Who has paid the $5000 (what companies)?

[Henry]

Ladies and Gents' I'm going to move this to its proper forum; technically, we already have three threads over there discussing the exact same thing, but I'll leave it open.

 

[Vigilance]

Do you guys get the impression that Wotc is purposely sitting on it? Or is it just a fluke?

Jay H

If Wizards is to be belived, and I think they are, they are most definitely not sitting on it. They wanted the GSL out much sooner than this.

And I am also confident in saying that plenty of publishers would have been eager (or at least willing) to pay the 5K to be phase 1.

What that would even mean now, I have no idea.

 

[JVisgaitis]

Do you guys get the impression that Wotc is purposely sitting on it? Or is it just a fluke?

Definitely a fluke. My bet is the entire thing was drafted before being sent to legal. Once legal got ahold of it, they were probably like, "Um, none of this stuff works. Go back to the drawing board." I think its just a chain of unforeseen/unfortunate events.

 

[Melan]

Do you guys get the impression that Wotc is purposely sitting on it? Or is it just a fluke?

It looks like, how should I say, one of those advantageous coincidences.

 

[JohnRTroy]

I think the fact that they have a new logo for the d20 system speaks positively.

Honestly, I do believe we're getting a GSL, but they are just making sure it's legally tight and prevents creation of SRD documents on the web for free, etc. I have no problem with a GSL, I was only critical of the OGL because--from a business sense--it gives a little too much away and can threaten a commoditization of the product.

 

[Drkfathr1]

And I believe at this point, that they have finalized it, and that some publishers currently have it in their hands. If you read between the lines here and there over the past week, especially with the lack of posts by certain 3rd party publishers, it seems to hint that it is finally done and in hand.

Due to the NDA, those who have it/see it can't even say so.

Of course, if any of those 3rd party's would like to pop in and confirm that it is still not available that would pretty much kill my theory.

 

[dmccoy1693]

I have noticed that there have been less calls for the license from publishers but I just attributed that to Pathfinder RPG. Considering that they can make material for a game that is not going to go out of print and will continue to be supported, I just thought they were evaluating possibilities in that direction.

Orcus has been quieter then usual regarding the license. But then again, it is not unusual for him to be busy with work as well as not bring up the subject on a daily basis.

 

[kenmarable]

As for companies willing to pay the $5k fee, there were several. Paizo is the only one that has stepped down that I know of, but I haven't been paying close attention lately.

To be clear, Paizo hasn't said they won't. They will still consider 4e, and maybe even Phase 1 publishing if it's worth it still, but their Pathfinder line would be 3.5 and eventually it's own (3.5 inspired) RPG. They have distinctly left open the possibility of using the GameMastery line and/or starting a new line for 4e products. They don't have the rules or the license, and want to focus attention on the products they know they are making, so obviously they aren't harping on that possibility. But they have specifically said they would still consider it whenever they finally have a GSL, and either way will work with Necromancer on 4e products.

I know that Wolfgang Bauer raised $5000 to put towards the license fee in a matter of days via his Open Design project. Necromancer certainly claimed they were right there, and at least one other company publicly said they were ready to jump. I think there were plenty of people ready to take the plunge.

Goodman has said they want to go 4e, and Fantasy Flight was all ramping up with hiring a fulltime designer and recruiting freelancers for 4e products, but dumped all that after all of the delays and acquiring the Warhammer licenses. Who knows if FFG is still interested in 4e, but I know that Goodman still is.

Edit: I just remembered that Adamant is also taking 4e submissions and has stated their interest in being Phase 1, at least a month or two ago. Everyone else (like Green Ronin and Mongoose), I think has only said to the effect of "We'll look at the license and think about it".

And I believe at this point, that they have finalized it, and that some publishers currently have it in their hands. If you read between the lines here and there over the past week, especially with the lack of posts by certain 3rd party publishers, it seems to hint that it is finally done and in hand.

Due to the NDA, those who have it/see it can't even say so.

Of course, if any of those 3rd party's would like to pop in and confirm that it is still not available that would pretty much kill my theory.

I don't know if they have gone with preferential treatment or something, but as someone who has paid into the Open Design fund, and has signed (as far as I know) a WotC approved NDA with Open Design, I have not seen the GSL and just this past weekend Wolfgang has said that he hasn't yet either. Plus, I believe some of the WotC reps have specifically said that having the GSL won't be NDA, so companies can announce when they receive it.

So the silence isn't "They have the GSL and can't say it", but there's really nothing new to say that hasn't been said many, many times over the past several months. There's nothing to read between the lines, just absolutely nothing new to say and plenty of other things to spend time on instead of beating a comatose horse (it's not dead, it's just laying there with no change for a very, very long time).

 

[Pramas]

And I believe at this point, that they have finalized it, and that some publishers currently have it in their hands. If you read between the lines here and there over the past week, especially with the lack of posts by certain 3rd party publishers, it seems to hint that it is finally done and in hand.

That'd be nice, but no; no one has it. GAMA Trade Show is next week and we have nothing to tell retailers and distributors about potential 4E product.

 

[Orcus]

And I believe at this point, that they have finalized it, and that some publishers currently have it in their hands. If you read between the lines here and there over the past week, especially with the lack of posts by certain 3rd party publishers, it seems to hint that it is finally done and in hand.

Due to the NDA, those who have it/see it can't even say so.

Of course, if any of those 3rd party's would like to pop in and confirm that it is still not available that would pretty much kill my theory.

I dont have it.

My silence has nothing to do with me having it or not having it.

I think this has been bungled beyond belief, but I am also very supportive of the people (Linae, Scott, etc) who are working on it and I think in the end it will happen and that there will be a GSL.

Clark