OGL; Is it working?

[buzz]

The OGL ended up fracturing the market in ways that WotC didn't intend with the release of variant core systems like AE, M&M, and so forth.

Is there any demonstrable truth to this statement? I mean, I own AE, IH, M&M... and I own D&D. So what?

 

[wedgeski]

That's funny. It had plenty of value when Ryan Dancey observed it. It was the rationale for the OGL taking care of non-core.

Let me be more clear: I don't see it has having value against JoeG's assertion that many lines are doing well in the third-party marketplace, that quote preceding your reply.

 

[Kanegrundar]

Is there any demonstrable truth to this statement? I mean, I own AE, IH, M&M... and I own D&D. So what?

Probably nothing beyond anecdotal evidence. You can see it on the boards as well, some people are playing C&C and nothing else, same for Star Wars, AE, M&M, and so on. I doubt it's enough players pulled away from D&D for WotC to notice, but it is a fracturing of the player base. It was one of the things that WotC supposedly didn't want to happen, but it happened anyway. I'm like you, I own various D20/OGL games alongside D&D, and I'd say we make the majority of D20/OGL consumers, but that's not to say that there aren't others that just play M&M, AE, etc.

 

[philreed]

On that note (and not directed at you at all), it's always surprising to read these threads and see publishers you like being generally rude or defensive to the point of presenting the image of their company in such a way. Sometimes on the internet, it's better to not post something, rather than unleash the attack dogs. Everyone has their bias, but in such extreme's, it can drive people away.

The thing is, I don't think I've ever seen a publisher's actions on messageboards impact their sales.

Hell, one publisher was on a "d20 Modern sucks!" kick about three years ago. He then went on to produce d20 Modern PDFs and I didn't once see someone point to his "d20 Modern sucks!" messages.

A lot of times people say things on messageboards, like they'll never buy from a certain company, but then don't follow through on what they say.

 

[philreed]

I just don't get the impression that this is what the designers want.

I suspect sales have more to do with the direction of future D&D releases than the designers. (I"m not saying they have no input.)

Wasn't it here on EnWorld that I saw a thread about the Silver Marches book being a bit of an experiment and if it sold well we would see more "fluff-heavy" books.

 

[Vocenoctum]

The thing is, I don't think I've ever seen a publisher's actions on messageboards impact their sales.

True in it's way, but hard to quantify on any level. Maybe that's why everyone is in such a D20 Slump

 

[philreed]

True in it's way, but hard to quantify on any level. Maybe that's why everyone is in such a D20 Slump

Well, I hope I haven't been seen as being abusive to everyone.

 

[Nellisir]

I'm in the camp that feels 4e will not be OGL. If the OGL had actually worked to WotC's benefit, the way they expected it to, it would be more likely that they keep it. As it is I don't think they have any reason to continue to release under the OGL.

And I doubt dropping the OGL would have any impact on 4e.

Ditto. However, I think they'll also revamp the d20 license to a more "traditional" model. It could be a tiered buy-in sort of thing: $$$ gets you the D&D logo for your books (a la Kenzer); $ gets you the d20 logo. They might approach a few select companies (Mongoose, Green Ronin, and Malhavoc spring to mind) to produce the "supporting product". Those companies could then upgrade their own intellectual property (products produced under the OGL and reliant only on the SRD or their own property) to 4e without using the OGL.

That would simultaneously kill some of WotC's biggest potential competition as those companies move away from the OGL, and keep 3rd party publishers around to shore up 4e.

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

Is there any demonstrable truth to this statement? I mean, I own AE, IH, M&M... and I own D&D. So what?

I for one dropped D&D for an OGL game, Castles & Crusades. How many others have done this type of thing I cannot say. In any event if not for the OGL I'd be playing AD&D so maybe I'm not the best example as they lost me as a customer before I found OGL goodness.

 

[TwistedBishop]

The thing is, I don't think I've ever seen a publisher's actions on messageboards impact their sales.

I can promise you, I've decided never to support the work of certain writers/publishers after viewing their antics on various forums. Just in my small gaming group, several others have the same attitude. I'm sure there are many others who never bother to post saying so, but next time they see that author/publisher's name on a book go "oh yeah, I remember him", and move on to the next one.

People who like to pick fights on messageboards, and hope to sell their work to that same group, might want to reconsider their actions.