D&D 5E (2014) So, 5e OGL

[sidonunspa]

As an aside... I know of at least 4 companies waiting for the final word on 5e OGL...

If its a go, it will be a great boon for fans... a lot of cool stuff in pre-dev stage.

 

[Morrus]

Also, I bet most players would be shocked by the number of 5e mechanics developed under the OGL by other companies in the last 10+ years.

Attributes as saves for example was first introduced in Castles and Crusades...

Advantage is the only 100% original mechanic I can think of in 5e.

Heck in Arcanis we came up with the Attribute Boost or Special Ability paradigm (see what I did there ) for our Val race... which looks a LOT like Attribute Boost or Feat mechanic.

The mechanics aren't really the issue, though. Mechanics can be easily reused anyway, as long as you use your own words. The OGL gives access to terminology. Even if the definition of that terminology changes from one edition to another, the terminology is still open.

Hit Points, as a very simple example. In the SRD, therefore open under the OGL. Even if 5E had redefined Hit Points to mean something else entirely, the term is still useable. Same goes for whatever monster names, class names, terms for particular operations or processes, whatever the definition may be.

It essentially opens up a whole "language" of D&D which can be used under license. Whatever future editions change hit points to, you will still always be able to use the term. You don't have to call it "Health" or anything.

 

[sidonunspa]

Very true Morrus

I was just pointing out that many people have already developed many of the rules found in 5e.

At this point WoTC should be shooting themselves in the foot if they didn't officaly back the OGL with 5e....

going OGL with 5e at least gives them some (minor) control over what is and what is not open source.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

I have many times said I would prefer a MUCH more limited Licence then an OGL this time.

And most 3rd party products add not just reuse, so the only issues I see is compatibility (lets be honest that was hit or miss even in 3e) balance (ha...ha ha ha mongoose) and both of those could be over come.

 

[Sacrosanct]

As an aside... I know of at least 4 companies waiting for the final word on 5e OGL...

If its a go, it will be a great boon for fans... a lot of cool stuff in pre-dev stage.

Make it 5 now Although, I have no plans on doing this as a kickstarter. It's already written, and art has already been commissioned and paid for. But I am in a holding pattern until we find out for sure.

 

[prosfilaes]

Copyright has nothing to do with it. The OGL comes under contract law; it's a license, and is designed to remove copyright complications from the picture. As long as companies stick to the terms of the license, copyright doesn't enter the equation.

That's only true for SRD material. Once you start using non-SRD material, whether it be Conan the Barbarian or 5E, you're back dealing with copyright.

 

[Alzrius]

That's only true for SRD material. Once you start using non-SRD material, whether it be Conan the Barbarian or 5E, you're back dealing with copyright.

Wouldn't that be true for existing OGC, as well as SRD material?

 

[Michael Morris]

That's only true for SRD material. Once you start using non-SRD material, whether it be Conan the Barbarian or 5E, you're back dealing with copyright.

While that is true, we are talking about a system that is processed by humans, not computers. Therefore, you do not have to clearly label things - as long as you can use enough of the terms to form a core people will be able to use it.

For example, advantage / disadvantage is copyrighted. Nothing stops a product from referring to it as superiority/inferiority, gain/loss, support/disruption, lead/loss, and so on. People, unlike computers, can make the link easily enough - copyright will not avail here.

The problem WotC faces is so much of 5e is already defined in the OGL that the parts that are not are trivial to reference in other ways.

 

[Morrus]

That's only true for SRD material. Once you start using non-SRD material, whether it be Conan the Barbarian or 5E, you're back dealing with copyright.

Then that has nothing to do with the OGL. Yes, of course there are things nothing to do with the OGL which the OGL has nothing to do with (now that's a phrase!), but we were talking about the OGL and what it allows you to use. The fact that it doesn't allow you to use Mickey Mouse is neither here nor there.

 

[prosfilaes]

For example, advantage / disadvantage is copyrighted.

No, it's not. The US Copyright Office FAQ says "Copyright does not protect names, titles, slogans, or short phrases. In some cases, these things may be protected as trademarks." You can use advantage / disadvantage with WotC rules in your own games.