#OpenDND
www.opendnd.games

More Information:

https://youtu.be/WXTdoUW8nxo

https://youtu.be/lGbcHyQ2v3c

What is the Open Gaming License?

The Open Gaming License (OGL) is a legal framework that allows creators to use the rules and ideas of roleplaying games in their own works. Initially released in 2000 by Wizards of the Coast, it has become a pillar of the tabletop gaming industry, fueling the popularity and accessibility of games such as Pathfinder, 13th Age, and Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition.

The OGL has done more to foster creativity and innovation in the tabletop gaming ecosystem than any other element. By allowing creators to use and collaboratively build upon the core mechanics and concepts of existing games, the OGL has created a wide variety of new games and game products, ranging from minor independent releases to large, commercially successful titles.

End of an Open Era

However, Wizards of the Coast (WotC) has announced an updated OGL (version 1.1)—an attempt to dismantle the entire RPG industry. This new license intends to completely revoke the old OGL, a perpetual license designed by WotC themselves to be irrevocable.

Nothing about this new license is “open.” It chokes the vibrant community that has flourished under the original license. No matter the creator, it locks everyone into a new contract that restricts their work, makes it mandatory to report their projects and revenues to Wizards of the Coast, and gives WotC the legal right to reproduce and resell creators’ content without permission or compensation. The new license can also be modified with worse terms or terminated at any time without any recompense by creators.

For the largest creators in the industry, WotC is imposing an impossible tax of 25%—based on their total sales above $750K, not profit. This is anti-competitive, monopolistic behavior designed to crush small businesses that collectively employ hundreds of designers, writers, and artists. Under this tax, it becomes impossible for creators to put books on game stores’ shelves or run Kickstarters for large audiences. Even though this only affects some companies in the space, those targeted are still tiny compared to Wizards of the Coast, which made $1.3 billion in 2021.

On top of that, games such as Pathfinder 1E and 2E, 13th Age, Fudge, and Traveller—which use the 1.0 OGL as the backbone of their existence—will need to cease sales of upcoming products or give WotC 25% of their revenue to stay in compliance with the new license.

Furthermore, under the new license, virtual tabletops (VTTs) cannot operate. They can no longer support OGL systems, and creators can no longer release modules and adventures on popular digital platforms such as Foundry, Alchemy, or Shard.

If this new license gains wide adoption, the tabletop landscape will fracture and lose its biggest onboarding mechanisms, shuttering the small businesses that populate your local cons and putting a stop to their creations. Innovation in the gaming industry will evaporate; your favorite games will be trapped in the past, instead of being allowed to migrate to your phone, virtual reality, and beyond. Diversity in the industry will shrink away, as projects from marginalized creators are effectively written out of the future.

We expect Wizards of the Coast to attempt expensive and illegal lawsuits to enforce compliance with their new agreement. Even if they aren’t successful in court, they will irrevocably damage the tabletop industry.

#OpenDnD

#OpenDnD is a rallying cry under which creators and fans have unified to demand that WotC revoke the draconian 1.1 OGL and pledge to support the existing 1.0 OGL into future editions of their games. This isn’t an opportunity to litigate and tinker with a new license, but to return to the values of open gaming. Our community deserves an open future if we want our favorite games to not only survive, but thrive!!

If you are a creator, #DontSign the new agreement. If you love roleplaying games, let WotC know we won't support them without an #OpenDnD!

WotC has shown that they are the dragon on top of the hoard, willing to burn the thriving village if only to get a few more gold pieces. It’s time for us to band together as adventurers to defend our village from the terrible wyrm.

  • Zuzak [fae/faer, she/her]
    ·
    2 years ago

    Section 9 of the OGL states:

    1. Updating the License: Wizards or its designated Agents may publish updated versions of this License. You may use any authorized version of this License to copy, modify and distribute any Open Game Content originally distributed under any version of this License.

    That pretty explicitly states that they can't change it and force people to use the new license (though they can use a completely different license to release new content, which they did with 4E), and there have been lots of statements in the past from people at Wizards saying that's what it means and that's what they intended... however, what they're now trying to argue is that "You may use any authorized version" does not mean that you can use any version that has been authorized, but rather any version that is currently authorized, meaning that they can deauthorize any version whenever they feel like. It's a pretty absurd argument imo but who knows what the courts will say.

    If they can't revoke the old version, then it means that the new restrictions and stipulations will only apply to new content, which means content creators will likely just stick with 5E which means players will probably just stick with 5E. Even without a public backlash, they'd be shooting themselves in the foot and ensuring the next edition flops.

    • UlyssesT [he/him]
      ·
      2 years ago

      If they can’t revoke the old version, then it means that the new restrictions and stipulations will only apply to new content, which means content creators will likely just stick with 5E which means players will probably just stick with 5E. Even without a public backlash, they’d be shooting themselves in the foot and ensuring the next edition flops.

