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<blockquote data-quote="Dungeonosophy" data-source="post: 8941762" data-attributes="member: 6688049"><p><a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/divest-the-d-d-rpg-studio-helpfully-modelling-a-drastic-course-of-action-for-chris-cocks.695581/" target="_blank">My thread on this topic (understandably but regrettably) got shut down</a>, so I'll reformat it in a more preferable way.</p><p style="text-align: center"></p> <p style="text-align: center"><a href="https://postimages.org/" target="_blank"><img src="https://i.postimg.cc/fRYHxW3X/b-w-travis-selfie-reduced-PARTLY-CROPPED-LEFT-AND-TOP.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center"><em><span style="font-size: 26px">Travis Henry, President of D&D. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /></span></em></p> <p style="text-align: center"></p><p>There are three tiers of action I'd take as "President of D&D":</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Tier 1: <strong>Corporate/Structural Actions</strong> (e.g. spinning off the D&D RPG Studio as a separate B-Corp and/or Purpose Trust)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Tier 2: <strong>Mid-Level Actions</strong> (e.g. Open licenses, DMs Guild)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Tier 3: <strong>Design/Product Actions</strong> (e.g. D&D 7e, very-high quality compendium products, with academic-quality research; )</li> </ul><p><span style="font-size: 26px">Tier One Changes: </span><strong><span style="font-size: 26px">Corporate/Structural Actions:</span></strong></p><p></p><p>These would be actions taken by Hasbro C-suite. (e.g. Chris Cocks and the Hasbro Board of Directors...and me, "President of D&D"):</p><p></p><p><em>First off, here is why I would take these drastic actions: Hasbro killed the golden goose. Hasbro dis-enchanted the D&D cultural dream. Hasbro burned to the ground 23 years of goodwill. I honestly feel that associations with Hasbro and WOTC are irredeemably tainted...and that shame-tinged emotional associations among consumers will continue for decades. (For example, just last night, I showed a player a D&D mug a friend had given me right before the OGL-debacle; but after I showed it, I felt a twinge of "shame"--like I was promoting Hasbro flunkey shtfuff.)</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>But if Hasbro/WOTC spun off the D&D RPG Studio as an independent entity, then the D&D culture..the D&D identity…the D&D lifestyle…would have the emotional space to become re-enchanted…to come back to life.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>But, I would have Hasbro keep the rights to make D&D-branded films, computer programs, and D&D lifestyle merch.</em></p><p> </p><p><em>So, I'm proposing differentiating the assets of D&D into two entities:</em></p><p> </p><p><em>1) The <strong>D&D TTRPG Studio</strong>, which would be divested from Hasbro. This entity would own the D&D tabletop pencil & paper RPG. (Including paper RPG books, PDF RPG books, miniatures rules) There are a number of models for how this entity could be divested and embodied.</em></p><p> </p><p><em>2) <strong>D&D Media Properties</strong> (aka <strong>D&D Media Holdings</strong>), which would remain a division of Hasbro. D&D Media Properties would retain the exclusive rights to produce and sub-license D&D-branded films, virtual tabletops, computer games, and lifestyle merchandise. These kind of endeavors are where a large corporation can shine—a big corporation does have the resources to make this kind of cool stuff.</em></p><p> </p><p><em>As for how the D&D TTRPG Studio could be divested. As "President of D&D", I'd ask for your feedback, and I would also be talking closely with the larger creators and stakeholders in the TTRPG community. These are the models I'd consider:</em></p><p> </p><p> <em>1) The B-Corp model: Divesting and incorporating the D&D RPG Studio as a B-Corp, headed by the existing creative team. Here are some draft ideas of what I'd be aiming for: Though distinct corporations, there would be a perpetual, irrevocable, and mutual right of the two "D&D companies" (the RPG Studio and Hasbro's D&D Media Holdings) to use each others' creations within their own field of work. For example, the D&D TTRPG Studio would be forever free to use our Hasbro D&D films and television shows to produce RPG content off of that IP (e.g. an RPG sourcebook that ties into each movie). And likewise, Hasbro would remain forever free to make D&D films, VTTs, computer games, and lifestyle merch using all D&D Studio IP (e.g. to make a movie based on any adventure or worldbook). No further permissions would be required. They wouldn't even have to coordinate with each other, though it would be mutually-profittable and sensible if they did (e.g. the Media Holdings share film images with the RPG Studio for use in their film-sourcebook).</em></p><p> </p><p> <em>The mutual supportiveness of this relationship would be ensured by a perpetual and irrevocable royalty scheme, whereby both entities give, say, 10% of their revenues to the other. The royalty amount (income-sharing) would of an equal percentage both ways.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>This would be an unusual but doable legal regime--kind of like how the makers of the Star Fleet Battles game have an irrevocable right to make games based off of certain elements from the original Star Trek series. But, in the case of the two D&D companies, the regime would be comprehensive and mutual.</em></p><p> </p><p><em>Most of the product categories are pretty clear:</em></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><em>Hasbro's "D&D Media Holdings" would retain the "big hardware" items: films, television shows, computer programs (video games and VTTs), and manufactured commodities (plush toys, action figures, etc.)</em></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><em>The newly independent "D&D RPG Studio" would retain the actual RPG. Designing and publishing the pencil & paper game: its paper books, PDF books, skirmish/mass combat/miniatures rules, and game aids.</em></li> </ul><p><em>But some categories don't fit clearly into either: novels and short fiction, Endless Quest gamebooks, audio books, video shorts, in-house actual play videos, miniatures production (and sublicensing, e.g. to WizKids), boardgames, and cardgames. And what about online character builders for the paper & pencil RPG?</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Either the categories would be fully divvied out in complete clarity, or, in some cases, perhaps both entities would retain a right to produce (and sub-license) in the same category, so there could even be friendly "competition" between the two entities in this regard. In the same way that there have been Star Fleet Universe ship-combat games and Star Trek Universe ship-combat games in production at the same time.</em></p><p> </p><p> <em>Those questions and provisions would also apply to options #2, #3, or #4 below.</em></p><p> </p><p> <em>2) The Patagonia model. A B-Corp, but with the ownership divvied into two entities: 1) a D&D Purpose Trust, and 2) a D&D Charity Collective. However, who would make up and manage these two entities is as yet unclear, since unlike WOTC's D&D Game Studio, Patagonia was, and still is, stewarded by a single family.</em></p><p> </p><p> <em>3) The Non-Profit model. Transferring the D&D Game Studio (and ownership of the RPG itself) to a Non-Profit Organization.</em></p><p> </p><p> <em>4) Selling the D&D RPG Studio to an existing TTRPG company with a better track record of devotion to the pencil & paper tabletop RPG culture, such as Paizo or Kobold Press.</em></p><p> </p><p> <em>5) If I failed to enact one of those options, then I would close Hasbro's D&D RPG Studio, and instead gift the D&D TTRPG brand to all 3PPs and the wider community—but in regard to RPG production only. This option would involve releasing not only the SRD, but also the D&D brand itself into some sort of commons license. In that case, I would seek out an existing license which enables Hasbro to let go of all rights within a certain medium only: namely, TTRPG production (paper, PDF, and other closely associated mediums). I would then also revise Hasbro's D&D Trademark so that it does not apply to RPG products. In this option, there would be no single "successor" corporation which holds the D&D TTRPG; rather, any and all companies (such as Paizo and Kobold Press, and you yourself) would be free to brand themselves as "Dungeons & Dragons." The crème would rise to the top. Hasbro would continue to benefit from this creative ferment, by creating films, computer programs, and lifestyle merch with the D&D brand, for which we would retain exclusive ownership in those fields of production. This option would possibly involve either mothballing One D&D, or selling off the One D&D progress so far to another company. We would also wish to facilitate the transition of the design team to other workplaces.