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Message: <blockquote data-quote="TheSword" data-source="post: 9576102" data-attributes="member: 6879661">I guess there is a deeper question beneath all of this which possibly goes a long way to informing how people feel about WotC.Is it fair that WotC try to increase monetization the D&D brand?Pro’s<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">WotC bailed out TSR when they were at their lowest ebb saving the game from obscurity.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">They paid $25m for ownership of the brand</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">They put all the R&D into development the game (whether you like the developments or not)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">It has been openly admitted that Ryan Dancy got the OGL out before Hasbro knew what was going on. This strongly implies that it was not in the best interests of the company - but rather the hobby.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The hobby matters but it only exists at the scale that it does because of the investment by WotC</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Scale matters because it means a supported system and lots of players for our games.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">It’s going to cost a fortune to develop the tools to take online gaming into the future and WotC deserves some return on that investment.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">If you want to play D&D for free you can in multiple ways. Most people don’t pay anything to play D&D because they borrow books or do it through a VTT with a compendium.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">3pp got access to the OGL for free they should stop complaining and be a bit more grateful.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The OGL was approved on the basis it would support the game not become its main competition.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Even the worst of Licences proposed by WotC are still better than the Lawfare under TSR.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Nobody has to buy these products. Get them if you like them, ignore them if you don’t.</li> </ul>Con’s<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">It’s the community that makes the game special not the company that owns it.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Ryan Dancy was future proofing the game by saving it from its owners.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Some 3pp work is of better quality than some official D&D products.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">WotC gave out the Licence, people took risks on the back of it, they have a right to benefit from those risks unhindered. The fact that it was a good deal isn’t the 3pp’s fault.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">D&D wouldn’t have been successful without 3pp building up the hype around the system.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Any money WotC makes ultimately is paid for by fans. It should be as cheap as possible.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">WotC is rich, they can afford not to increase monetization of the brand.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">WotC can’t be trusted, they don’t deserve the brand, better it fail and get picked up for cheap by an independent.</li> </ul>I think it’s possible to agree with some arguments on both sides here but I definitely see more posted on the cons on these boards and very rarely anything about the pro’s. I get that there is a whole Robin Hood vibe, David and Goliath, up the underdog etc but for me I just want WotC to keep making products to inspire me to play D&D I think they’ve invested enough money over the years to be entitled to make good money off that and if they do, they’re likely to make a few more products.</blockquote>

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