John,
Thanks for the analysis. As usual in these matters you're pretty accurate,
but I should clarify our outlook on this a bit.
Our decisions on OG vs. PI content for CC (don't ya just love how all these
anocronyms have already sprouted) were based on 1) Publishing under the
draft version of the license and not knowing yet what parameters WOTC would
use on their own material in regards to OG vs. PI and 2) A marketing
strategy somewhat similar to what you lay out below since this same strategy
would seem to be employed by WOTC and presumably many OG publishers to come.
In regards to 1), our thought is that since WOTC is starting this thing,
we'll follow their lead. If the final version of the d20 SRD comes out and
allows people to use "Mind Flayer" and "Beholder" then we will follow suit
with opening up CC monsters to OG usage. While publishing under the draft
version though, it is necessary to be more conservative, since you can never
take back permission once granted in these cases. So once WOTC finalizes the
"rules of the game" we'll be happy to modify CC's OG vs. PI distinctions in
future printings of CC.
In regards to 2), if WOTC is keeping Greyhawk and Forgotten Realms PI, why
on earth shouldn't we be entitled to keep all elements of Scarred Lands as
PI? The philosophy behind OG, IMO, is to keep the rules open but still allow
people to hold on to some measure of proprietary intellectual property. I
don't think keeping setting elements PI runs at all contrary to OG
philosophy.
In the meantime, anyone who would like to use a CC monster in any OG book
need only e-mail me to get permission.
> It's an interesting business choice, and it's one that makes considerable
> sense if you are one of the largest game companies and have built in
> advantage in terms of marketing and familiarity -- you can grab what a
> larger company, WotC, is giving away, without really having to pay it
> forward to other publishers (who are your competitors).
>
Large is such a relative term. After the sales of 3e, it should be painfully
clear there's only ONE large company in rpgs!
Regards,
Steve Wieck
White Wolf
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