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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ilbranteloth" data-source="post: 6963613" data-attributes="member: 6778044">I'd disagree with this.They own the game and the rights to license others to write for it. Sure you can do non-infringing stuff on En5ider or self-publishing, but that's still limited to a smallish group, and takes some of the content out of the mix. Like if I want to publish stuff for the Forgotten Realms.A great many of the people (if not the majority) were probably making nothing off of that content before. I know I've written tons of things in the past, and I'm currently working on stuff specifically for DMsGuild because it gives me a place to make it available and possibly make some money as well. Probably not a lot, but I'm not making a career of it. Otherwise I'd have a blog, ebooks and stuff to sell, etc.They provide the game, the rights to write for it (including using already published material and updating it if you'd like), and hosing a central place to post it in a place where others can find it. They also handle the e-commerce bit which is quite a hurdle for a lot of folks that would like to make money on the internet.So no, I wouldn't agree with "doing nothing."I also wouldn't agree with cynical. No offense, but I actually find your argument cynical in attributing a negative motive behind the DMsGuild.I think it's a rather novel approach to a business question. For example, there are folks here that write content. How can they make some money from it? Maybe it's to help pay for the cost of hosting the forum, gathering the news, whatever. I know, publish some exclusive content and charge money for it. En5ider may pay better rates. Great job! It that open for anybody who wants to write, or is it a limited group of authors?So let's say your WotC and you own the game. The market is very different from what it was in the late '70s when it seemed like their was no limit to the growth of the game or the hobby. You have only so much staff, but one of the things that makes the game and hobby unique is that every DM is essentially an author in some capacity or another. They can't possibly hire everybody. But there's a ton of unique and interesting material out there.But what if they provide a central place where you can publish your stuff? Even better, you can make some money on it as well. Yes, they'll take their cut. If you don't like that cut, then go ahead and publish it on your own, although there's some material you don't have access to then.I'm certainly not complaining that En5sider is looking for an opportunity to monetize a decades old tradition of fan content, nor that WotC is doing so. At some point there's a break-even point, or even a positive profit point if you sell more copies at DMsGuild at 50% than taking 100% on your own site due to visibility.TSR's answer to fan content was a cease and desist. WotC's position is an enabling one. Is it the only option? No. The most profitable for the author? Debatable, depending on their expertise and exposure. So I don't agree with exorbitant either. I think it'a a great option and opportunity, but the fact that they are also allowing other alternatives is a pretty good indication that it's not a "cynical" decision.I, for one, can't wait to see some new Ed Greenwood material instead of having to wait for something to fit into WotC product line and schedule. Unedited, undiluted Greenwood.</blockquote>

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