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Author Topic: Is Wizards "Canceling the OGL"?  (Read 11877 times)

RPGPundit

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Is Wizards "Canceling the OGL"?
« on: November 14, 2022, 06:57:44 AM »
There's a rumor that WoTC is "canceling the OGL". If true, I explain what that would really mean, and who it would really affect!
#wotc #dnd #dnd5e #OneDnD #ttrpg


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Chris24601

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Re: Is Wizards "Canceling the OGL"?
« Reply #1 on: November 14, 2022, 07:29:07 AM »
So, in other words… WotC can’t end the OGL, but is likely planning exactly what made 4E a commercial failure; dropping the OGL for the highly restricted Game System License.

History recap for those who didn’t know… this is the “genius” move that literally created Pathfinder. The Pathfinder setting was originally going to be Paizo’s 4E OGL setting for use in their Dragon and Dungeon publications until WotC pulled the rug out from under them by dropping OGL support for 4E and ending Paizo’s license for Dragon and Dungeon magazine.

It’s worth noting that a straight retroclone of 5e would be slightly harder than 3e as they never put more than a single subclass (often the least interesting one) into 5e’s SRD. Maybe the bean counters think that will spare them a repeat performance that a failure to adopt 6e (let’s call it what it is… WotC always lies about backwards compatibility until it’s too late for any grumbling to matter about the outcome) would be.

I like the odds of my modern game design non-retroclone books more and more. Now I just need to finish the art.
« Last Edit: November 14, 2022, 07:32:47 AM by Chris24601 »

Tasty_Wind

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Re: Is Wizards "Canceling the OGL"?
« Reply #2 on: November 14, 2022, 09:43:11 AM »
Seeing as WOTC is already planning to go to a more digital focus with 1D&D, this could just be an excuse not to put out a creator tools for their VTT.
I was concerned how 1D&D would handle homebrew and 3rd party content, but this is pointing to my most cynical outlook; it won’t. It'll be WOTC’s way or the highway.

David Johansen

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Re: Is Wizards "Canceling the OGL"?
« Reply #3 on: November 14, 2022, 10:34:49 AM »
Oh please, oh please let them drive the customers screaming into the small press wilderness.
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Ghostmaker

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Re: Is Wizards "Canceling the OGL"?
« Reply #4 on: November 14, 2022, 01:45:07 PM »
Good grief. Did idiot pills become standard issue at WotC/Hasbro?

hedgehobbit

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Re: Is Wizards "Canceling the OGL"?
« Reply #5 on: November 14, 2022, 02:57:11 PM »
Good grief. Did idiot pills become standard issue at WotC/Hasbro?

Actually, it looks to me like a smart move. When the OGL was first created, the thinking was that adventures didn't sell enough volume to warrant the expense of Hasbro producing them and any third party adventures would just drive players into D&D and, thus, sell more core books.

But that paradigm isn't true with 1D&D. Now the product is subscriptions to a VTT app that will handle most of the rules anyway. So the only thing to drive customers to the VTT are well made adventures that fully support all the VTT features, such as interactive maps and pre-built monster tokens, as well as the possibility of new features, such as fully voice acted NPCs. Things that aren't possible for smaller game companies to compete with.

And removing the OGL won't create a new Pathfinder as smaller companies won't have the infrastructure to create a VTT to rival what Hasbro can produce. And if a rival VTT does shows up, Hasbro can just buy it out and import all their customers.

The goal of Hasbro isn't to maximize the number of people playing RPGs, but to maximize the number of people who pay the subscription fee.

I was concerned how 1D&D would handle homebrew and 3rd party content, but this is pointing to my most cynical outlook; it won’t. It'll be WOTC’s way or the highway.

Exactly. if a company wants to create an adventure for 1D&D, they will need to sign a contract with Hasbro and do what Hasbro tells them to do, including following all of Hasbro's diversity and inclusion guidelines and get their product approved by multiple Cultural Consultants.
« Last Edit: November 14, 2022, 03:04:15 PM by hedgehobbit »

jeff37923

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Re: Is Wizards "Canceling the OGL"?
« Reply #6 on: November 14, 2022, 03:13:01 PM »
That's going to be an interesting combination - a digital platform that requires a subscription and a team dedicated to the woke mindset with a company that has already cancelled people they don't like and their expensive digital components. The guy from The Quartering lost thousands of dollars worth of digital Magic cards when WotC gave him the axe because they didn't like what he was saying. I see that happening again and again until only the woke remain. It will be TBP OneDnD.
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blackstone

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Re: Is Wizards "Canceling the OGL"?
« Reply #7 on: November 14, 2022, 03:15:26 PM »
Good grief. Did idiot pills become standard issue at WotC/Hasbro?

Actually, it looks to me like a smart move. When the OGL was first created, the thinking was that adventures didn't sell enough volume to warrant the expense of Hasbro producing them and any third party adventures would just drive players into D&D and, thus, sell more core books.

