We got an official leak of One D&D OGL 1.1! Watch Our Discussion And Reactions!

[UngeheuerLich]

There is a note to be made here.

The original plan was to release the license yesterday. It seems they have not. I hope that means they are rethinking some of this. If it’s true.

Hmmh... mayby Crawford himself leaked the info.... and now he is telling the Hasbro bosses: "told you so"...

 

[Bedrockgames]

I gotta say, that's something that's never been in evidence to me! People complained that they wanted all restaurants to be Taco Bell, people complained when they released 3.5 that it tanked all the d20 System products, the retroclone publishers (and fans) generally took a "haha suck it, WotC" attitude to the whole thing, people howled about the GSL, people cheered and mocked when Paizo used the OGL to release Pathfinder and eventually surpassed D&D in market share, people complained about the SRD 5's limited content...

In my experience, some people lionized Ryan Dancey et al, but the corporation never received any "goodwill" from the OGL. It became, if anything, a source of entitlement that generated an unending stream of PR headaches for twenty years.

And just to be clear, fork the corporation. But I wouldn't expect anyone wearing a suit at WotC or Hasbro to give two shirts about any supposed goodwill.

I guess my impression is different. I am not saying they were never criticized. I remember all those things as well (especially the anger when 3.5 was announced) but I would point out that part of the issue with 4E was the license change (obviously disagreements over the system mattered a lot too). But I do remember people being glad that WOTC had effectively saved D&D. I remember those last few years of TSR and they were not pleasant. When they went under it really looked like we wouldn't have D&D anymore. And WOTC not only issued the OGL, but brought back things people liked about the game that they had been missing (initially there was a back to the dungeon attitude, the return of half orcs, etc). Not saying it has all been roses. But I think a lot of people who have been critical of WOTC, and I include myself there, have appreciated the OGL and their role in it (and I would say it has definitely moderated my opinion about them quite a bit).

 

[Random Task]

Edit: Jump to We got an official leak of One D&D OGL 1.1! Watch Our Discussion And Reactions! for a link to a Gizmodo article backing them up.
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Here's what they (apparently) posted on Reddit. Haphazardly time-skipping through the video showed me no reason to give them clicks. (Please correct if I missed something - like, by giving a timestamp to go to).

View attachment 271280

That last paragraph about being receiving bad PR and community pushback clearly shows this isn't legitimate.

 

[overgeeked]

I’d quote the Good Place but that might be seen as trying to avoid the profanity ban. If ever there was a time for profanity, it’s now.

Whatever tiny sliver of hope there was this was a troll is basically gone. I can believe WotC is this short-sighted, greedy, and stupid. I can’t believe people are still defending and cheerleading WotC.

Critical Role is going to be hard to watch. They’re already borderline for this long-time fan with their endless stream of merch and ads. I guess we’ll see where they really are, morally, when this is all official. Here’s to hoping people get together and mke a legally distinct but close enough version of D&D and CR switches to that.

Ugh. Just ugh.

 

[kenada]

The author of the Gizmodo article has a tweet where she is responding to questions about the OGL 1.1.

 

[Art Waring]

Critical Role is going to be hard to watch. They’re already borderline for this long-time fan with their endless stream of merch and ads. I guess we’ll see where they really are, morally when this is all official. Here’s to hoping people get together and mke a legally distinct but close enough version of D&D and CR switches to that.

You never know though, CR could (hopefully) do something positive based on the worsening perception of the 1.1 OGL, they haven't made a statement yet. More than anyone else, CR is in the best position to effect a change, because they don't need wotc, the have their own platforms and they draw people to d&d, not the other way around.

 

[Greg Benage]

BTW, they've decided to go with "Licensed Content" as the replacement term for "Open Game Content." I still think they're missing a golden trolling opportunity by not calling it "One System Rules."

 

[Morrus]

I've posted an article summarsing the current situation as best I can at present:

The OGL -- Just What's Going On?

D&D fandom is in uproar again about purported upcoming changes to the Open Gaming License, and rumours are flooding social media regarding WotC's intentions to 'de-authorize' the existing Open Gaming License in favour of a new one. What's the OGL? The Open Gaming License is a share-a-like...

www.enworld.org

 

[mamba]

In my experience, some people lionized Ryan Dancey et al, but the corporation never received any "goodwill" from the OGL. It became, if anything, a source of entitlement that generated an unending stream of PR headaches for twenty years.

I am not so sure about that, I certainly had some goodwill towards them. That is not the same as agreeing with everything they do, but certainly being more open/ forgiving

Is the opposite then also true, since there was no goodwill from it, nothing changes now either when the OGL disappears?

