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MUST WATCH TV (Patreon)

Published:
2023-01-07 03:10:54
Imported:
2026-06
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Content

Kelsey at Arcane Library explains how OGL 1.1 has threatened her livelihood. Spoiler alert--I am reading Shadowdark now and was planning a review. Now that's up in the air as she struggles to rewrite it--after two YEARS of hard work. Let's support her and all other independent creators!

--PDM

Files

Previews only

The OGL and Me: What Will Happen Now?

The Golden Age of the D&D Open Game License is ending. What does this mean for me and the third-party publishing community at large? Sign up to get notified of the Shadowdark RPG launch: https://www.thearcanelibrary.com/

Comments

Shawn W
>>99173906

Most people don't have the money to go up against Hasbro. That's why the scare tactics work.

Jonathan

I love what I’ve read of her work so far. Can’t wait to support her going forward with this system.

Cal Pearson

In perpetuity rug very much being yanked. I understand WoTC / Hasbro doing what PE -or- Big Corp demands, shareholder value and ebita increase. Folk gaming and co-op community creativity heroes, I applaud and cheer your success. PDM, great post!

Matt Thompson

Just bought the remaining three adventures of hers that I had not already purchased. Her content is excellent and easy to run at the table.

Brian Leet

Thanks for sharing. Signed up for notification on her Kickstarter. The new license is atrocious and I hope everyone just starts creating their own / compatible content without it.

Mara

You may also want to have a listen to RPGPundit's video (https://youtu.be/TJ1ZlGOV804). It clears up some of the doubt surrounding works that already exist under OGL 1.0.

MrGunn

Thank you PDM for posting this. Though a bit out of context for folks who may not be following the story as closely as some. Basically if you have not been paying attention, a few days ago, some former Paizo folks (I believe), leaked to Reddit an advance copy of Hasbroceana's proposed Open Gaming License 1.1 or OGL 1.1. The proposed new OGL contains a ton changes essentially attempting to obviate aspects of the current OGL which has stood for 20 years The current OGL allowed for a very vibrant third party ecosystem to grow around D&D 3.5e and 5e. The new OGL includes a lot of really one sided anti-creator, anti-consumer language which solely benefits Hasbroceana. You can learn more about the details from the Rules Lawyer, Tenkar's Tavern, Discourse & Dungeons, and many many other places Google is your friend here. My current thoughts: 1) It is probably not the final OGL 1.1. However, it may be a trial balloon to either gauge industry response and/or push the limit so Hasbroceana can pull back to a less aggressive but still expansionist position. One hopes they won't be so dumb as to go with the OGL 1.1 as written. 2) The structure is very one sided and appears to be another step by Hasbroceana to try and coral as much content under their control as possible. Hasbroceana wants you to negotiate directly with them and collect royalties rather than 'lose revenue' to content creators using the OGL. 3) As currently written, OGL 1.1 may not be legally enforceable; I am not a lawyer but it does seem they are trying to circumvent the original OGL's intent using double speak and legal legerdemain. 4) OGL 1.1 clearly breaks trust with the community, the industry, and creatives. In the long run I believe such move will damage D&D's brand and reduce support for the game. 5) Oddly it seems written from the perspective that D&D is somehow a software product whose IP can be controlled by a central authority. D&D is clearly not software and Hasbroceana cannot copyright / patent game rules or simply send users an email telling them the terms of use have changed. 6) Hasbroceana seems want to crush innovation by stifling the growth of a 6e 3rd party ecosystem similar to that has allowed the current version of D&D to thrive. It is about money and control kids... 7) It appears to add substance to Questing Beast's argument for the bifurcation of the D&D world, between those who will go the corporate approved route and those who will go Homebrew. 8) The new OGL has angered consumers and content creators and damaged the brand, and will mean that D&D 6e will have much less third party support. After all, if Hasbroceana can't be trusted to live up to terms and conditions of the current OGL, why should they be trusted to be satisfied with a new OGL, which basically says we can do what we want, any time we want, and all your 3rd party base are belong to us. 9) It can only cover Hasbroceana's specific IP which has potential negative consequences, see 10 below. 10) It sets the stage for another party to develop an actual viable alternative to D&D, which could knock down Hasbroceana as the TTRPG standard bearer. 11) Note, according to some sources, Hasbroceana has stated that OGL 1.1 impacts only versions of D&D 6e and newer and that older versions are protected under the old OGL. Again, this is a 'trust us statement' from a company acting only in its own self interest. Frogs should not trust scorpions, nor should we trust Hasbroceana, b/c if they can legally enforce the radical changes the new OGL 1.1, then they could also assail the integrity of the original OGL. Hence the trepidation a lot of content creators are feeling now. Example, even if they could not legally enforce it, Hasbro could send copyright infringement notices to Youtubes impacting the channel owner, they could cease and desist letters to 3rd party content creators, most of whom would not have the deep pockets necessary to fight a protracted legal battle. No folks, the new OGL 1.1 as written is bad and is attempting to set a very bad precedent. 12) Clearly Hasbroceana's OGL 1.1 move exposes the cynicism, greed, and caprice of corporations that control popular brands and highlights the damage these companies can do to the folks that rely them for their income streams. These type of aggressive actions hurt content provider's and their audiences. When companies like the Youtubes, Facebook, Instragram et al can destroy one's business model through simple user terms fiat, to which there is no recourse, creative's need to seriously consider these cold facts before getting into bed with any of these of these companies. In closing, I truly hope that the OGL 1.1 as written does not come to pass. I did my bit and sent Chris Cocks at Hasbro a letter expressing my dismay at this decision. Time will tell.

