D&D 5E Upcoming OGL-Related Announcement!

[GX.Sigma]

http://www.wizards.com/dnd/Article.aspx?x=dnd/4ll/20140529

They're going to announce their plan this Fall, and launch it in early 2015.

He name-drops the OGL, which is promising, but then he talks about "launching our program," which implies it'll be a proprietary thing (like the "app store" idea that's been floating around).

 

[RedShirtNo5.1]

Some random thoughts
-This gives a six month window where only the adventure content is from WotC. Those adventures better be good.
-They probably want to avoid having folks release crunch that would just duplicate rule modules that they are going to put in the DMG.
-The first day of winter is December 21. My gut says announcement will be contemporaneous or after DMG is released.
-I really really hope that they stick to the schedule (and that the license has gotten its internal approvals already). I still remember the frustration and disappointment with the delays and eventual terms of the GSL.

 

[mechascorpio]

As GX.Sigma said, though, he only namedrops the OGL. The focus seems to be on what "D&D fans" create (and want to share?), and nothing is really hinted at with regards to 3PP.

 

[mach1.9pants]

It is pretty much an entire page that says nothing but wait and see in fall. As it doesn't specify a)fall/autumn in which hemisphere or b)a year you, it is pretty open ended

 

[MerricB]

It is pretty much an entire page that says nothing but wait and see in fall. As it doesn't specify a)fall/autumn in which hemisphere or b)a year you, it is pretty open ended

"After that announcement, we plan on launching our program in early 2015."

 

[mach1.9pants]

Don;t let facts get in the way of a good story

 

[darjr]

Sounds like part of a staggered release.

PHB, then MM, then DMG, then SRD.

No?

 

[MerricB]

Don;t let facts get in the way of a good story

Mike basically says:
* We have a plan
* We've thought about the plan
* We will be announcing it in a few months
* It will go live in early 2015

Anything more would be announcing the plan!

The important bit here is we now have a timeline.

Cheers!

 

[GX.Sigma]

Sounds like part of a staggered release.

PHB, then MM, then DMG, then SRD.

No?

That doesn't seem likely to me. If there was going to be an SRD (99% of the rules online), then Basic D&D (15% of the rules online) wouldn't be a thing.

My guess is that the "suits" are terrified of any kind of open license (the actual OGL being off the table entirely), and the creatives are trying to make it happen any way they can.

 

[Ichneumon]

The OGL-curious will have something to OGLe a few months from now.