WotC To Give Core D&D Mechanics To Community Via Creative Commons

Wizards of the Coast, in a move which surprised everbody, has announced that it will give away the core D&D mechanics to the community via a Creative Commons license.

This won't include 'quintessentially D&D" stuff like owlbears and magic missile, but it wil include the 'core D&D mechanics'.

So what does it include? It's important to note that it's only a fraction of what's currently available as Open Gaming Content under the existing Open Gaming License, so while it's termed as a 'give-away' it's actually a reduction. It doesn't include classes, spells, or magic items. It does include the combat rules, ability scores, and the core mechanic.

 

[Rabulias]

It was talked about in jest a few weeks ago, but imagine if someone like Elon Musk decided to buy Hasbro.

What could they do to other companies and publishers with this OGL agreement (notably the severability and morality clauses)? Companies may remain, but the people behind them may change (sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse).

 

[Yaarel]

what lawyers and who is paying for them? will YOU put up half a mil?

Paizo has already announced they are ready for any legal battle.

Many are ready to join the ranks.

Likely, tech industry corporations are also watching the Open License implications, and have an interest to step in. Many technologies utilize Open Licenses. Any legal ruling about the OGL 1.0a can impact all Open Licenses everywhere, their reliability and their utility. All advanced nations around the planet depend on these tech companies, including for national security, economic and military.

The Open License is a big deal.

 

[Xyxox]

what in ot do you see as worse

1) The mis-directon of releasing content to the Creative Commons license which comes with its own set of problems without specifying precisely what will be released that way. It could be completely useless and is just a misdirect.
2) The VTT policy is geared to put every other VTT in the market out of business.
3) Content never directly under the control of WotC but released under OGL 1.0a because of corporate statements from WotC that it would be available forever directly damages many third party creators who have never used ANYTHING that was released by WotC in their content.
4) WotC being the sole decider as to what is hateful content gives them the power to declare any competitor's content hateful and that competitor has no recourse to appeal such a decision even to a court under the license.
5) I can go deeper but I will just end by saying polishing a turd does not alter the fact that it is still a turd. Signing onto OGL 1.2 is tanamount to agreeing to destroy your business with no legal recourse to alter it.

 

[Princessmaker]

It was talked about in jest a few weeks ago, but imagine if someone like Elon Musk decided to buy Hasbro.

What could they do to other companies and publishers with this OGL agreement (notably the severability and morality clauses)? Companies may remain, but the people behind them may change (sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse).

So we are talking about how to sink Hasbro even faster?

 

[Jolly Ruby]

Juiblex (although due to a misspelling in the text, I have to call him Jubilex)

It could be me, for some reason until now I thought it was spelled Jubilex.

 

[Justice and Rule]

It could be me, for some reason until now I thought it was spelled Jubilex.

I know I've at least always pronounced it that way.

 

[Parmandur]

We have no clue what will actually go in Creative Commons. It will probably be so void of any rhyme or reason as to be completely useless.

They specify in the document by page number.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

It could be me, for some reason until now I thought it was spelled Jubilex.

I thought so too. I'm confused now lol.

 

[Mistwell]

From DNDBeyond on Twitter:

 

[Jolly Ruby]

I thought so too. I'm confused now lol.

It seems like the guys at Paizo are as confused as us:

Spoiler: Book of the Damned, vol 2

Spoiler: D&D Beyond, Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse