I imagine it must, otherwise why did you mention '100 companies' rather than just make the statement from your own personal perspective?Doesn’t matter if it’s 100,1000, or 1.
I imagine it must, otherwise why did you mention '100 companies' rather than just make the statement from your own personal perspective?Doesn’t matter if it’s 100,1000, or 1.
I just picked a random number. Why so combative?I imagine it must, otherwise why did you mention '100 companies' rather than just make the statement from your own personal perspective?
You are right, they wouldn't be companies. There would be 1000 small groups of people playing the fantasy heartbreaker the guy in the lokal gaming store or discord group drew up. D&D would likely be gone, as WotC couldn't find any way to profit from the IP. World of Darkness would likely still be the game for the cool kids, and the synonym for Role Playing. A few people still playing using the old books from when they grew up.In my opinion without the OGL most of those 100 companies would not even exist, let alone make their own games.
Don't let anybody tell you the OGL was a favor or an act of generosity. It was a mutual deal which benefited both parties. And it was portrayed by WotC, it's FAQ, it's representatives, as non-rescindable in order to gain acceptance. And we believed them.
Whether or not this 'de-authorization' stuff turns out to be technically legal, we were all deceived. I made decisions I would not have made had I thought the OGL was revocable. So did a thousand other companies and creators over the last 20 years.
As I posted in another thread, I disagree strongly and think there's evidence to the contrary.In any case the OGL was a bit of a poison pill that may well have lead to less innovation and creativity.
I agree with most of the sentiment. My only disagreement would be the idea that 100 companies would have all made their own games if they knew the OGL was revocable.
In my opinion without the OGL most of those 100 companies would not even exist, let alone make their own games. They only existed because they were hitching their wagon to the comings and going of Dungeons & Dragons because it was the best way for them to make money from the work they did.
And that's even the case today. People make material for D&D not out of the goodness of their heart but because they know it's the best way to have people look at, try out, and buy their stuff. Without D&D and the "marketing" that comes with being compatible with it... most people and companies just wouldn't even make the attempt, is my belief.
That's a transparently false statement.I enjoyed 3.x, but it wasn't a runaway smash hit so I don't know that the OGL had much of a positive impact.