had a couple last year didn’t they?

 

[bedir than]

I thought OSE did it? in one Kickstarter they hit close but they had a couple last year didn’t they?

OSE, by Necrotic Gnome, was at 165,000 pounds.

Old-School Essentials

A modular adventure game in the tradition of the beloved 1980s role-playing rules. 100% old-school rules, 100% modern design.

www.kickstarter.com

It's their only kickstarter

 

[darjr]

OSE, by Necrotic Gnome, was at 165,000 pounds.

Old-School Essentials

A modular adventure game in the tradition of the beloved 1980s role-playing rules. 100% old-school rules, 100% modern design.

www.kickstarter.com

It's their only kickstarter

$772 Thousand by Exalted Funeral

Old-School Essentials Fantasy RPG Box Sets

Two deluxe boxes of monsters, magic, wonder, and peril. 100% old-school rules, 100% modern design.

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