>From: Otto Hammersmith <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>I realize that. I was wondering if they planned to spin off the OGF
>into a separate non-profit corporation. That way the OGF's goals aren't
>dictated by WotC shareholders. I can't imagine any sane company basing
>any product on D20 if the OGF is simply a pawn of WotC.
A fair question. The reality is that non-profit corporations are *never*
publicly held ... and who would they spin it off to - somebody *HAS* to own
it? RPGA (a division of WotC?) Maybe FASA would like to have it... Hey,
I'll take it if they are offering...
Non-proft corporations (aside from the name) are not like real corporations.
They are usually set up to avoid liability for a venture that (in and of
itself) will not generate a profit. Basically what it means is that WotC
can do whatever they want to with the OGF, but *they* can't be sued for the
results. This is why I will bet anyone that the OGL will be draft right up
until the day that the non-profit status of the OGF is official.
>I can't imagine any sane company basing
>any product on D20 if the OGF is simply a pawn of WotC.
There really is not that much risk, because the OGL (because of its wording)
presents a non-revokable contract. Once granted, it can't be taken back, or
modified.
Now what you should understand is that the STL document (just because it is
on the OGF website) does not have anything to do with the OGF and will never
be an OGF document. The STL is Wizards' offering to the gaming community.
This is what Wizards says they are bringing into the Open Gaming realm and
offering the gaming community for free.
So far, it is damn sparse, because all it really is without the D20 SRD
(which isn't out yet) is sort of a way to LIMIT rights granted under OGL -
ie were "open" but NOT if you want to use our trademark.
Why develop in it? Well, once issued, Wizards can change it all they want,
but they can't really "take the original back" from people who have already
started using an earlier version. Having the D20 logo on there means that
many people will know they are already familiar with the rules and will be
much more likely to browse it at the game store or search for it on Amazon.
Presented right, the D20 will also give potential buyers a reasonable notion
that they can easily adapt it to their D&D campaign. Buyers will know they
do not have to learn "joes gaming system" to play a D20 product.
The D20 on the cover increases your market, with relatively little risk.
Faust
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