According to Ryan Dancy's discussion on d20 and the OGL at Gen-Con, you are
only restricted from including character creation rules if you plan on using
the d20 Logo on you product as detailed in the D20 System Trademark License.
Following this logic anyone can create a product or derivative game using
the content of the D20SRD and including their own character creation rules
so long as they adhere to the OGL and do not use the d20 logo. Furthermore,
any product deriving Open Content from this product can use the d20 logo
even though it is not based on the character generation rules in the
Player's Handbook.
Taken further, someone could create their own version of the Player's
Handbook for use with any d20 game, provided they do not infringe on WotC's
D&D copyrights. They could sell that in competition to the Player's
Handbook or give it away so WotC is getting no money from it, proving that
WotC does not necessarily get a sale from the OGL. Of course any such
product would not have anywhere near the quality of the Player's Handbook.
Not many publishers have the resources to print a hardback volume of this
size with full color on glossy paper with nice artwork for $19.95. WotC is
banking on this fact by making their game Open Source.
It's a bold and scary move on their part and I give them props for taking
it. I am not so naive as to believe that there is any altruism on their
part in making this decision. They are a business and as such are out to
make money. What they are doing that is different from many other gaming
companies is to apply sound business practices to their company rather than
following poor policies which have led many a company to financial ruin. I
have seen a lot of prejudices and petty jealousy from other companies and
gamers alike towards WotC. WotC catches the flack for their success form
both sides and has gained a unfounded reputation for being an evil empire
bent on dominating the gaming industry. Sure, they want to dominate the
industry, any company that doesn't isn't going to make any money, but that's
a fact of life in a business setting. I had the chance to listen to, talk
with and observe several members of the WotC staff and it has become
painfully obvious to me they are all avid gamers with a great love for the
games they product. WotC has gone to great lengths in an attempt to heal
the wounds caused to the gaming community by TSR's campaign of online terror
against their customers. This is the greatest strength I have seen from
WotC, they understand that customer service is the key to survival. After
seeing what they are giving back to the gaming community with the OGL, I
can't help but be pro-WotC.
Sorry, didn't mean to go off on a rant there but I thought it needed saying.
Christopher DeLisle
www.idrankwhat.org
www.coincidental.net
-----Original Message-----
From: Will Hindmarch <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Friday, August 18, 2000 2:37 PM
Subject: Re: [Open_Gaming] Thoughts on OGL
> Regarding the open market, I meant to say:
> Under the simplified OGL I could produce a new sci-fi roleplaying game
using
>the D20 rules and the innovations made through OGC. My book, however, could
not
>contain character creation or experience tables (for example). So, in order
to
>play my new game, WotC and I would both have to make a sale. Puts a bit of
>pressure on me to write a game worth buying two books for, but that's fine:
the
>best products will be the ones to survive and flourish.
> Am I reading the OGL correctly?
>
>word,
>Will
-------------
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