 

[Greg Benage]

Is the opposite then also true, since there was no goodwill from it, nothing changes now either when the OGL disappears?

Oh, heck no. As the whole history of the OGL (RIP) has proven, it's much easier to generate ill will than goodwill.

 

[Bedrockgames]

I’d quote the Good Place but that might be seen as trying to avoid the profanity ban. If ever there was a time for profanity, it’s now.

Whatever tiny sliver of hope there was this was a troll is basically gone. I can believe WotC is this short-sighted, greedy, and stupid. I can’t believe people are still defending and cheerleading WotC.

Critical Role is going to be hard to watch. They’re already borderline for this long-time fan with their endless stream of merch and ads. I guess we’ll see where they really are, morally, when this is all official. Here’s to hoping people get together and mke a legally distinct but close enough version of D&D and CR switches to that.

Ugh. Just ugh.

It has been a very odd ride. When I first heard the leak, it looked legit. Then there were questions, and it seemed legitimate concerns raised, but now it appears confirmed. And doesn't look like good news.

 

[Cadence]

Is there someway to work a crackdown on streamers who make big $$$ on this? (Fan policy has to be free, 1.1 doesn't cover it..)

 

[Tazawa]

What's particularly odd is that, according to Gizmodo, the royalty percentage is only 20% for Kickstarter, and is 25% for other crowdfunding platforms. Why is WotC trying to funnel the crowdfunding of third-party content toward Kickstarter? Because they think they can get more royalty revenue that way?

Maybe because they have an agreement with Kickstarter to not allow OGL 1.0a content? It would not surprise me if WOTC is trying to control the distribution channels.

How does this affect OneBookshelf? They have a very large amount of OGL 1.0a content available outside of DMs Guild. Will they be forced to stop selling it if they want to retain the DMs Guild license? Will the DMs Guild license get yanked and moved to DnD Beyond?

 

[Ruin Explorer]

How does this affect OneBookshelf? They have a very large amount of OGL 1.0a content available outside of DMs Guild. Will they be forced to stop selling it if they want to retain the DMs Guild license? Will the DMs Guild license get yanked and moved to DnD Beyond?

Oh god that's excitingly new and horrifying angle to this.

 

[Scribe]

Maybe because they have an agreement with Kickstarter to not allow OGL 1.0a content? It would not surprise me if WOTC is trying to control the distribution channels.

So a 'if we cannot remove the 1.0 OGL, good luck with your next 'Million Dollar Kickstarter'' ?

Corporations are so gross.

 

[darjr]

I think older stuff is safe? Maybe?

 

[Owen K.C. Stephens]

Owen's thread doesn't indicate a new source. His info could all be from the same person that the circular squad is using.

Real, credible journalism on this leak would have indicators of sourcing such that the potential sources could be differentiated.

I have other sources, who aren't going public, unrelated to Mark and Stephen. There are clear signs they are getting their info from a different source and that it corroborates (and predates) rather than duplicates what Mark and Stephen have.
To be honest, it freaks me out. I still find this fantastically difficult to think it what is, for sure, happening.
So I'm not trying to convince anyone of anything other than: this isn't a single source or a ratings stunt.

 

[Alzrius]

Oh god that's excitingly new and horrifying angle to this.

That's right. I was assuming that stuff already published under the OGL v1.0a would be "grandfathered in" somehow, allowing them to continue to be sold even after the OGL v1.0a was revoked...but on reviewing the Gizmodo article, there's nothing that says that. Conceivably, any existing OGL v1.0a products could be cited for using a no-longer-valid license, with WotC telling their publishers to cease selling them. In which case, PDF products would need to be yanked.

Of course, I doubt WotC would go that far...but I also doubted they'd try to kill the OGL v1.0a in the first place, and yet here we are.

 

[darjr]

I have other sources, who aren't going public, unrelated to Mark and Stephen. There are clear signs they are getting their info from a different source and that it corroborates (and predates) rather than duplicates what Mark and Stephen have.
To be honest, it freaks me out. I still find this fantastically difficult to think it what is, for sure, happening.
So I'm not trying to convince anyone of anything other than: this isn't a single source or a ratings stunt.

More sources.

Thank you for posting.

 

[Ondath]

I think older stuff is safe? Maybe?

Since 1.0a is perpetual, I don't think they can cease the publication of old content. But I'm really confused about what will happen with new content for companies using OGL v1.0a. Does this mean Paizo can't publish a new PF2 rulebook starting one week, or does this stop from publishing a new version such as Pathfinder 3E, or a completely new game like Modernfinder?