Revised GSL on the way

[dmccoy1693]

Of course the GSL would have been done by now if anyone at Wizards really gave a damn.

Instead, I would say it is quite likely Wizards see no problems with the GSL dragging on and having issues, as this means fewer competitors for this first very important sales season.

No matter how big a critic I am/was of Wizards, I really have to argue against this. There are several of people at WotC that give a darn. Rouse being one of them, the R&D team (esp those that started with 3PPs) being others, the legal department that has spent months coming up with/revising the document certainly gives a darn. My guess (and it is only a guess) is that varying groups at WotC each with their own idea of what is best (standard corporate bureaucracy, nothing more) and they're busy compromising and in a way that will make everyone, plus Orcus, happy.

 

[Brown Jenkin]

My guess (and it is only a guess) is that varying groups at WotC each with their own idea of what is best (standard corporate bureaucracy, nothing more) and they're busy compromising and in a way that will make everyone, even Orcus, happy.

Wow, that is way more optimistic than I would ever go on corporate compromise. Normally corporate compromise results in a shoddy product that no-one likes.

 

[Ranger REG]

No matter how big a critic I am/was of Wizards, I really have to argue against this. There are PLENTY of people at WotC that give a darn. Rouse being one of them, the R&D team (esp those that started with 3PPs) being others, the legal department that has spent months coming up with/revising the document certainly gives a darn. My guess (and it is only a guess) is that varying groups at WotC each with their own idea of what is best (standard corporate bureaucracy, nothing more) and they're busy compromising and in a way that will make everyone, even Orcus, happy.

Are we specifically refering to the GSL, or the ideology of the Open Gaming Movement?

"Plenty" is an apt description, though I prefer "some." Not entirely everyone in that HQ office building is thrilled with what Ryan Dancey first started. The GSL may be considered a compromise between the two factions: those that support the Open Gaming Movement and those that opposed.

 

[Vance]

Well, my brave and well-reasoned reply on this issue is pretty simple...

By the time this 'new' GSL comes out, anyone that would have cared would have moved on and done something else - either just doing the '4E compatible' route, or their own thing.

A month after 'soon' and the only news we got was the firing of one of the GSL leads anyway. I'm not exactly waiting with baited breath that the new GSL is going to be much of an improvement, if it ever comes out at all.

 

[dmccoy1693]

Are we specifically refering to the GSL, or the ideology of the Open Gaming Movement?

"Plenty" is an apt description, though I prefer "some." Not entirely everyone in that HQ office building is thrilled with what Ryan Dancey first started. The GSL may be considered a compromise between the two factions: those that support the Open Gaming Movement and those that opposed.

Good points and I didn't hit exactly what I wanted to say perfectly on the head. I changed Plenty to Several and "even Orcus" to "plus Orcus" since I am pretty convinced that the idea to change the GSL was announced because he spoke up. And when I say "everyone" I mean everyone at Wizards.

 

[Ranger REG]

Good points and I didn't hit exactly what I wanted to say perfectly on the head. I changed Plenty to Several and "even Orcus" to "plus Orcus" since I am pretty convinced that the idea to change the GSL was announced because he spoke up. And when I say "everyone" I mean everyone at Wizards.

Yeah, but I'm sure some of them are thinking (as in "not out loud") they want to stick a pitchfork into Orcus's back ... behind the polite smile and "Yes, Orcus sir, you have a point."

 

[lrsach01]

I'm not all that optimistic about the revisions, but the delay may be for a more altruistic reason.. from a certain point of view. Perhaps it will be delayed until the first 3PP products come out in October to reward the early adopters. It's possible... isn't it?

 

[Corjay]

Wow, that is way more optimistic than I would ever go on corporate compromise. Normally corporate compromise results in a shoddy product that no-one likes.

I believe you are confusing political compromise for corporate compromise. Besides this, WOTC is run by people who love the game. Judging by those they hire, I would expect it to be a prerequisite to any position in the company (which is good business sense; you have to love a game and put your ear to the street to know what the layman really wants in order to properly interpret the marketing data). It's the lawyers I have no faith in, especially considering what they did to the first version of the GSL (which was very law-bent). I think what's going to happen is that the lawyers need to make the GSL work, or they'll find themselves looking for a new client. WOTC is making major cutbacks, and they aren't going to put up with lawyers skimming the company's pennies for a poor end-product that doesn't satisfy anyone.

It's not simply optimism. It's business sense.

 

[Ranger REG]

I believe you are confusing political compromise for corporate compromise. Besides this, WOTC is run by people who love the game. Judging by those they hire, I would expect it to be a prerequisite to any position in the company (which is good business sense; you have to love a game and put your ear to the street to know what the layman really wants in order to properly interpret the marketing data). It's the lawyers I have no faith in, especially considering what they did to the first version of the GSL (which was very law-bent). I think what's going to happen is that the lawyers need to make the GSL work, or they'll find themselves looking for a new client. WOTC is making major cutbacks, and they aren't going to put up with lawyers skimming the company's pennies for a poor end-product that doesn't satisfy anyone.

It's not simply optimism. It's business sense.

Business sense went out the window when then-TSR was headed by Lorraine Williams. She absolutely hated D&D and RPG and wanted to turn the company into a Buck Rogers merchandising house.

Business sense was questioned when gamer-at-heart and former WotC President Anthony Valterra -- who replaced Peter Adkison, the founder of WotC -- resigned amidst the "Erotic RPG" controversy and Hasbro hired a former Coke Ad exec as the company president.

Personally, I don't know if WotC's lawyers are trembling at the possible loss of job from client that is WotC.

 

[Brown Jenkin]

It's not simply optimism. It's business sense.

This is a difference between you and me. I hold much less respect for the actual business sense of corporations than you do. This is not something to argue over, just a difference of opinion.