Comments on: Fourth Edition Available Now! http://www.d20source.com/2008/01/fourth-edition-available-now A blog for all fans of Dungeons & Dragons. Sun, 05 Feb 2012 20:00:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Brian http://www.d20source.com/2008/01/fourth-edition-available-now/comment-page-1#comment-35903 Brian Sat, 02 Feb 2008 08:52:42 +0000 http://d20.jonnydigital.com/2008/01/fourth-edition-available-now#comment-35903 I'm still not convinced shutting out so many 3rd party producers was the brightest idea. 4.0 has an uphill battle ahead of it. Too many players feel burned after the 3.5 release. The marketing has been less than convincing. When 3.0 was released, it was surrounded by a flood of product that was either written specifically for it, or was fairly compatible with it, thanks to the OGL. 4.0 will be trained by a trickle of product, while facing all the stuff being written for OGL products. While a lot of stuff that came out around 3.0 was garbage, it still made an impression when you saw the tables loaded down with new books at the FLGS. It will be very interesting to see how things turn out. I’m still not convinced shutting out so many 3rd party producers was the brightest idea. 4.0 has an uphill battle ahead of it. Too many players feel burned after the 3.5 release. The marketing has been less than convincing. When 3.0 was released, it was surrounded by a flood of product that was either written specifically for it, or was fairly compatible with it, thanks to the OGL. 4.0 will be trained by a trickle of product, while facing all the stuff being written for OGL products. While a lot of stuff that came out around 3.0 was garbage, it still made an impression when you saw the tables loaded down with new books at the FLGS.

It will be very interesting to see how things turn out.

]]> By: Patrick http://www.d20source.com/2008/01/fourth-edition-available-now/comment-page-1#comment-33215 Patrick Wed, 09 Jan 2008 16:56:28 +0000 http://d20.jonnydigital.com/2008/01/fourth-edition-available-now#comment-33215 Correction. You sign an Non-Disclosure Agreement: NDA. I don't know what I thought an "NDO" was. Correction. You sign an Non-Disclosure Agreement: NDA. I don’t know what I thought an “NDO” was.

]]> By: Patrick http://www.d20source.com/2008/01/fourth-edition-available-now/comment-page-1#comment-33214 Patrick Wed, 09 Jan 2008 16:54:50 +0000 http://d20.jonnydigital.com/2008/01/fourth-edition-available-now#comment-33214 Still, at least this allows larger third-party publishers to have material ready for release right after 4E launches. Anyone who can't afford the $5,000 pre-launch license can still get their copy of the OGL and SRD after it launches and won't be any further behind for future OGL releases. It's just this one-time head start for the strongest d20 publishers. I know we'd all love for everyone from Kobold Quarterly to that guy who wrote a cool feat for my elven bladesinger to my very own self to be able to line up for an advance copy of the rules, but they can't just give the stuff away, can they? Also, you may be more adept at reading the legal terms of licensing and all that than I am, but I seem to read WotC's announcement (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/4news/20080108a) a little differently. You say that "Wizards of the Coast are to release the 4th edition SRD under a new Open Gaming License in June 2009, one year from now. If you want to publish 4e material before then, there’s a hefty license fee." From what I read, the 4th Edition SRD goes live when the core books release, in June 2008. The OGL allows publishers to start printing their own books on the first day of 2009, or, if you publish under the pre-license Designer's Kit, you can get the rules immediately, write your books now, and publish on the first of August, 2008. If you sign the NDO, you can even look at the stuff before you decide to buy the license. Think of all the ideas that are shooting around the meeting rooms of third-party publishers at this very moment. Still, at least this allows larger third-party publishers to have material ready for release right after 4E launches. Anyone who can’t afford the $5,000 pre-launch license can still get their copy of the OGL and SRD after it launches and won’t be any further behind for future OGL releases. It’s just this one-time head start for the strongest d20 publishers.

I know we’d all love for everyone from Kobold Quarterly to that guy who wrote a cool feat for my elven bladesinger to my very own self to be able to line up for an advance copy of the rules, but they can’t just give the stuff away, can they?

Also, you may be more adept at reading the legal terms of licensing and all that than I am, but I seem to read WotC’s announcement (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/4news/20080108a) a little differently. You say that “Wizards of the Coast are to release the 4th edition SRD under a new Open Gaming License in June 2009, one year from now. If you want to publish 4e material before then, there’s a hefty license fee.” From what I read, the 4th Edition SRD goes live when the core books release, in June 2008. The OGL allows publishers to start printing their own books on the first day of 2009, or, if you publish under the pre-license Designer’s Kit, you can get the rules immediately, write your books now, and publish on the first of August, 2008. If you sign the NDO, you can even look at the stuff before you decide to buy the license.

Think of all the ideas that are shooting around the meeting rooms of third-party publishers at this very moment.

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