OGL: Kobold Press 'Raising Our Flag' For New Open RPG

Kobold Press has announced its plans regarding the upcoming new OGL v1.1, which involves a new, open game codenamed Project Black Flag.

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Kobold Press has been and always will be committed to open gaming and the tabletop community. Our goal is to continue creating the best materials for players and game masters alike.

This means Kobold Press will release its current Kickstarter projects as planned, including Campaign Builder: Cities & Towns (already printed and on its way to backers this winter).

In particular, Deep Magic Volume 2 will remain fully compatible with the 5E rules. We are working with our VTT partners to maintain support for digital platforms.

As we look ahead, it becomes even more important for our actions to represent our values. While we wait to see what the future holds, we are moving forward with clear-eyed work on a new Core Fantasy tabletop ruleset: available, open, and subscription-free for those who love it—Code Name: Project Black Flag.

All Kobolds look forward to the continued evolution of tabletop gaming. We aim to play our part in making the game better for everyone. Rest assured, Kobold Press intends to maintain a strong presence in the tabletop RPG community. We are not going anywhere.

Raising Our Flag - Kobold Press

Kobold Press is committed to open gaming. We are moving forward with clear-eyed work on a new Core Fantasy tabletop ruleset: available, open, and subscription-free for those who love it—Code Name: Project Black Flag.

koboldpress.com

 

[mamba]

Kobolds, Dragons and Worms are mythological creatures, to which WotC certainly does not have any claim whatsoever.
Drow and Duergar are, afaik, indeed claims they have.

dark elves are in norse mythology, sure they cannot be identical to WotC’s, but you can have something similar I guess (not familiar with the mythology)

 

[sigfried]

Yar, there be Kobolds in these here waters; Wizards beware!

I'm happy to see Kobold taking a brave stand. Wolf is the best, and I certainly stand by them! It's one thing to quietly make the call, but another to do it boldly. I hope it works out for the best!

 

[humble minion]

I am definitely interested, but would prefer the big 3PP all get together and make one "basic" rule set free to everyone that could then be modified as needed.

Lots of them have already tried this individually. That's why we have Pathfinder, AGE, Level Up, etc etc.

The trick that everyone is trying to crack is for someone to release a rule system that is compatible with the existing ocean of 3pp 5e material, without getting crushed like bugs by WotCs legal department.

 

[Retreater]

They can make their game completely backwards compatible and even identical mechanically as long as it does not use WOTC IP.

That's a legal gray area that I think a lot of attorneys are debating at this moment.
If it's me, I don't risk it.

 

[Sacrosanct]

it is not quite that simple

Indeed. I really, really wish people would stop saying "you can't copyright mechanics, so you're totally fine!"

No, no you're not. Proceed at your own peril.

 

[Reynard]

The trick that everyone is trying to crack is for someone to release a rule system that is compatible with the existing ocean of 3pp 5e material, without getting crushed like bugs by WotCs legal department.

If WotC is going to be difficult, that's probably effectively impossible.

 

[bedir than]

Lots of them have already tried this individually. That's why we have Pathfinder, AGE, Level Up, etc etc.

The trick that everyone is trying to crack is for someone to release a rule system that is compatible with the existing ocean of 3pp 5e material, without getting crushed like bugs by WotCs legal department.

Weren't those all done with OGL?

So they weren't in danger from legal and they aren't what Kobold is trying to do now.

 

[Nodoze]

Amazing PhD thesis from attorney indicates that the OGL 1.0a is irrevocable:

 

[humble minion]

Weren't those all done with OGL?

So they weren't in danger from legal and they aren't what Kobold is trying to do now.

Yeah, but the point I was trying to make is that these systems weren't universally embraced and that 5e remained the default. A system that isn't almost entirely 5e-compatible will quite likely end up just another relatively minor in-house system like all those others, and not get broader community buy-in (although of course there was a lot less motivation to get off the OGL back then). A system that is almost entirely 5e-compatible runs legal risks. It's a really difficult needle to thread.

 

[mamba]

That's a legal gray area that I think a lot of attorneys are debating at this moment.
If it's me, I don't risk it.

you are smart not to, if WotC sues over OGL 1.0 (that is an IF), then they will definitely sue over this, and have a better chance at winning too