Michael Johnson

Very interested in this topic, but not very knowledgeable about the ins and outs of how this works for creators. If OGL 1.1 is in fact for real as written, how will this affect DungeonCraft's Deathbringer? To what extend can WOTC/Hasbro extend their tentacles into game versions such as this?

Guy D Stapp

I for one will never buy another WOTC product. I am also interested in supporting Shadow Dark and other systems that are similar enough to D&D to replace it without needing WOTC's license to exist and publish. Is it too soon yet, or is there a list of game systems that are exempt from the OGL and able to continue publishing?

baldrage

WOTC = We Own Third-party Content.

baldrage

Wondering whether Professor Dungeon Master will now have to change his name to Professor Game Master.

Frederic Schmitt

Although I am a GM I already watched the video. Guys? Just play Deathbringer instead of D&D. PDM? We need a stand alone Deathbringer with lots of playeroptions pls 😁

Jay
>>99105212

I agree. Professor GM would be suitable considering he does discuss other games on here from time to time. Apparently the change to the OGL will affect many others as well such as Scotty's The DMs Craft might change to something like The GMs Craft. This is going to send shockwaves.

Jay

Check out Dave Thaumavore's video "5 Reasons Why You Should Stop Playing WotC’s D&D" (YouTube). Agree or not he makes some good points. BTW gives a shout out to PDM Dungeon Craft and Ben at Questing Beast.

Jay
>>99094308

Once again you have some well thought out and insightful comments on the matter. The point that gives TTRPG enthusiasts and third-party creators the most hope is point number 10 above. Stiff competition. There are so many other games that could dethrone WotC as the most popular just as Pathfinder once took center stage. I don't know anyone who has played D&D using 100% rules as written. If they did that would be a bit overwhelming just as Ben at Questing Best pointed out regarding the DM shortage. Most people homebrew to tailor the game to their own groups and many of them right here on channels such as this.

David Ford

Thanks for posting this. I'll now be supporting her in her new endeavors. WOTC has been cannibalizing their own IP for years now with a mixed-bag of results. Their creative output has ossified and they are being totally outclassed by TPC. From a corporate perspective this revocation of the OGL may seem logical, and it may work for them. However, it's going to create a "creative bubble" which they'll never to be able to escape from. All the while the world of TTRPG will progress and grow outside of that bubble.

MrGunn
>>99094308

Thanks Jay, I tend agree with you, competition is a great motivator to keep greedy lazy companies in check. Although Games Workshop does baffle me, GW customer’s are so willing to pay through the nose for those way overpriced plastic bits and accept outrageous price increases, predatory and litigious anti-consumer shenanigans, I often wonder if the minis are not made with crack to keep folks addicted. I am hoping as 3d printing becomes more mainstream, GW will get their long overdue comeuppance.

MrGunn
>>99105212

Indeed! I want him to rebrand to Dungeon University or Game Master University. PGM is a fine moniker, although it rolls off the tongue like a mining consortium brand or movie rating system. 🤪🤣🤣

MrGunn
>>99094308

Added new section 11, also did best edited for grammar, diction, and celerity. Me not good English grammar: forgive if many no good mistakes.

Jay
>>99094308

Games Workshop almost had me several years ago. Then I saw what kind of investment it would be and the price $$$ was waaaaay too high for just a game to be played once in a while.

Jeff Jones

After watching the video, I decided that I'll back her kickstarter when it starts. I've also downloaded the beta version of her game from her website and will be looking at it over the next few days.

MrGunn
>>99092502

Indeed, good stuff from the ladt boss in internet 💩Lords

Daniel Defazio
>>99105212

technically "Dungeon Master" and "DM" are trademarks and they could end me a cease and desist at any time. That's why'll I never poke the beast too hard.

Skyhammer

I'll be backing her kickstarter as well. Will be dumping 5e, 6e if OGL 1.1 goes through in its current leaked form. Shadowdark and other games are in my horizon!

Flowers

Hasbro wont ever get another cent from me. Even if this OGL 1.1 brouhaha is some kind of stunt as some ppl have suggested, who cares? The deeply cynical manipulative greedy anti-player attitude that underlies it all is simply disgusting. Exactly what you’d expect from a bunch of video game execs running anything in 2023. I refuse to subsidize that kind of behavior. Integrity matters.

Chuck Thorin

I've been a fan of Shadowdark since I stumbled upon it. It's on the short list of games to run.

James Archer

Lol I actually discovered Kelsey last night. I signed up for her book when it comes out next month. Her work is great and streamlined. I can't wait to get a hardback copy.

James Archer

This OGL business is a wake up call. I see the writing on the wall and will be giving more of my gaming dollars to independent creators from now on.

Andrew Johnson

Most of the original and new ogl isn’t enforceable. And the original said the rules were in perpetuity u can’t just change that on a whim. If people would challenge this in court it would fall apart. But sadly the scare tactics seem to work.

Mara
>>99092502

I haven't watched a ton of his videos, but I suspect he has some strong opinions that I don't share either. Regardless, his RPG material looks interesting and is on my short list of books to buy and check out.

Daniel Colby

I’m totally getting in on her kickstarter