Rich Baker of WotC on OGL

[William Ronald]

Richard Baker of WotC comments on how the OGL has changed the gaming industry here: What on Earth does WotC get out of the deal?

What are your thoughts on his comments?

For myself, I think that the OGL has truly lead to a renaissance in gaming. There are many innovative companies, such as Green Ronin, Malhavoc Press, Sword and Sorcery Studios, and Moongoose Publishing that are producing very interesting products. As these companies have access to a single game engine, the D20 license, they can now focus more on the flavor of products than trying to create a whole new set of rules.

I also have enjoyed several of the new D20 products produced by companies other than WotC. I particularly enjoyed Nyambe and Necropolis.

The d20 license and the OGL do not seem to have eliminated other gaming systems. The last I checked, White Wolf was still doing well with their Storyteller system. (Although S&S is helping them make a profit by producing D20 products.) GURPS and Steve Jackson are still making money as well. Game designers can still work with other systems, and try to create innovative rules. I would argue that at least some of the changes that have taken place in D&D 3.0 and 3.5 were spurred by the growth of other gaming systems. (There was a big change from 2nd edition to 3rd edition.)

So, to sum it up, I think the OGL is generally good for the gaming industry and consumers. The greater number of companies and products is creating competition, which means that even WotC will have to stay on its toes. So, greater competition and greater creativity seem to be going hand in hand.

 

[JoeGKushner]

While d20 hasn't made other companies go away, it has cut sharply into 'em.

Last time I saw a top ten, I think the first five or six were d20 companies, then White Wollf and probably Rifts.

 

[Buttercup]

I will agree with the posters on that thread about one thing. The title of the thread, "why 3.5?" has nothing to do with what he actually said. However, what he did say seems correct to me, as the answer to the question "what does WotC get out of OGL?"

The d20 system and the OGL really have led to a renaissance in gaming. How many of the members of ENWorld, for example, came back to the hobby because of 3E? And how many of them started playing D&D for the first time because of it? Lots in both cases. If you accept the idea that ENWorld is a microcosm of the whole set of currently active gamers in the world, then it's clear what WotC got out of OGL.

What they hope to get out of 3.5 is pretty clear too. More money. I think it remains to be seen if their gamble will pay off. I'm sure that in the short term it will be a financial shot in the arm, but if they start churning out revisions (or new editions) every 3 years, I think they may well shoot themselves in the foot. But the D20 publishers will hurt even worse. No way would I continue to spend thousands of dollars on material each year if the mechanics kept changing. The beauty of D20 is that you can get a whole candy store's worth of stuff that uses the same rule set. If some of it is 3E, some 3.5, some 4E, some 4.5 and so forth, then it will change the buying habits of many customers, I'd bet. I know that I've already changed my long-term purchasing plans based on my suspicion that 4E will be out by 2006. (If you're wondering, that will be when I stop purchasing. I'll just run with whatever I've accumulated by that point, which will be more than enough to support a lifetime of gaming.)

 

[Finkin Swiftfingers]

I know that I've already changed my long-term purchasing plans based on my suspicion that 4E will be out by 2006. (If you're wondering, that will be when I stop purchasing. I'll just run with whatever I've accumulated by that point, which will be more than enough to support a lifetime of gaming.)

I know that I am not going to allow this hopbby to turn into having to upgrade all my books every 3-6 years. No way I want the new books to feel like buying a new PC. After a couple years, we are running an old version and needing to upgrade.

 

[StumpwaterJack]

I know that I've already changed my long-term purchasing plans based on my suspicion that 4E will be out by 2006.

Same here. I'd love to get all of the Kingdoms of Kalamar material, but I've put off buying most of what's out now and will wait for 3.5 revisions. That means lots of product is sitting on the shelf, costing the publisher, distributor, and FLGS money, even though the Kalamar team did everything a company should have to do to drive sales...released really good material.

Pushing 3.5 out so quickly definitely hurt the D20 company there, but as long as they bide their time on 4.0, I think it'll level off. Overall I think the D20 idea is a good one, but like most ideas can be hurt by bad corporate decisions.

 

[Buttercup]

Whereas my plans are to grab up as much 3E product as I can, be much more selective with 3.5, and when 4.0 comes out, stop spending altogether. Sad but true.