The Rouse and Linae Talk GSL

[CaptainChaos]

A tape of the following conversation was smuggled out of the WotC offices in Renton this week. Many Bothans died to bring EN World this information.

Begin transcription:

The Rouse: Well, it was a hard fight to get any kind open gaming for 4E out of those Hasbro suits, but we did it.
Linae Foster: The GSL isn’t all we hoped for but we did the best we could.
TR: That’s right. So, how’s it looking out there in 3PP land? Who’s onboard with us so far?
LF: That depends on what you mean by onboard. Kenzer and Adamant are doing some 4E products…
TR: Great!
LF:...but they are using existing copyright law instead of the GSL.
TR: Damn. What about Green Ronin? They were in d20 from the very beginning. Surely we’ll be seeing another Death in Freeport from them?
LF: I’m afraid not. Chris Pramas said Green Ronin would not be signing the GSL because the license doesn’t “treat third party publishers as valued partners.”
TR: I am really hating lawyers, suits, and lawyers in suits right about now. Sigh. Well, someone must have signed on?
LF: Well, there’s Mongoose. Kind of a double-edged sword but it’s something.
TR: Oh great, the biggest producer of d20 junk is on our side. Yay. I can’t wait for the Quintessential Unplaytested and Unedited Broken Rule Compendium for 4E. That’ll be good for the players. OK, well what about Necromancer Games? Clark Peterson was our biggest booster the past year. He was crazy enough to commission books before he even saw the rules!
LF: Clark has gone silent. Well, publically. I have 50 unanswered e-mails from him asking for a special deal.
TR: The whole point of the GSL is that we don’t have to deal with, uh, deals.
LF: In better news I think Goodman is in.
TR: You think?
LF: They are releasing some early products, maybe through use of copyright law. I’m pretty sure come October they’ll move over to using the GSL though.
TR: So that’s the good news?
LF: Well, Redbrick is going to do 4E Earthdawn.
TR: I’m sure the fourth time will be the charm for that setting. But OK, that’s something.
LF: Oh, and there’s one more piece of good news.
TR: Yes?
LF: Pathfinder doesn’t come out until 2009.

End transcription

 

[theredrobedwizard]

Eh, I'll give it a 3.5 out of 5. Very good attempt, but the Pathfinder joke at the end knocked you down from a 4.

-TRRW

 

[Brown Jenkin]

I do feel sorry for the Rouse and Linae for all the effort they put in.

 

[CaptainChaos]

I do feel sorry for the Rouse and Linae for all the effort they put in.

Joking aside, me too. They were stuck in a bad position.

 

[Voadam]

Those poor bothans

You forgot the part about Green Ronin only announcing one 4e product. And that they are doing it under the OGL.

 

[CleverNickName]

Eh, I'll give it a 3.5 out of 5. Very good attempt, but the Pathfinder joke at the end knocked you down from a 4.

Aw, come now...I thought the Pathfinder joke was funny. Not as funny as "Quintessential Unplaytested and Unedited Broken Rule Compendum," but funny nonetheless.

At least it didn't include a 4.5 reference.

 

[I'm A Banana]

The Pathfinder joke was funny, IMO. The Mongoose one...eh...one might say they've come a long way, baby.

I don't think that WotC is as entirely innocent as they seem there, but I do get the feeling that they tried to get a much more open license, but got sort of reigned in.

It's kind of funny how after 4e's release, WotC goes silent. I get the feeling that they're letting 4e sink in and letting some of the bad vibes blow over. Of course, that just leaves room for rampant speculation, but that's fun, too.

 

[Brown Jenkin]

Of course, that just leaves room for rampant speculation, but that's fun, too.

Just don't do it on the internets.

 

[Hussar]

Y'know, KM, you are right there. We used to see The Rouse over here fairly often. Sporadic maybe, but, still a presence. I haven't seen hide nor hair of a WOTC rep since the release.

Then again, Gen Con is coming up. I imagine they might be a smidgeon busy right now.

 

[lurkinglidda]

Y'know, KM, you are right there. We used to see The Rouse over here fairly often. Sporadic maybe, but, still a presence. I haven't seen hide nor hair of a WOTC rep since the release.

Boo!

Still here