D&D 3E/3.5 Would WotC releasing all of 3e as Open Content hurt 4e?

[Maggan]

Hello all!

First, thanks to all at EN World for all the snooping around and posting info on 4e!

Second. Now that the sales of 3e books will no longer be a concern for WotC, do you think it would be possible for them to release all rules material for 3e as Open Content, without hurting 4e?

/M

 

[Mouseferatu]

do you think it would be possible for them to release all rules material for 3e as Open Content, without hurting 4e?

Nope. It would be a bad idea for them, for the same reason it would be a bad idea for them to release all of 1E or 2E as Open Content.

It is not in WotC's best interests to provide any competition for their flagship line, and certainly not in a form that doesn't profit the company. The SRD was profitable because it drove attention and sales toward the current version of D&D. Anything that drives attention and sales away is a bad thing, financially.

It's why the current D20 License is (as I understand it) going to be replaced by the new one, rather than having them both active in tandem.

 

[pawsplay]

Plus, why would they invest that much effort in reviewing and converting stuff to Open Content? Wouldn't they rather be converting things to a 4e salable product?

 

[Yair]

Second. Now that the sales of 3e books will no longer be a concern for WotC, do you think it would be possible for them to release all rules material for 3e as Open Content, without hurting 4e?

No. That will encourage people to play and support 3e, which is the LAST thing Wizards wants. I don't think the damage would be large, but it would be damage.

It will also require a lot of effort, for not just zero but negative return.

 

[Maggan]

Plus, why would they invest that much effort in reviewing and converting stuff to Open Content? Wouldn't they rather be converting things to a 4e salable product?

Because we're so lovable and huggable?

Seriously, I was thinking of the remote* possibility of them doing a blanket Open Game Content declaration excepting IP, and then let the fans sort it out. A bit like what happened with Unearthed Arcana.

But, as others also point out, it would in all probability hurt 4e.

/M



* As in "will never happen"