[Open_Gaming] I'm Confused...

[Marc Tassin, Ilium Software]

Am I not understanding most of the comments posted in this group or does everyone seem more annoyed than happy with the OGL?  As I see it, a year ago today I would have had to design a game system from scratch to go with the world I will be marketing.  With the OGL, I can create that world and attach it to what IMO is an excellent system with fantastic name recognition. 

Again I ask, how is this a bad thing?

I think it is unfortunate that so much of my time here is spent reading angry complaints about how horrible WOTC and the OGL are rather than discussions regarding the values of OGL and how it can benefit us.  If you are uncomfortable with the legal aspects of the OGL please have a lawyer review it for you.  It isn't that expensive.  I have, and I am quite comfortable with what it does and doesn't allow.

And if you are really that unhappy with the OGL hire a lawyer to write one that better fits your needs and present it to us.  I don't mean this in a rude way.  I am fully serious and would welcome other OG alternatives.  Offer constructive means of imporvement based on actual legal council.  You may be unhappy that the OGL was designed for/by WOTC but who paid the lawyers?  Who met with them?  Who spent their time getting WOTC to accept the idea? 

The OGL is not and can never be a friendly 'let's share' thing.  There are too many legal ramifications of any errors that might occur.  As a result it must be in legalese, it must have certain restrictions and it can never be a casual document.  Anyone who has ever been to court should understand this.

Discuss the values of open gaming.  Discuss the dangers.  Discuss license creation and imporvement based on research and actual legal advice.  Discuss ways we can benefit from the creation of OG.  If you are concerned about the way the OGF is being run (or by whom) then go to the 'Help Wanted' page on the site and join the crew and then you can be part of thr OGF and be sure you like how it is being run.  There are so many ways the OGF and OGL can be a benefit to us all and a positive thing it is unfortunate that so much time is being used for the opposite.