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Message: <blockquote data-quote="RFisher" data-source="post: 2505614" data-attributes="member: 3608">The effect of making a D&D4e not OGL would barely show as a blip on WotC's radar. Their share of the market is so much bigger than anyone else. (Not to mention that D&D is not their bread-and-butter.)I doubt the majority of D&D players even know that the core of 3e is OGL. The vast majority almost certainly haven't taken the time to understand what it means, even if they know. So, I don't think the OGL would be a significant factor in the success of a D&D 4e.(& note that there is no bad press. Every instance of someone who understands the OGL trying to explain why a non-OGL D&D 4e is a bad thing will only help a D&D 4e.)In truth, when I first read the OGL, my impression was that it's real purpose was so that the designers of 3e wouldn't find themselves in Gygax's position. They knew they wouldn't be working at WotC forever. The OGL insured that they could still play with their own toys after leaving WotC.(Well, not really "insured". The TSR suit against GDW over DJ showed that even taking every legal precaution doesn't mean that you won't get sued & that the company with the bigger bank account can still manage to force things into a settlement in their favor. Still, the OGL is a best attempt at insurance.)It also made sure the designers' names would follow the SRD material whereever it went.The d20 System License & Ryan Dancy's marketing rationals seemed like just a way to sneak the OGL past executives or the board or whoever might oppose the OGL. (Well, actually, Ryan's rationals did have merit.)So, from that perspective, the OGL has been successful.</blockquote>

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