Last week, a report from io9 claimed that Dungeons & Dragons was updating its Open Gaming License to clamp down on unofficial RPGs, revamping the 2000 OGL that let professionals and hobbyists make their own D&D games. Since then, over 26,000 people have signed an open letter against this new license.
OpenDND is a letter penned by industry figures and developers, described as "a rallying cry under which creators and fans have unified to demand that [Wizards of the Coast] revoke the draconian 1.1 OGL and pledge to support the existing 1.0 OGL into future editions of their games" (thanks, GamesRadar).
Not only does this letter invite others to sign, as 26,000 have done in the past two days, but it urges people to use the hashtag #OpenDND on social media to raise awareness, while also asking that creators "#DontSign the new agreement".
The updated OGL will mean that D&D-related games from third-party companies, such as the popular Kobold Press and Green Ronin, will need to overhaul their business model. They will also owe a 25 percent tax, and have to sign a new contract that will make it "mandatory to report their projects and revenues to [WotC]".
Paizo's Pathfinder 1E and 2E, a D&D rival, will need to stop sales unless they pay the afformentioned tax, which in particular has drawn backlash online.
There's a long history between Pathfinder and D&D, as Paizo began by publishing D&D magazines before WotC decided not to renew the contract. In that same year, 2007, WotC announced D&D's fourth edition which would came with the notoriously restrictive Game System License. In response, Pathfinder launched, a standalone RPG built off OGL.
OpenDND calls this the "End of an Open Era", going as far as to say that it's"an attempt to dismantle the entire RPG industry." D&D has yet to respond, but has acknowledged the criticism and questions, stating that it "will be sharing more soon."
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