NEWS: OGL and SRD dates/info announced

[Raven Crowking]

You know, all of this is bringing to my mind those early comments about the coming clouds of 4th edition and how we mortals are powerless to stop them.

Yup.

 

[Gundark]

I've not seen anyone here saying they run their games using only the free rules available online,

Granted I've not been keeping track, however I have seen different people here on these forums talk about people at their table who have never bought a book and simply use the SRD

On another topic- The OGL is that covered by a NDA? Or will they release that at some point in the near future?

 

[The Little Raven]

The OGL is that covered by a NDA?

Phase One has to sign an NDA because they are getting the rules before they will be published. It's no different than playtesters having to sign an NDA.

 

[Kevin Brennan]

The OGL is that covered by a NDA? Or will they release that at some point in the near future?

WotC has stated that the text of the "new OGL" will be under NDA until June. Not just the SRD, but the license as well.

 

[Lonely Tylenol]

Granted I've not been keeping track, however I have seen different people here on these forums talk about people at their table who have never bought a book and simply use the SRD

I have people at my gaming table who have never bought a book and simply use mine. I don't see a big difference there.

My players actually prefer to use the PHB to look things up. I prefer to use the SRD. I own most (all, these days) of the books in my gaming groups.

 

[GMSkarka]

Yeah; I presume they're flexible on that sort of thing. Were I to some up with the $5K, for example, I wouldn't be able to produce a "business license".

You're out of luck, then. WOTC just told me that "The current wording in the new license firmly states that we absolutely require a business license."


So, if you're from a jurisdiction that doesn't require them (for example, my current home state), looks like you're out of luck, unless you want to jump through an entirely unnecessary hoop, and register somewhere, just for the purpose of having a slip of paper to show WOTC.

Another staggeringly brilliant decision from WOTC Legal.


I've been told that if it changes, they'll "let me know."

 

[Raven Crowking]

You're out of luck, then. WOTC just told me that "The current wording in the new license firmly states that we absolutely require a business license."

Is that just for early release? Or does it apply if, say, you want to post your homebrew materials to a site other than Gleemax?


RC

 

[GMSkarka]

Is that just for early release? Or does it apply if, say, you want to post your homebrew materials to a site other than Gleemax?

No idea. We were speaking specifically about the so-called "OGL" for 4th Edition, which they've already stated (on the conference call) would feature registration cards and termination clauses, so I'm not even sure if the new "OGL" even applies to non-publishers at all.

 

[Bacris]

You know, WotC may in fact be promoting the use of the 1.0a OGL more than they realize with this.

I don't have a "business" license, either. I have a Federal Tax ID, a state tax certificate, and a doing-business-as receipt.

If the 4E license itself requires a business license, then I don't meet the criteria. Although I suppose I could just use the 1.0a OGL and not reference any of the 4E material... Not sure that's what they're going for, though. And not sure if that's feasible or not, but hey, OSRIC managed with the 1.0a OGL...

 

[Raven Crowking]

No idea. We were speaking specifically about the so-called "OGL" for 4th Edition, which they've already stated (on the conference call) would feature registration cards and termination clauses, so I'm not even sure if the new "OGL" even applies to non-publishers at all.

Well, one has to wonder if there will be tiered licenses then for those who intend to make money, and those who intend to distribute for free. Because, from what I am hearing of the 4e SRD-they're-calling-an-OGL it sounds as though they could come after places like EN World if they thought they were too much competition for Gleemax and the DI (should places like EN World allow posts of 4e-based material).

Given that WotC has stepped up to the plate to squelch rumours that were wrong in the past (even if they were later proved to be mostly right), their silence on this issue seems ominous to me.

RC