They Came for the OGL: 3rd Party RPG Publishers Share Their Experience - Episode 265 - 2/9/2023

Shane Plays Geek Talk Episode #265 – 2/9/2023

Zach Glazar (Frog God Games), Bill Barsh (Pacesetter Games) and Levi Combs (Planet X Games) share the personal impact (here’s a hint: “existential threat”) and professional impact that Wizards of the Coast’s recent OGL announcements had on them, and where they’re going from here. “Unprofessional” and “ham-fisted” is mentioned a lot by our guests. Third-party publishers have been publishing the strong stuff for 5E in recent years. Was WotC’s final decision enough to get things back to what they were with 3rd party TTRPG publishers and creators or is the relationship over? What options are on the table if someone wants to leave WotC and their OGL behind? OGLs versus SRDs. ORCs and Black Flags. Finer points of TTRPG legal warfare. What the heck does irrevocable mean, anyway? Our guests have firm theories on what level in WotC this all came from (and the theories might surprise you). Shane Plays gets a HOT SCOOP from Pacesetter Games.

Listen to the Shane Plays podcast on YouTube, iTunes, Google Play Music, Podbean and Stitcher (plus other fine podcast directories).

Direct MP3 Download Link:
https://traffic.libsyn.com/shaneplays/Shane_Plays_2-9-2023_episode_265_They_Came_For_The_OGL_3rd_Party_RPG_Publishers_Share_Their_Experience_podcast.mp3

Listen Here via Embed:

SHOW NOTES

Dungeons & Dragons’ New License Tightens Its Grip on Competition
https://gizmodo.com/dnd-wizards-of-the-coast-ogl-1-1-open-gaming-license-1849950634

An Update on the Open Game License (OGL)
Cached version
Frantic backpedaling (and attempted spin) on OGL 1.1
https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:_ilAqfJ3Cj8J:https://www.dndbeyond.com/posts/1423-an-update-on-the-open-game-license-ogl&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

Summary of creator and fan response to WotC’s OGL 1.1 official statement
“It has become clear that it is no longer possible to achieve all goals” – Wizards of the Coast address Dungeons & Dragons OGL 1.1 backlash
https://www.sportskeeda.com/esports/it-become-clear-longer-possible-achieve-goals-wizards-coast-address-dungeons-dragons-ogl-1-1-backlash?fbclid=IwAR3SzmtSYacMb-vT6b-aLGgWhATGMUVjfrliszX0ZH6Tn_JbITXgHWL_3bU

A Working Conversation About the Open Game License (OGL)
Cahed version
https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:5dPV6amx320J:https://www.dndbeyond.com/posts/1428-a-working-conversation-about-the-open-game-license&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

D&D maker still wants to revoke earlier versions of “open” gaming license
https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2023/01/dd-maker-still-wants-to-revoke-earlier-versions-of-open-gaming-license/

D&D Beyond: OGL 1.0a & Creative Commons
https://www.dndbeyond.com/posts/1439-ogl-1-0a-creative-commons
88% do not want to publish TTRPG content under OGL 1.2.
90% would have to change some aspect of their business to accommodate OGL 1.2.
89% are dissatisfied with deauthorizing OGL 1.0a.
86% are dissatisfied with the draft VTT policy.
62% are satisfied with including Systems Reference Document (SRD) content in Creative Commons, and the majority of those who were dissatisfied asked for more SRD content in Creative Commons.

Ryan Dancey — Hasbro Cannot Deauthorize OGL
https://www.enworld.org/threads/ryan-dancey-hasbro-cannot-deauthorize-ogl.694196/

Goodman Games Announces January Is Best Sales Month In Its History
https://goodman-games.com/blog/2023/02/01/goodman-games-announces-january-is-best-sales-month-in-its-history/

Paizo Announces System-Neutral Open RPG License – Open RPG Creative License (ORC)
https://paizo.com/community/blog/v5748dyo6si7v

Kobold Press’s Black Flag Blog Posts (new SRD / open fantasy RPG system project)
https://koboldpress.com/category/black-flag/

Kobold Press releases new details for Project Black Flag
https://nichegamer.com/kobold-press-details-project-black-flag/

—

Dungeons and Desktops: The History of Computer Role-Playing Games 2nd Edition
Shane’s book! Co-authored with Matt Barton of Matt Chat
Order on Amazon now:
https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Desktops-History-Computer-Role-Playing/dp/1138574643/

Like what you hear?
Support Shane Plays Geek Talk on Patreon!
https://www.patreon.com/shaneplays