      :inshallah:

      • Zuzak [fae/faer, she/her]
        ·
        2 years ago

        It's wild that they're looking at stuff like Critical Role and being like, "Hey, they owe us for their success!" instead of realizing that third party content has been a huge factor behind D&D's rise in popularity. You can really tell that this move is coming from people who are just looking at the numbers and don't care about the hobby or making a good game or even understanding their own product's appeal. They're killing the goose that lays them golden eggs.

        • UlyssesT [he/him]
          ·
          2 years ago

          I gave those suits a second chance with 5th because it mostly fixed what I hated about 4th, even minor stuff like the art direction; 4th was full of ZOMG SO EPIC LIKE WARCRAFT glowing eyed cliches and lots of Rob Liefield grimacing, but I don't think I am as likely to come around again for a theoretical 7th edition, not with what "One"(tm)(r) is attempting.

        • walletbaby [none/use name]
          ·
          2 years ago

          Oh, I think they're perfectly aware. It's just that they're taking this popularity and cashing it in. If they're not making money, then why are they allowing it?

          Just look at Games Workshop. The most asshole company out there, they are literally run by lawyers. They sue players all the time and come out with new rulesets that force players to re-buy their entire collection of figurines. And yet they're making money hand over fist.

          • Zuzak [fae/faer, she/her]
            ·
            2 years ago

            Tabletop RP isn't the same as Warhammer. Each table runs it a little differently, and there's nothing that you have to buy in order to play, other than having access to the rules. There isn't a set of minis that you need to play the game that you can only use with that game, most of the stuff you might buy, like minis, could be used with pretty much any system.

          • barrbaric [he/him]
            ·
            2 years ago

            Eh, GW hasn't sued One Page Rules which has made their name on the same systems with the serial numbers filed off.

            • walletbaby [none/use name]
              ·
              2 years ago

              That's because you can't copyright game rules. If they used the exact phrases then maybe, but if you reword them then the company has no leg to stand on. GW's lawyers would have been all over it if it were in any way actionable.

      • Zuzak [fae/faer, she/her]
        ·
        2 years ago

        It's not clear because section 9 of the OGL says they can't change what's already been released, unless their lawyers are able to twist the words to mean the opposite of what they mean, which they might succeed at, but I don't believe that's settled yet. They may be able to harass people with the threat of expensive legal battles though.

    • LiberalSocialist [any,they/them]
      ·
      2 years ago

      The real problem would be trying to fight it in court. One side is a massive corporation (Hasbro). The other side are small amateur and indie publishers that do it for passion. Just the mere threat of a lawsuit is enough to shut down doors.

    • Zuzak [fae/faer, she/her]
      ·
      2 years ago

      VIII. TERMINATION. This agreement may be modified or terminated.

      A. Modification: This agreement is, along with the OGL: Commercial, an update to the previously available OGL 1.0(a), which is no longer an authorized license agreement. We can modify or terminate this agreement for any reason whatsoever, provided We give thirty days’ notice. We will provide notice of any such changes by posting the revisions on Our website and by making public announcements of the changes through Our social media channels.

      B. Termination:

      i. We may terminate the agreement immediately if:

      • a. You infringe upon or misuse any of Our intellectual property, violate any law in relation to Your activities under this agreement, or if We determine in Our sole discretion that You have violated Section VIII.G or VIII.H. To be clear, We have the sole right to decide what conduct violates Section VIII.G or Section VIII.H and You covenant and agree that You will not contest any such determination via any suit or other legal action. To the extent necessary and allowed by law, You waive any duty of good faith and fair dealing We would otherwise have in making any such determination.
      • b. You breach any other term or condition in this agreement, and that breach is not cured within 30 days of Our providing You notice of the breach by communicating with You as provided in Section VIII.A.
      • c. You bring an action challenging Our ownership of the Licensed Content, Unlicensed Content, or any patent or trademark owned by Wizards of the Coast.

      C. You may terminate this agreement at any time by (i) ceasing all distribution of all Your Licensed Works; and (ii) providing Us with written notice.

      COMMENTS:

      We know this may come off strong, but this is important: If You attempt to use the OGL as a basis to release blatantly racist, sexist, homophobic, trans-phobic, bigoted or otherwise discriminatory content, or do anything We think triggers these provisions, Your content is no longer licensed. To be clear, We want to, and will always, support creators who are using the OGL to help them explore sensitive subjects in a positive manner, but We will not tolerate materials We consider to be in any way counter to the spirit of D&D. Additionally, You waive any right to sue over Our decision on these issues. We’re aware that, if We somehow stretch Our decision of what is or is not objectionable under these clauses too far, We will receive community pushback and bad PR, and We’re more than open to being convinced that We made a wrong decision. But nobody gets to use the threat of a lawsuit as part of an attempt to convince Us

      :capitalist-woke::capitalist-woke::capitalist-woke: