It’s been nearly two weeks since the “leak” of D&D’s potential new Open Gaming License (OGL).
No doubt you’ve already seen countless posts, tweets, videos, and emails from other creators and fans in the community. Heck, this has even been getting coverage in mainstream news!
These last two weeks have been… stressful… to say the least…
I have to admit, this is an article that I have written and rewritten more times than I can even count. But, ultimately, I want this to be something from the heart.
So, in this article, we’re going to go over the broad strokes of what #OpenDnD is about, why this new OGL is something we need to take action against, and what you can do to help.
We’ll also take a look at what I expect the future holds for Tabletop Joab.
Let’s get into it.
The OGL and #OpenDnD
Rather than going over this entire issue in a single post, I’m going to cover the main points of the OGL issue.
- The original OGL has been around since 2000 and is what has allowed content creators and third-party publishers to legally create materials to be used with D&D.
- Wizards of the Coast secretly approached influential creators to have them sign NDAs before the OGL was released. This was also paired with “sweetheart deals” for those who signed.
- The OGL requires creators making over $750k/year to pay royalties of 20% of revenues.
- It also requires creators making over $50k/year to register their products and report earnings.
- WotC is able to use creators’ ideas without having to pay or credit them.
- Creators cannot sue WotC and waive their right to trial by jury.
This proposed license is about as one-sided as it could possibly get. Needless to say, the D&D and wider TTRPG community have been making their stance on the matter clear.
After more than a week of deafening silence from WotC, they finally issued an insultingly hollow “apology” after the community began mass-unsubscribing from D&D Beyond.
Needless to say, releasing a statement that says “we both won” has only further infuriated the community.
For a more detailed look at what’s happening, I think Professor Dungeonmaster over a Dungeon Craft knocked it out of the park with the video I’ll share below. I’m a big fan of his channel, and I think it’s safe to say that he speaks for most (if not all) of us here.
Whatever benefit of the doubt could have been given to WotC has been largely eroded.
By refusing to be honest and forthcoming with the community that has so fervently supported them for so long, they have drawn a line in the sand.
Why Does This Matter Anyway?
First things first, attempting to lay claim to the intellectual property and creative work of creators within this community is simply horrible and disgusting.
But doubling down and attempting to gaslight the community of fans while offering only coded-language PR-speak garbage “apologies” is just despicable.
The sheer audacity and unmitigated hubris behind WotC’s insultingly tone-deaf response (or, perhaps more accurately, lack thereof) is truly unbelievable.
Even Vecna would be shaking his head in disbelief.
But why does #OpenDnD matter?
The short answer is because the community built this brand into what it is. From blogs like this one to YouTube channels, podcasts, meme groups, Twitch streams, and even just a group of friends getting together to roll dice every other Sunday.
#OpenDnD matters because this wonderful, vibrant, fun, and supportive community of tabletop gamers new and old matters.
If WotC hasn’t already soiled its entire reputation by trading literal decades of community support for a cash grab, then they’re dangerously close to it. This community will go where it is appreciated beyond simply contributing to the company’s bottom line.
But all business is people business.
It’s those people that have made D&D into the world’s greatest roleplaying game.
It’s those people that have made the game more popular than it has ever been, introduced countless people to the game that would have never played otherwise, and contributed to the culture around the hobby to make it something truly special.
Whether you ever bought from a third-party publisher or not.
Whether you ever engaged with D&D content creators or not.
The existence of these entities has been a vital part of what keeps the game moving forward with new innovations, incredible ideas, and a cultural reach that extends beyond just itself.
Without them, the game will grow stale.
But if they can’t own their work, they will stop creating which means that the game will grow stale and wither away.
Because no matter how WotC tries to paint these creators in a negative light, you must realize that those creators were fans of the game first and foremost.
To look at the passion of these creators and what they put out into the community to further empower groups to tell stories that they’ll remember for the rest of their life and act like they’re nothing more than obstacles to be overcome is, in a word, betrayal.
Et tu, WotC?
The Future of Tabletop Joab
I’ve been open in past updates about my struggles with anxiety and depression. Needless to say, it’s been a rough couple of weeks on my end.
My willpower to write anything, even a simple tweet on this matter, was completely drained watching this unfold. But I’m getting my drive back.
So, what’s the future of Tabletop Joab?
First things first, I’m not signing anything and I have no plans to support future releases until WotC begins treating the community with the respect it deserves.
Though whether that comes sooner, later, or even at all is anyone’s guess.
Secondly, I’m taking a few weeks off.
Not only has this situation left me completely gutted, but it has also seriously derailed so freaking much that I have been working on.
I had planned to release some exciting game materials, but those will need to be reworked. Furthermore, it looks like the best move will be in expanding beyond just Tabletop Joab and making a proper publishing brand that can exist outside of WotC.
While that’s incredibly exciting (and scary), it will take a ton of work, so I’ll be working on that during my hiatus. I hope that this is a venture that I can count on you to support me in.
(You can sign up for my newsletter in the sidebar or at the bottom of this article so we can stay in touch no matter what happens.)
But rest assured, the ideas that the team I’m assembling and I have been talking about are going to be seriously awesome!
Last but not least, I will resume publishing content related to D&D 5e when I return.
I’m still committed to being as helpful as possible for your D&D game. I just need some time to recharge and will need to reprioritize how my upload schedule looks.
I’ve published 320 articles in slightly over 2 years which makes for an average of publishing an article every 2-3 days in that time. Simply put, I’d like some time to rest and refocus my energy.
When I return, I’ll be finishing the remaining Fighter guides before finally starting the Wizard class guides.
At least for now, I’m still committed to making Tabletop Joab the most helpful D&D 5e site that I can.
While I may or may not branch out into publishing helpful content for other games/systems in time, I at least want to continue to support the PLAYERS and COMMUNITY that are still playing D&D 5e.
What Can You Do?
As it stands, there are three primary ways that you can make an immediate impact on this situation beyond just discussing it.
Firstly, you can cancel your subscription to D&D Beyond.
This is where the community is taking its stand against WotC’s actions.
It has been made abundantly clear that this is the metric that WotC’s executives are most closely looking at as it relates to their overall strategy of increasing monetization through D&D (i.e. stifling competition and assaulting players with microtransactions).
Hitting them in the pocketbook is the best way to send a message that we’re not going to stand for this.
Next, you can support other game publishers.
Many are migrating to Paizo’s Pathfinder system and there are projects in the works from Kobold Press as well as Matt Colville’s MCDM Productions and more.
Personally, I’m excited to start diving into Mork Borg and rediscovering my love of Vampire: The Masquerade.
I would ask you to explore what’s out there and find ideas that continue to inspire you. You’ll be surprised at just how many wonderful TTRPGs are out there just waiting for you to try them!
Last but not least, you can continue to support your favorite D&D content creators.
Regardless of what kind of content they make, creators work hard to contribute in meaningful ways to the D&D community.
I think I can safely speak for all D&D content creators when I say that our biggest goal is just to help you have the best D&D game possible!
But between worrying about WotC’s moves and watching a large exodus of players from the D&D space, many creators are justifiably concerned and exhausted.
It’s never been just about the game or the brand. It’s about the community and a shared love of TTRPGs and what makes them such a fun hobby.
While buying merch or donating to a Patreon/Kofi or whatever are definitely much-appreciated ways to help, even a supportive email can mean the world.
Conclusion
Plenty of creators far bigger than I am have already lent their voices in support of #OpenDnD. I regret that I am only just now finding the mental energy to write this article, but I can’t stay silent.
I’m so proud of Tabletop Joab and the truly wonderful interactions I’ve had with readers like you who find their way to this little corner of the internet.
But good things are coming, one way or another.
I would highly encourage you to sign up for my newsletter below. It’s the best way to stay in touch and I’ll be able to keep you up to date on where things are going.
I don’t know what lies ahead, but I can promise you it won’t be boring!
See you in a few weeks!
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I have been watching the whole situation for weeks, and I cannot in any way blame the community for not trusting WotC at all. Especially when a WotC employee leaked an information about the superiors’ reaction to the community wrath and their general attitude to the community.
Just to be clear, the CIS community reacts in a pretty similar way; the most serene comment I’ve seen goes like “well, what else could be expected from them”.
(I brought all the news to my wife, but her commentary is not for print. You may believe that it was quite fiery and Vicious Mockery-level hitting)
It seems that WotC are keen on making the same mistake lots of studios do now – greatly misunderstanding their customer base and spiraling from there.
By the way, does a DnDB account equal subscription? I have the former, but I do not remember agreeing to the latter, especially with absent means of payment.
I sincerely wish you all the best with your rest and rejuvenation. It is a correct decision, as one needs to have a rest after intensive work and making such an amount of wonderful articles in – actually – quite short term. I know how tiring the process may be.
Also, I wholeheartedly support you with publishing your own content, whatever form you may find suitable. After publishing a book I know how difficult it may be.
I admit that currently it is difficult for me to provide monetary support to community creators for obvious international reasons, but when I get the opportunity, I’ll surely do this.
About the other systems that one may practice… As they are beyond numerous, I’d better speak from experience or at least from study:
* Iron Kingdoms created by Privateer Press. It began with 3.5 rules, then went to their own mechanics, then shifted to 5e rules for their 3rd edition. I personally prefer the second set of rules, but it is just my opinion. It is a very interesting setting with unique traits (like half-sentient steampunk magic robots, arcane mechanisms, elves modeled after humans and lots of other traits). I have played and GMed Iron Kingdoms for several years and still love it.
Also, at least a few years back Privateers were very good in working with community, responding to it and taking decisions on their world. I am not sure about now, as I happened to lose track for a few years due to RL obstacles.
* World of Darkness has already been mentioned, so I support it, as someone who has been GMing it for the last several years. Though one should beware the mechanics – White Wolf and their successors traditionally have problems with that, so I personally have to make a hybrid system. And a usual warning of not confusing classical WoD and Chronicles of Darkness – setting is just superficially similar.
(I may elaborate, but it will be beyond the frames of this one comment)
* Exalted from the same creators is one of my favourite settings – a very character-driven, and giving a mechanical reasons to roleplay well. It has 3 editions currently; I like the mechanics of the 3rd in general (though, again, they have to be modified, especially crafting), though I disagree with various lore changes. Again, it is a personal preference, and elaboration is beyond this very list.
(Burn Legend is a sub-setting of Exalted, moving it into the modern world and focusing on supernatural martial arts. Quite a fun to play)
* Legend of the Five Rings is fascinating in its variety and unique approach to many aspects (very few games will ask from the start “You character is a samurai, so how do you imagine your death?”) I can speak mainly on the 4th edition, but I liked it and consider it to be quite a good fantasy rendition of samurai theme.
* Mystic Empyrean is virtually unheard, but still attractive for me. I haven’t seen another system that blends together character’s powers, personality and appearance (for example, a character with pure heart may get the power of purification and grow a unicorn horn).
* Airship Pirates – sadly, I haven’t got to play it, but the setting itself is very interesting. And if the name sounds similar to the steampunk music band – it is not simply similar, they have created it and established themselves as the initial reason for world’s problems.
Honorary mention goes to Savage Worlds, as it is a universal system. However, you may find any setting you like based on this engine – Wild West with sorcery and ghosts, superheroes and supervillains, Flash Gordon-style space adventures and so on. When my co-author and me will have time, we’ll finally make it work for our setting in full.
So, good luck to you, Joab, and good times to your site and projects! Looking forward to your return.
I think we’re all in shock at WotC’s actions those with the last names “Williams” and D&D go way back. Not sure what else to say other than to make light of the whole situation.
Mork Borg is a great game, highly recommend. Free League makes some excellent games and also has a license for 3rd party creators which I am sure you are aware of. I also enjoy Forbidden Lands and just picked up Twilight 2000 recently, which I played as a child long long ago when GDW had the license. They do great work and their book design is amazing. Tales From the Loop, Aliens, I have not met a FL game I don’t like.
It looks like V-Z named quite a few games already but would also add I am a big fan of Cypher System as well as almost anything by Free League if you’re looking for some new games to look through.In fact, Forbidden Lands has free Quickstart rules you could check out if interested.
Interested to see the Paizo and Kobold Press OGLs myself. The CEO of Paizo has a long history in the game space and was part of TSR. They do great work as well.