What is WOTC's Vision For The GSL?

[Lizard]

I would say the first part is definitely accurate: crush the OGL.

"The more you tighten your grip, Tarkin, the more star systems will slip through your fingers."

I think the GSL, as written, will keep wavering companies on the OGL side of the fence, whereas a license which offered more protection for the possibility of either 4e or the GSL not living up to expectations would encourage them to take a chance. People forget, now, how wary many professionals were of the OGL, and how hard it was to convince companies to go for it. Many of the things they were worried about were specifically covered by the OGL/STL -- that is, they were given assurances that certain nightmare scenarios couldn't come to pass. The GSL, OTOH, explicitly and deliberately removes those protections, and it's difficult to think of any reason for them to be removed unless they would interfere with WOTC's long term plans.

 

[Obryn]

I'd say, judging from the looks of it, that Morrus is spot on.

Some folks I'm sure want a complete lockdown on third parties' use of IP. I mean, in theory, there's tons of licensing money just laying around!

Others are OGL fans. Or at least think D&D benefits from being an open-ish platform.

What we have is somewhere between it - where the only reasonable third-party products are modules and - to a lesser extent - settings.

-O

 

[CapnZapp]

What prevents the following scenario:

1) the majority of 3PP hops onto the GSL, agreeing to abandon their 3E IP
2) WotC terminates the GSL in nine to twelve months time, as soon as the majority of 3E IP have been "upgraded"
3) D&D returns to being totally closed. Anyone trying to resurrect their 3E IP using the OGL will be shot down according to the terms of the GSL.
4) Hasbro creates a new division to handle D&D sales called Total Sales Restriction.

 

[Lizard]

What prevents the following scenario:

1) the majority of 3PP hops onto the GSL, agreeing to abandon their 3E IP
2) WotC terminates the GSL in nine to twelve months time, as soon as the majority of 3E IP have been "upgraded"
3) D&D returns to being totally closed. Anyone trying to resurrect their 3E IP using the OGL will be shot down according to the terms of the GSL.
4) Hasbro creates a new division to handle D&D sales called Total Sales Restriction.

Mostly, the fact that concerns over such a scenario will keep a lot of companies from converting existing IP to 4e. I think, instead, we will see new creations that don't have existing value. It may be this is deliberate, to encourage the creation of 4e-specific concepts instead of retooling 3e; the GSL makes "upgrading" risky.

 

[Carnivorous_Bean]

What prevents the following scenario:

1) the majority of 3PP hops onto the GSL, agreeing to abandon their 3E IP
2) WotC terminates the GSL in nine to twelve months time, as soon as the majority of 3E IP have been "upgraded"
3) D&D returns to being totally closed. Anyone trying to resurrect their 3E IP using the OGL will be shot down according to the terms of the GSL.
4) Hasbro creates a new division to handle D&D sales called Total Sales Restriction.

Nothing preventing it except the assumption that humans always behave with perfect benevolence, fairness, and kindness when money is involved.

 

[AllisterH]

I think WOTC was happy with the OGL as long as they could say

"See? We no longer have to publish adventures and we get people purchasing our PHB"

It is things like True20, the pocket PHB and Conan that soured WOTC I think. Here where products that used their work yet at the same time, DIDN"T force consumers to have the WOTC product.

As time went on, I suspect since the latter was the more common approach, many at WOTC were wondering, "Um, how does the OGL actually help us again?"

 

[Nebulous]

I think WOTC was happy with the OGL as long as they could say

"See? We no longer have to publish adventures and we get people purchasing our PHB"

It is things like True20, the pocket PHB and Conan that soured WOTC I think. Here where products that used their work yet at the same time, DIDN"T force consumers to have the WOTC product.

As time went on, I suspect since the latter was the more common approach, many at WOTC were wondering, "Um, how does the OGL actually help us again?"

And effectively made material better than the core rules sometimes. I still regard Arcana Evolved as far better than the 3.x PHB.

 

[AllisterH]

And effectively made material better than the core rules sometimes. I still regard Arcana Evolved as far better than the 3.x PHB.

Ah but then you have to answer to the stockholders. Remember, Hasbro is a publicly traded company and as such, it is actually ILLEGAL for them to take part in activities that would devalue the stock.

So, again, how does the latter day OGL help WOTC when people simply buy games like True20, Conan, all of which don't need the PHB but ride the coattails of the d20 License to get widespread notice?

 

[Lizard]

Ah but then you have to answer to the stockholders. Remember, Hasbro is a publicly traded company and as such, it is actually ILLEGAL for them to take part in activities that would devalue the stock.

So, again, how does the latter day OGL help WOTC when people simply buy games like True20, Conan, all of which don't need the PHB but ride the coattails of the d20 License to get widespread notice?

As has been said many times before, by keeping people in the D&D "space", as opposed to moving to non-D20 games. It also keeps people in the hobby itself, based on WOTCs late 90s marketing studies.

Since all but a tiny percentage of players of 'spin off' D20 games DON'T already have a PHB, the loss to WOTC is minimal, and the benefit of keeping gamers "close" is great. (Not to mention, as Mike Mearls has noted, serving to train the next generation of designers. Also also, it keeps game companies from investing heavily in house systems which fragment the market and pull people from D&D. Also also also, any innovations in design can then be used by WOTC, without any R&D costs.)

 

[gill_smoke]

Then why kill the goose that's laying the golden eggs?
WotC laid out a lot of resources in R&D for fourth edition.
I think the want to recoup that before they relax a little on the IP reigns. Who knows maybe they will write a less restrictive companion after they get their money.
I bought fourth edition for the digital reason. All the rules are going to be online and you will be able to meet and play D&D online. So far I'm disappointed. I hope I don't continue to be disappointed by the way the whole Digital Initiative goes.