The New GSL--What we want.

[xechnao]

Wait a minute. It's okay to code in third-party material into their online tool, but you can't code third-party material -- or anything designated "open content" -- into an independent software program?

Correct me if I'm wrong.

IMO, no it is not ok. But customers to activate 3rd party content should still be buying the 3rd party book so perhaps 3rd party publishers would accept this kind of deal.

 

[barsoomcore]

Customers to activate 3rd party content should still be buying the 3rd party book so perhaps 3rd party publishers would accept this kind of deal.

Why would WotC be interested in supporting 3rd-party publisher books anyway? What does that get them?

What I believe they WANT is to forbid any 3rd party from developing online D&D-compatible products (such as PCGen), leaving the field clear for their own subscription-based tools.

D&D will thus be the best-supported RPG in terms of online tools and content, without worrying about competition. 3rd party publishers will produce adventures, perhaps, campaign settings, maybe, but if you want to use the online chargen, or IRC-based gaming, or whatever, WotC will be the only show in town.

Think about it -- if they can build compelling online interfaces to the rules (for character generation, monsters, combat tracking, spells, item creation), then eventually they don't even have to publish the rules themselves -- and THAT'S clearly a business any sane company wants to get out of these days. But they can't do that if they have to compete with open-source projects like PCGen -- it will be too expensive for them to develop tools that sufficiently better to justify the monthly subscription rates.

If every D&D player in the world is paying $5/month for the ability to play their game, well... That's a heck of a lot better than selling rulebooks, I'm sure.

 

[xechnao]

3rd party publishers will produce adventures, perhaps, campaign settings, maybe, but if you want to use the online chargen, or IRC-based gaming, or whatever, WotC will be the only show in town.

But I see no 3rd party product possibility out of this, whatsoever. They will have to forbid the use of any IP. If not, anyone could create an online chargen with the GSL. In this case no 3rd party product will be possible -neither adventure, nor campaign.

 

[Ranger REG]

What I believe they WANT is to forbid any 3rd party from developing online D&D-compatible products (such as PCGen), leaving the field clear for their own subscription-based tools.

Meh. Without PCGen and the folks who built it, they never would have been the ones to fix WotC-endorsed e-Tools.

Besides, PCGen may be more known for supporting D&D (without the name-dropping), it can also support other d20/OGL RPGs up until now. I like that universal application.

It's not like any PnP game designer can code printed OGC into datasets. Even WotC knows the importance of that.

 

[Ranger REG]

If every D&D player in the world is paying $5/month for the ability to play their game, well... That's a heck of a lot better than selling rulebooks, I'm sure.

Thank god I won't be subscribing. I hate buying a product that requires subscription, from pay-2-play MMORPG to TiVO.

Last I checked, I didn't have to subscribe to play PnP D&D.

 

[kunadam]

But I see no 3rd party product possibility out of this, whatsoever. They will have to forbid the use of any IP. If not, anyone could create an online chargen with the GSL. In this case no 3rd party product will be possible -neither adventure, nor campaign.

Certain 3rd party products, for example PC games based on d20 were already forbidden in the former license. That won't be a novelty. It will be more restrictive, granted. But adventures, splatbooks, campaign settings could still be published.

What do you mean by IP?

 

[xechnao]

What do you mean by IP?

Golden Wyvern Adept.

The only thing that could restrict a 4e PCGen is this kind of thing. Because rules are not copywrightable. But if they do not grant with the GSL the license to use IP I do not see anyone to create an adventure or a setting on 4e without being able to use them.

 

[Ranger REG]

Certain 3rd party products, for example PC games based on d20 were already forbidden in the former license.

The System Trademark License (with the Trademark Usage Guide), yeah. Nothing in the OGL to expressly forbid use of OGC in software application.

 

[kunadam]

I think the new license will allow the usage of the name of the feats (and as such they won't be Product Identities, at least not for the PHB). Thus golden wyvern attack is fine, it it only appears on the feats list of the NPC.

They will only forbid the creation of softwere and derived rulesset that do not require the PHB.

 

[xechnao]

They will only forbid the creation of softwere and derived rulesset that do not require the PHB.

I don't know if you can licesne IP on certain mediums and not others. Intellectuality is intebendent of the medium isn't it? This not a patent or something.