What would happen if WotC yanked the d20 License? [and OGL]

[Klaus]

What would happen if WotC yanked the d20 License?

Since they're retracting such simple things as Dungeon & Dragon, what would happen if they yanked d20 license completely?

jh

Someone will eventually publish the SRD in print format, with new artwork and some new/expanded rules, include some character generation and advancement rules.

Maybe they'll call it "20-sided Fantasy Core Rules".

 

[Najo]

You could even publish 4th edition compatible material under the OGL. As long as forth edition has the same stats, d20 testing, attack rolls and the other basics there is no way they could stop some one adding in talent trees, defense values and so on. OGL allows compatiblity with 4e or doing whatever else you want. You just couldn't get the d20 logo and the requires the D&D player's handbook bit. honestly, then not going d20 could back fire if anything. The d20 logo guarantees a PHB (and thus other official books) get sold.

 

[Emirikol]

It's been said many times, but just so we're all clear:
They CANNOT yank the OGL. It is not legally possible.
They CANNOT yank the OGL. It is not legally possible.
They CANNOT yank the OGL. It is not legally possible.
They CANNOT yank the OGL. It is not legally possible.
They CANNOT yank the OGL. It is not legally possible.
They CANNOT yank the OGL. It is not legally possible.
They CANNOT yank the OGL. It is not legally possible.
They CANNOT yank the OGL. It is not legally possible.
They CANNOT yank the OGL. It is not legally possible.
They CANNOT yank the OGL. It is not legally possible.
Anyone who needs to hear it more times on these boards, let me know. I can copy and paste all day.

But they can go to 4th edition (not OGL) and then what?

jh

 

[Michael Silverbane]

But they can go to 4th edition (not OGL) and then what?

jh

The market would be split... even more than it is now.

A majority of players would follow the game into the new edition.
A small group of players would migrate to other OGL systems (Iron Heroes, True 20, etc.)
A small group of players would continue to play 3rd edition.
A small group of players would migrate to other Non-OGL systems (Shadowrun, Ars Magica, etc.)

Later
silver

 

[JVisgaitis]

Again with this question? ~sigh~ I mean no offense to the OP, but this is tiresome. Nothing much will happen. You won't see the d20 logo on any third party products anymore. Everyone will just be releasing products as OGL like they are now anyway. So, no big deal.

Even if 4e came out and it wasn't open there wouldn't be a problem. Publishers (like us) would be releasing products for 4e anyway. Unless WotC totally revamps 4e and makes it nothing like 3e, everyone can rest comfortably.

 

[Patrick O'Duffy]

Why is this thread labelled as a 'review'?

In fact, why is every single thread I've seen Emirikol start labelled inappropriately?

 

[The Green Adam]

I'd like to think companies and customers would start to try new and original rule systems. Just a thought.

 

[EditorBFG]

But they can go to 4th edition (not OGL) and then what?

That, I think, is a whole other discussion.

 

[Mark CMG]

Why is this thread labelled as a 'review'?

In fact, why is every single thread I've seen Emirikol start labelled inappropriately?

Oh, that's not very nice. Emirikol is from COUSA, so English is not his native tongue. He speaks Cousin. Let's not make fun of anyone just because they aren't from Englamerica.

 

[Warbringer]

The same thing that happened when 3.5 came out, a lot of smaller publishers will finally vanish.

The OGL terms of the OGL cannot retroactively altered (all versions remain legal licenses) but for the same reasons no one publishes 3.0, they won't publish 3.5.

Why? The reasons are market driven, not design, nor legally driven.

People will move on, play the new version.