> 1) If you wrote a module, would you place
> it on the open license agreement?
Most likely I'd use the OGL & the D20STL for maximum exposure and compatibility. Plus,
everyone gets access to my rules and perspective and the system. ;) The other side of
that is also true. I get access to all the improvements that everyone else has made to
the system. Wow.
> 2) How do you think such an agreement affects
> a new writer breaking into the field?
It lets the game designer concentrate on the game rather than its rules. It gives the
designer an established audience to pull from and makes it easier to make his work
available. It discourages new writers from branching off on their own with new rules
systems because the majority is using something else and the rulesystem market will
become harder and harder to penetrate.
However, (outside of online publishing) I do not think it will do much for new writers
trying to sell products in the channel. This is a hard market and you need publishers
and distribution network to make any money.
What it may do, however, is let the designer publish material and gain a reputation as
a good writer which could lead to promising opportunities, both inside and outside of
the standard Dragon/Dungeon/WotC publications.
The other thing the new writer will be able to do is contribute to the rule base and
improve the game. Very valuable indeed to the community.
> 3) Do you think experienced writers will use
> the open license agreement?
Yes. Not everything is really "sell-able" or marketable to the game publishers. This
will let Mr. Designer publish his personal game world and house rules and bank on his
name to bring in the sales. It also lets the experienced designer give back to the
gaming community.
Aside from the personal projects and the more unusual and interesting concepts (which
are important!), most experienced writers will stick to what they're doing working for
WotC/SJG/whoever or publishing articles in Dragon/Dungeon.
If we see another unusual and high-quality campaign setting like Al-Qadim, it would
come from these experienced designers acting outside a company that doesn't have to
worry about the market or maintaining a sustainable product line.
> 4) What do you predict will happen to professional
> writers who choose not to use the OGL?
They'll live alongside those who do. Many will probably publish both OGL & non-OGL
material. The professional game designer will not die. However, it will become harder
and harder for professional designers outside of WotC and not using the D20 rules to
move products in the RPG market. It's hard enough already for anything that's not D&D.
Aside from those unique and special projects which really catch the market's
attention, it'll be very similar to the current situation, just a little tighter.
> 5) Who benefits the most from the OGL, and why?
Gamers. Gamers. Gamers. A consistent, quality rulesystem is a huge benefit. Add that
to a wealth of new material published. Most of it will be crap, but the gems that come
out of it will be amazing.
WotC will beneft the most after gamers. There are many reasons and Ryan's discussed
most of them. Because WotC will be most likely making more money off its core
rulebooks, it'll be in a position to publish higher and higher quality material and
concentrate on the things it does best, which will in turn benefit gamers again.
Small and independent publishers will come next since they'll now have access to a
market which was heretofore close to them. The difference between selling hundreds of
a product vs thousands will be of enormous impact to the smaller publishers.
Mid-sized companies will probably be hurt the most, since it's hard to abandon their
proprietary rulesystems and content. Many won't see why OGL is a good idea. Sure,
they'll have their dedicated fan base, but the momentum will be with the OGL.
At least, that's how my thinking is leaning right now. After the D20 SRD is released
and things start rolling, we'll see how things are shaping up.
-Andrew
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For more information, please link to www.opengamingfoundation.org