But that paradigm isn't true with 1D&D. Now the product is subscriptions to a VTT app that will handle most of the rules anyway. So the only thing to drive customers to the VTT are well made adventures that fully support all the VTT features, such as interactive maps and pre-built monster tokens, as well as the possibility of new features, such as fully voice acted NPCs. Things that aren't possible for smaller game companies to compete with.

And removing the OGL won't create a new Pathfinder as smaller companies won't have the infrastructure to create a VTT to rival what Hasbro can produce. And if a rival VTT does shows up, Hasbro can just buy it out and import all their customers.

The goal of Hasbro isn't to maximize the number of people playing RPGs, but to maximize the number of people who pay the subscription fee.

I was concerned how 1D&D would handle homebrew and 3rd party content, but this is pointing to my most cynical outlook; it won’t. It'll be WOTC’s way or the highway.

Exactly. if a company wants to create an adventure for 1D&D, they will need to sign a contract with Hasbro and do what Hasbro tells them to do, including following all of Hasbro's diversity and inclusion guidelines and get their product approved by multiple Cultural Consultants.

Sounds like a recipe for disaster. They want to be the only RPG available. Fuck them! I don't need them! Another reason to go the independent route.

BoxCrayonTales

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Re: Is Wizards "Canceling the OGL"?
« Reply #8 on: November 14, 2022, 03:29:40 PM »
I would love to go the independent route. Unfortunately ttrpgs just aren't a growth sector. Most people will stick to the first ttrpg they're introduced to for the rest of their lives.

I've decided to go into prose and crpgs. Unlike ttrpgs, after someone finishes a novel or crpgs then they're likely to go read/play a different one. This makes it relatively easy to break in to the market compared to ttrpgs.

hedgehobbit

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Re: Is Wizards "Canceling the OGL"?
« Reply #9 on: November 14, 2022, 04:42:19 PM »
Oh please, oh please let them drive the customers screaming into the small press wilderness.

Why would players stop playing D&D just because Hasbro tries to shut down the OGL? I doubt that most D&D players even know that the OGL exists.

As long as Hasbro doesn't radically change D&D like they did with 4th edition, i don't see many players not making the transition. As we can see from the money that Wakanda Forever just made, the average person's tolerance for woke BS is extremely high.

jaseoffire

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Re: Is Wizards "Canceling the OGL"?
« Reply #10 on: November 14, 2022, 06:32:19 PM »
I was wondering when they were going to stop giving freebies. For what it's worth, some of these woke companies are at least polite enough to put their money where their mouth is. This would put wizards in the worse than Evil Hat category in my mind. At least Evil Hat gives away free stuff.

Omega

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Re: Is Wizards "Canceling the OGL"?
« Reply #11 on: November 15, 2022, 05:55:46 AM »
So early 5e all over again.

When 5e first came out WOTC denied OGL for I think a year or so before finally releasing their OGL/SRD/whatever.

So ONEe may go that same route.

THE_Leopold

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Re: Is Wizards "Canceling the OGL"?
« Reply #12 on: November 15, 2022, 11:14:04 AM »
I see Pundit has embraced The Quartering level of marketing his videos.
NKL4Lyfe

blackstone

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Re: Is Wizards "Canceling the OGL"?
« Reply #13 on: November 15, 2022, 01:58:01 PM »
Oh please, oh please let them drive the customers screaming into the small press wilderness.

Why would players stop playing D&D just because Hasbro tries to shut down the OGL? I doubt that most D&D players even know that the OGL exists.

As long as Hasbro doesn't radically change D&D like they did with 4th edition, i don't see many players not making the transition. As we can see from the money that Wakanda Forever just made, the average person's tolerance for woke BS is extremely high.

I disagree with you for several reasons:

1. Anyone who's been playing D&D since 3.0 knows what the OGL is.
2. D&D since 3.0 has been a radical change. Why? Backward compatibility. The conversion book to D&D 3.0 was over TWENTY pages. Let that sink it. Now? Forget about it. There is no conversion, because it can't be done. Rewrite the rules, and you need new rules. Rewrite the supplement material for the news rules, and the next thing you know you have 6 different versions of Ravenloft, Forgotten Realms, etc. It's a great scam to get your money. that why is laughable to me to see these rewrites of classic modules for 5e. Anyone who buys them is a sucker.
3. Wakanda Forever is the pinnacle of woke BS. that I agree on. But watch the MASSIVE drop off in a week or two. You'll see.

David Johansen

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Re: Is Wizards "Canceling the OGL"?
« Reply #14 on: November 15, 2022, 01:58:25 PM »
Oh please, oh please let them drive the customers screaming into the small press wilderness.

Why would players stop playing D&D just because Hasbro tries to shut down the OGL? I doubt that most D&D players even know that the OGL exists.

As long as Hasbro doesn't radically change D&D like they did with 4th edition, i don't see many players not making the transition. As we can see from the money that Wakanda Forever just made, the average person's tolerance for woke BS is extremely high.

Even what would be a trickle to WotC is like a flood to the rest of the market.
Fantasy Adventure Comic, games, and more http://www.uncouthsavage.com