Why the three-tiered licenses could be really great.

[comrade raoul]

I'm enthusiastic about the three-tiered licensing system. Why? Because, with luck, it will kill the smaller-scale .pdf-based supplement industry, including, for example, EN Publishing.

Why is this good? Because I think the smaller-scale system is bad for the game--I see no reason to think that it provides better rules, actually accessible to the table, than a system in which content was produced entirely by staff designers at big publishers, freelancers who sell their stuff to the big publishers, and dedicated amateurs who produce their stuff for free and distribute it by themselves, on websites or message boards.

That is, small-scale or self-publishers produce material that's generally not appreciably better than serious amateur work (and that's typically no easier to straightforwardly present to a gaming group than such work), but it means that a lot of people who would otherwise be talented amateur designers--and who would help contribute to a vibrant culture of amateur design--are producing work that doesn't benefit from an open culture with lots of discussion and peer review--and, in many cases, they're less likely to contribute to that culture (better instead to focus on the work that makes them money). With the new licensing system, however, I'm optimistic that you'll see more enthusiastic amateur design--and maybe, thanks to Gleemax--more centralized and accessible amateur design.

(I don't think this will be a popular position on the boards.)

 

[MerricB]

Scott Rouse has now confirmed there is no 3-tier system.

Cheers!

 

[RangerWickett]

Yay!

<<-- Works for E.N. Publishing.

Please understand, I like making money off what I write. I can't justify spending this much time and getting nothing out of it, and charging some money lets me afford to get some nice art and layout folks to help out.

I don't see how having more options hurts anyone. If people like what we publish enough to pay for it, good for us, and good for them. The only argument I could really see that makes sense is that we could do better by submitting to larger companies, and that we're selling ourselves short by 'settling' for pdf.

The point is not necessarily to provide better rules, but to provide things that are a bit more niche, stuff that big publishers might not be willing to take a risk on, but that there is still an audience for. Also, for me at least, pdf publishing lets me create a portfolio I can show publishers. I'd rather get some experience and then submit stuff to the big boys than just submit blindly.

 

[Hussar]

Yeah, I can't say that edging out the small companies entirely is a good idea. Some of them had some fantastic stuff. And, let's not forget, a lot of what are now established second tier publishers were small publishers at one time. Mongoose was hardly a million dollar startup IIRC. Nor I suspect was Green Ronin. Other than Sword and Sorcery Press (paid for with WW money), which of the 3rd party publishers started from a strong position?

 

[Ranger REG]

(I don't think this will be a popular position on the boards.)

You think?

As much as I prefer companies to make prints, I have no objection to companies that choose the PDF/e-Book publishing route.

 

[Odhanan]

Less choice = Better stuff, that's what I retain from the OP.

I just don't agree. More Choice = More Good Stuff. Also, more crap, that's true. I just love the OGL for the gold nuggets it periodically allows to be published. I'm not worried by crap.

I just don't buy crap and don't allow it at my game table (and by the way, I judge additions by players to the game table in feats, PrCs etc on a case by case basis, giving each a fair look, rather than just say "small publisher = crap" - there's nothing more wrong that this kind of blanket statement in a small industry like ours), and that's about it.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

*Shrug*

The market will take care of itself. The companies with a good business model and good products that are supported by consumers will survive; those that do not will fail, as it should be.

 

[Odhanan]

*Shrug*

The market will take care of itself. The companies with a good business model and good products that are supported by consumers will survive; those that do not will fail, as it should be.

Also a perfectly correct point.