D&D's new Open Gaming License
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I wonder what department was fine with this?
m7600
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Executive: "Alright, we'll get rid of the royalties, we've taken too much damage. But make sure to include a paragraph telling the fans to go f--- themselves."
Employee: "I... don't think we can do that, sir. Public relations, and all that."
Executive: "Then tell them that they won, but so did we."
OrlonKronsteen
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It’s mind boggling that this can happen. But, I’ve spent many years in communications and, believe it or not, I’ve seen even worse responses than this. It’s amazing that a team of people approved that paragraph. The thing to do here was to completely own it. SMH.
Now the question is what the licence revision will look like.
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An official statement from WotC. They've finally broken their silence:
An Update on the Open Game License (OGL)
Although we are not yet able to release the OGL at this time, we would like to update you on how things are developing, and the goals we have in mind fo...www.dndbeyond.com
Free drinks for anyone who bet they would say it was just a draft!
Fandraxx
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Not to be "that guy", but I studied public relations in college.
The fact that that paragraph made it past brainstorming, let alone drafting, writing, revising and rewriting, is hysterical.
Also, whoever approved it should be fired.
In other news, a phenomenal exercise in saying nothing:
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m7600
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I think that one of the points that must be emphasized in this whole situation is that the original OGL, the one that Dancey created, is not limited to tabletop products, like core rulebooks and campaign modules, as Wizards is claiming. I'll quote Dancey himself, from the link that I shared in the previous post:
Quote: "They also want to assert that the OGL “is limited to tabletop roleplaying content like campaigns, modules, and supplements”.
I am the architect of the OGL, and I can assure you, that statement is not true.
Nothing in the OGL speaks to the nature of products that can use it. That was on purpose. Working on the OGL in 1999 and Y2K our team knew we could not envision all the possible ways it could be used and we did not attempt to enumerate them.
On the other hand, things like computer games, digital objects, novels, web sites, broadcast game content, and similar uses existed in Y2K, our team was well ware of them, and if we had wanted to restrict the OGL from being used in those kinds of projects we could have put such restrictions into the license. We did not."
Quote: "They also want to assert that the OGL “is limited to tabletop roleplaying content like campaigns, modules, and supplements”.
I am the architect of the OGL, and I can assure you, that statement is not true.
Nothing in the OGL speaks to the nature of products that can use it. That was on purpose. Working on the OGL in 1999 and Y2K our team knew we could not envision all the possible ways it could be used and we did not attempt to enumerate them.
On the other hand, things like computer games, digital objects, novels, web sites, broadcast game content, and similar uses existed in Y2K, our team was well ware of them, and if we had wanted to restrict the OGL from being used in those kinds of projects we could have put such restrictions into the license. We did not."
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I enjoyed reading Dancey's statement. However, looks like the retconning message worked, and that is the only thing that matters to the D&D-owning company.
m7600
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I wasn't gonna post anything here until tomorrow (there's a new leak that's been confirmed, Wizards will charge D&D Beyond users 30 dollars per month, they also intend to keep to their original plan of de-authorizing the original OGL, etc.)
But I just have to share this short video uploaded just now by Ginny Di. She's been a real heroine in all of this.
But I just have to share this short video uploaded just now by Ginny Di. She's been a real heroine in all of this.
m7600
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New official statement from Wizards
www.dndbeyond.com
A Working Conversation About the Open Game License (OGL)
These past days and weeks have been incredibly tough for everyone. As players, fans, and stewards of the game, we can't–and we won't–let thi...
www.dndbeyond.com
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It's so great to see. Taking a stand is indeed important, especially if it's for things that matter. Imagine a horrendous situation if the majority just ignored this and went silent.
WarChiefZeke
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Watching DnD's slow decline over the past decade has been honestly depressing. I loved this hobby greatly for a long time
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Zaxares
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I'm glad that we managed to make WotC/Hasbro back down. 
On the other hand though... I'm saddened that this is something that will inevitably further divide the community. We now essentially have two competing rulesets/licenses, and you can bet that WotC/Hasbro will not be happy to support any more cross-play/compatibility. The community is going to split along these two lines, and we're going to end up with two separate kingdoms where previously all still shared the same heritage. This was always inevitable, I know, but I'm still sad that the day has finally come.
On the other hand though... I'm saddened that this is something that will inevitably further divide the community. We now essentially have two competing rulesets/licenses, and you can bet that WotC/Hasbro will not be happy to support any more cross-play/compatibility. The community is going to split along these two lines, and we're going to end up with two separate kingdoms where previously all still shared the same heritage. This was always inevitable, I know, but I'm still sad that the day has finally come.