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

 

[Dausuul]

Of course, a 21-year work-for-hire copyright term would put D&D 3e in the public domain now.

We can dream. Given the current world, copyright is more likely to go to indefinite perpetual than back to anything like that.

Oh, yeah, nobody's going to do anything like what I suggested. A system where the work of an individual creator, owned by that creator, is favored over the bought-and-paid-for product of a corporation? Pull the other one.

Just knocking a couple decades off the current ludicrous copyright term would be a major accomplishment.

 

[overgeeked]

So…how about KOBOLD PRESS everyone.

 

[Bohandas]

We can dream. Given the current world, copyright is more likely to go to indefinite perpetual than back to anything like that.

You need to avoid doing business with big content. If you must engage then buy secondhand products or glom onto a friend's streaming account. And if you ever see a copy of a book you want that has had the cover ripped off, that's the copy you should buy.

 

[occam]

You really can't make accusations like that without providing information people can independently corroborate. What specifically did Kobold steal from you?

My daughter and I designed a monster for KP's Monarch of the Monsters contest in 2015 (the gargoctopus), the terms for which clearly limited use of the material to the contest. After feedback provided via a couple of articles on KP's site, I submitted a revised version for inclusion in the Creature Codex in 2018; terms of submission included credit in the published book were it selected. I received no response to that submission.

You can imagine my surprise when, reading through my copy of the Creature Codex after it was published, I found the original MotM version of the gargoctopus in the book! I checked for credits and couldn't find any, which was disappointing. I know of at least one other MotM submission that showed up in the Creature Codex which also didn't list creator credit (the kryt, by Dave Breitmaier).

I've contacted KP and even Wolfgang directly since then, and have received no reply. I have all the time-stamped documents and emails to prove everything, but it hasn't really been worth any more time (or certainly money) to pursue further. So instead I'm just disappointed that my daughter didn't get to see her name in a published book.

 

[Reynard]

My daughter and I designed a monster for KP's Monarch of the Monsters contest in 2015 (the gargoctopus), the terms for which clearly limited use of the material to the contest. After feedback provided via a couple of articles on KP's site, I submitted a revised version for inclusion in the Creature Codex in 2018; terms of submission included credit in the published book were it selected. I received no response to that submission.

You can imagine my surprise when, reading through my copy of the Creature Codex after it was published, I found the original MotM version of the gargoctopus in the book! I checked for credits and couldn't find any, which was disappointing. I know of at least one other MotM submission that showed up in the Creature Codex which also didn't list creator credit (the kryt, by Dave Breitmaier).

I've contacted KP and even Wolfgang directly since then, and have received no reply. I have all the time-stamped documents and emails to prove everything, but it hasn't really been worth any more time (or certainly money) to pursue further. So instead I'm just disappointed that my daughter didn't get to see her name in a published book.

Thank you for the clarification. That does sound like an unfortunate experience.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

The “backstage” of the Kobold Press discord is a bit of a mess. All the posters who answered a simple riddle were given access to a few hidden channels. Those channels are filled with people bickering about systems and subsystems and crunch levels and dice. Everyone’s staking claims of “I’m out if X is in the game” or “I’m out if X isn’t in the game.” It’s hilarious and sad at the same time.

"I get that we're all getting into lifeboats, but I paid for a first class ticket, and I want to get a first class lifeboat."

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Of course, a 21-year work-for-hire copyright term would put D&D 3e in the public domain now.

We can dream. Given the current world, copyright is more likely to go to indefinite perpetual than back to anything like that.

Yeah, all of the blue sky "wouldn't this be more equitable" stuff doesn't stand much of a chance when Disney is on the other side.

 

[Garmel]

I would imagine this would be an SRD free clone of 5e. Kobold Press has released a ton of 5e material and has the incentive not to make a completely new system.

That's what I'm thinking. I also think we'll see a lot more options for characters. Maybe even more than A5e

 

[EthanSental]

"I get that we're all getting into lifeboats, but I paid for a first class ticket, and I want to get a first class lifeboat."

As much a I enjoy Whiz’s input on most every other thing on here, I’m still on the WoTC boat as I don’t think it’s sinking ship as far as an analogy. If the game is One D&D is good, nice for me an the millions of others that just play the game as released, I’ll be at 95% likely to keep playing but I’m not one running to the back of a floating ship looking for a life boat. I feel for the creators that have benefited and made money from the OGL but I’m not going to switch from a good game cause they don’t make money of said game.

Again just my opinion with no toes in the creator content pool.

Edit - I also don’t enjoy seeing the PF guy on roll for combat pushing on the channel today to switch to PF. Like a he’s the guy throwing life vest for $5 at the people who are running for a life boat. Has Paizo said that if they take out the OGL page, their games can still be sold or are they going to hav e to go to court to prove they can if the OGL gets canned?

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

As much a I enjoy Whiz’s input on most every other thing on here

Ah ha! You're the one!

I’m still on the WoTC boat as I don’t think it’s sinking ship as far as an analogy. If the game is One D&D is good, nice for me an the millions of others that just play the game as released, I’ll be at 95% likely to keep playing but I’m not one running to the back of a floating ship looking for a life boat. I feel for the creators that have benefited and made money from the OGL but I’m not going to switch from a good game cause they don’t make money of said game.

Again just my opinion with no toes in the creator content pool.

It was a comment specifically about the Kobold Press fans looking to jump to Black Flag.

And I agree with you: For better or worse, a lot of players will be on board for 1D&D, sooner or later.