Comments on: My Vision for the New 4E Game System License (GSL) http://www.livingdice.com/1206/my-vision-for-the-new-4e-game-system-license-gsl/ Gaming. It's in the blood... Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:16:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Micah http://www.livingdice.com/1206/my-vision-for-the-new-4e-game-system-license-gsl/comment-page-1/#comment-217 Micah Wed, 14 Jan 2009 14:57:52 +0000 http://www.livingdice.com/?p=1206#comment-217 There's so much energy in third-party and independent game design these days, and it makes absolutely no sense for WotC to try and stifle that. I will miss D&D in the future. Or not. There are plenty of other games to play. There’s so much energy in third-party and independent game design these days, and it makes absolutely no sense for WotC to try and stifle that. I will miss D&D in the future. Or not. There are plenty of other games to play.

]]> By: Zachary http://www.livingdice.com/1206/my-vision-for-the-new-4e-game-system-license-gsl/comment-page-1/#comment-218 Zachary Wed, 14 Jan 2009 14:18:28 +0000 http://www.livingdice.com/?p=1206#comment-218 I can't see why anyone would sign the GSL. Fair Use is good enough. With that "we can change the terms anytime we like, and don't have to tell you" bit, aren't you just giving them carte blanche? WotC hasn't done a lot lately to foster a great deal of confidence in them, either. I can’t see why anyone would sign the GSL. Fair Use is good enough. With that “we can change the terms anytime we like, and don’t have to tell you” bit, aren’t you just giving them carte blanche? WotC hasn’t done a lot lately to foster a great deal of confidence in them, either.

]]> By: greywulf http://www.livingdice.com/1206/my-vision-for-the-new-4e-game-system-license-gsl/comment-page-1/#comment-219 greywulf Wed, 14 Jan 2009 11:04:00 +0000 http://www.livingdice.com/?p=1206#comment-219 I think they should just revert back to the OGL for 4e, release a SRD version and admit they were wrong about the whole thing. Instead of the SRD we have the DDI Compendium which is..... well, put politely, very amateur. I mean - would it hurts sales? Honestly? It's far more likely that increased exposure and third-party support will mean INCREASED sales. Y'know, like what happened with 3e. The OGL and third party support turned D&D from being a marginalized failing brand into the game we now know and love. To turn away from the very mechanism that fed them was the single most stupid mistake they could make. Yet that's exactly what they did. Ouch. I think they should just revert back to the OGL for 4e, release a SRD version and admit they were wrong about the whole thing. Instead of the SRD we have the DDI Compendium which is….. well, put politely, very amateur.

I mean – would it hurts sales? Honestly? It’s far more likely that increased exposure and third-party support will mean INCREASED sales. Y’know, like what happened with 3e. The OGL and third party support turned D&D from being a marginalized failing brand into the game we now know and love. To turn away from the very mechanism that fed them was the single most stupid mistake they could make. Yet that’s exactly what they did.

Ouch.

]]> By: Trask http://www.livingdice.com/1206/my-vision-for-the-new-4e-game-system-license-gsl/comment-page-1/#comment-221 Trask Wed, 14 Jan 2009 04:47:36 +0000 http://www.livingdice.com/?p=1206#comment-221 All very true. Sadly, I think that the "core" content is enough of a selling point to make some publishers sign the GSL. If you just want to use the mechanics with your own powers/pcs/classes, then you can use the Kenzerco method of making you game "compatible" with 4E. Trask, The Last Tyromancer All very true. Sadly, I think that the “core” content is enough of a selling point to make some publishers sign the GSL. If you just want to use the mechanics with your own powers/pcs/classes, then you can use the Kenzerco method of making you game “compatible” with 4E.

Trask, The Last Tyromancer

]]> By: jonathan http://www.livingdice.com/1206/my-vision-for-the-new-4e-game-system-license-gsl/comment-page-1/#comment-220 jonathan Wed, 14 Jan 2009 04:39:30 +0000 http://www.livingdice.com/?p=1206#comment-220 Or... I have an idea. Since <a>game systems can't be copyrighted</a>, only the literary text of the game, why bother even signing the GSL? Publish under <a href="http://www.copyright.gov/fls/fl102.html" rel="nofollow">Fair Use</a>, don't use any of their "literary text", and just respect their trademarked names and you'll be fine. If you are not under license, and publishing under fair use, then legal fees for being sued can only be assessed if you are found to be _intentially_ infringing on the literary text of their game. Of course, that would simply never happen, and in the case of unintentional infridgement they can, under the law, only sue for damages. Just food for thought. =D The GSL is good if you want to put a big Dungeons & Dragons® logo on your product and use their trademarked races, like Dragonborn® and Tielflings®. Otherwise, humans and elves and dwarves are all fair game; even with their rules. Or… I have an idea. Since game systems can’t be copyrighted, only the literary text of the game, why bother even signing the GSL? Publish under Fair Use, don’t use any of their “literary text”, and just respect their trademarked names and you’ll be fine. If you are not under license, and publishing under fair use, then legal fees for being sued can only be assessed if you are found to be _intentially_ infringing on the literary text of their game. Of course, that would simply never happen, and in the case of unintentional infridgement they can, under the law, only sue for damages. Just food for thought. =D

The GSL is good if you want to put a big Dungeons & Dragons® logo on your product and use their trademarked races, like Dragonborn® and Tielflings®. Otherwise, humans and elves and dwarves are all fair game; even with their rules.

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