The Dragon
about 2 years ago
– Sun, Jan 08, 2023 at 09:10:20 PM
On December 21, 2022, WOTC via DnD Beyond announced changes to their Open Gaming License (OGL). Within the last couple of days, reputable gaming publications have obtained a leaked version of the OGL, the release of which they say is imminent. According to these leaks, the new OGL is highly restrictive and will unauthorize all previous OGLs. The Lost Message, which was advertised as 5e compatible, will still be released, but it is affected by these sudden changes.
These are breaking developments with the potential to change.
Where are the simultaneously laughing and crying dragon emojis?
For anyone who hasn’t heard, within the last couple of days, leaks of the upcoming changes to the OGL – the legal document that allows third party creators like me to release 5e content – have set the DnD community forums on fire because of how restrictive the changes appear to be. WOTC intend to implement the changes as part of their restructuring of the game from 5e to One DnD. Though they plan to launch One DnD further into the future, the new OGL is reportedly imminent.
Gizmodo, an online publication of tech, science, and culture, writes: “One of the biggest changes to the document is that it updates the previously available OGL 1.0 to state it is ‘no longer an authorized license agreement.’ By ending the original OGL, many licensed publishers will have to completely overhaul their products and distribution in order to comply with the updated rules… According to attorneys consulted for this article, the new language may indicate that Wizards of the Coast is rendering any future use of the original OGL void, and asserting that if anyone wants to continue to use Open Game Content of any kind, they will need to abide by the terms of the updated OGL, which is a far more restrictive agreement than the original OGL.”
The biggest change that will affect many creators on Kickstarter is the elimination of any digital content that is not a static PDF as a reward or stretch goal. Kickstarter is specifically referenced in the leaked document, partly in terms of royalties WOTC would like some creators to begin paying, but also in terms of said ban on digital content. They label printable materials such as paperbacks, hardcovers, and static PDFs as Licensed Works and all non-static digital content, including those essential to virtual tabletops, as Infringing Materials. The new OGL states: “You may only crowdfund the production of Licensed Works… No Infringing Materials are given out as perks or rewards.”
On January 5, 2023, in response to these changes, Jon Ritter, the Director of Games on Kickstarter, wrote on Twitter: “Kickstarter was contacted after WoTC decided to make OGL changes, so we felt the best move was to advocate for creators, which we did. Managed to get lower % plus more being discussed. No hidden benefits / no financial kickbacks for KS. This is their license, not ours, obviously.”
According to ComicBook.com in an article released on January 6, 2023: “Rumors surrounding the OGL have swirled for weeks, putting many creators on edge. And while Wizards of the Coast previously sought to reassure creators who use the OGL to publish their own D&D material for profit that changes to the OGL would be minimal and would only impact a handful of creators, the new leak has caused many publishers to pause their upcoming projects as they wait to read the new OGL… ComicBook.com has spoken with over 20 small to mid-sized creators who have said that in-progress projects set to be published under the OGL have been placed on hold due to yesterday's leak… Others were looking at alternative game systems to use.”
What does this mean for The Lost Message?
Since the release of The Lost Message in PDF format has already been pushed back once, I have decided to cautiously move forward with its release instead of waiting for the new OGL to drop. Because of its low-combat, high-mystery structure, I believe I will be able to release it nearly as is, with only a few minor changes. It was designed to be scalable and is not overly dependent on specific combat stats nor skill checks. This inherit adaptability will allow me to release an adventure that is still highly 5e/One DnD compatible, but it is not restricted to its language and branding. This is important as The Lost Message is a highly immersive experience with a lot of digital content that can be used or discarded at will.
I realize that I’m fortunate that I’m able to do this. I feel for my fellow third-party creators, especially those who are financially dependent on the material they craft, who have no choice but to pause their projects and wait and see what happens with the new OGL. I’m still a fan of DnD and respect WOTCs decision to make the changes they see fit, but I also understand the burden this puts on many.
Will the PDF still be available on January 8th?
I’m making the small but necessary changes to The Lost Message now. It won’t cause a major delay, not like before, since the edits are so minimal. To get the material out as fast as possible, I’ll be staggering the release of everything, beginning with the printer-friendly version of the PDF, which is the easiest for me to edit and should be complete within the next couple of days. This will be followed by the high-quality, art-intensive PDF, which will then be followed by all digital content, with the goal of having all materials available for download within the next week or two. A lot of content won’t need any alteration, but I just want to go through everything again as this is an important legal matter.
What does this mean for the print versions of the adventure?
Upon reading WOTC’s announcement on December 21, I did contact the POD printer I’m using and was able to pause the order while I tried to figure out the legal implications of the new OGL. The first batch, a smaller test group, had already been shipped, so some of you may have already or will receive the previous copy. Though the changes are minimal, you’ll also receive the updated copy once printing resumes.
The good news is, now that the holidays are over, the printer is back on a normal printing schedule with no excessive backlog, so printing and shipping times are fairly quick. As soon as I upload the new file to the printer, printing and shipping will almost immediately resume. Everyone should receive a shipping confirmation by the end of the month. Delivery time after shipping is dependent on your region of the world.
Where can I learn more about changes to the OGL?
Gizmodo, Dungeons & Dragons’ New License Tightens Its Grip on Competition, updated January 5, 2023: https://gizmodo.com/dnd-wizards-of-the-coast-ogl-1-1-open-gaming-license-1849950634
ComicBook.com, Dungeons & Dragons Community Holds Breath as Wizards of the Coast Prepares New OGL, January 6, 2023: https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/dungeons-dragons-ogl-leak-community-backlash-dnd/
Polygon, D&D’s stricter licensing rules might impact some beloved RPGs, January 5, 2023: https://www.polygon.com/23540640/dnd-ogl-1-1-leak-dungeons-dragons-pathfinder-2e-wotc-hasbro
IGN, Wizards of the Coast OGL Change Draws Ire From Creators and Fans Alike: 'It's Not Right', updated January 6, 2023: https://www.ign.com/articles/wizards-of-the-coasts-new-dungeons-dragons-license-ogl-controversy
The first official announcement by WOTC on December 21, 2022 via DnD Beyond: https://www.dndbeyond.com/posts/1410-ogls-srds-one-d-d
Wishing everyone a Happy New Year! If you’re a fellow creator – don’t worry, we’ll all get through this together.
Lots of love,
-Andrea