</em></p><p> </p><p> <em>Which of these five options do you prefer and why? Do you have an even better idea?</em></p><p> </p><p><em>As "President of D&D", with regard to Hasbro (an entity which have no great love for), I'm seeking a future where:</em></p><p> </p><p> <em>1) The shame which Hasbro marked on the D&D brand is healed.</em></p><p> </p><p> <em>2) You go see Hasbro's D&D movies and television shows, and buy some of our cool D&D merch.</em></p><p> </p><p> <em>3) You let us Hasbro off of your lifetime boycott.</em></p><p> </p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 26px">Tier Two Changes: <strong>Mid-Level Actions</strong></span><strong><span style="font-size: 26px"><strong>:</strong></span></strong></p><p></p><p><em>It would take at least six months to divest the D&D RPG Studio. In the meantime, as President of D&D, I would not sit around like a lame duck. I would show you how the creatives on the D&D Studio team, in cooperation with the higher-ups at WOTC, would step up and offer healing actions toward the shared D&D / Tabletop RPG cultural ecosystem. These actions will go into effect over the course of the next six months:</em></p><ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><em>I'd add the <strong>"irrevocable" wording to the OGL1.0</strong>, to make OGL1.0b.</em></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><em>I'd also release the <strong>5.1 SRD under the ORC license</strong>. Even though I haven't even seen the ORC draft yet, I'd be committed to "re-joining the party" in this way. We trust in our colleagues at Paizo, and in the ORC Alliance, to craft a wonderful, robust, inspiring license.</em></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><em>I would release the <strong>3.0 SRD, 3.5 SRD, d20 Modern SRD, and the 4E SRD and Revised 4E SRD (limited though they are) into all three open licenses</strong>: OGL1.0b, Creative Commons, and the ORC license.</em></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><em><strong>All editions of D&D will be allowed on DMs Guild. </strong>I'd have some clear tags; for example, all titles would start with a bracketed tag as to what edition they're for: [OD&D], [Holmes BASIC], [1e], [Moldvay/Cook B/X], [1.5e UA], [BECMI], [2e], [Classic RC/WotI] (“Classic D&D” Black/Tan Box/Rules Cyclopedia/Wrath of the Immortals), [2.5e Options], [3.0e], [3.5e], [4e], [4.5e Essentials/Rules Compendium], [5e], [5.2e]. I mean, if WOTC had done this years ago, they could have directly profitted from the Old School Renaissance. They still can.</em></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><em>I'd<strong> ditch the name "One D&D."</strong> It's now ruined with associations with the "One Ring" of Sauron. I'd lower expectations, and call it "D&D 5.2e." Nothing says "backwards compatibility" more than a drab name like "5.2."</em></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><em>In indirect support of the all-editions DMs Guild ecosystem, I'd slap together an <strong>SRD for each of the older editions</strong>, and release those via OGL1.0b, CC, and ORC. We're committed to getting that done within six months.</em></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><em><strong>All worlds of D&D will be opened to DMs Guild.</strong> (For example, Greyhawk, Nerath, Mystara, Dark Sun, and Birthright.) We are not waiting for the release of some future worldbooks. We'll ask you to help us identify obscure worlds and mini-settings which can also be explicitly included, such as Council of Wyrms, Ghostwalk, Thunder Rift, and Jakandor.</em></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><em>All of the <strong>Classics PDFs will be changed to pay-what-you-will</strong>. And we will grant special, irrevocable permission for <strong>Internet Archive to host them</strong> as well.</em></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><em>I would initiate a <strong>partnership program for restatting the D&D Classic PDFs in other game systems.</strong> As a way of lucratively raising all ships, including WOTC's. Though I would "give away" the Classic PDFs as they were originally statted, I would provide newly profitable versions of them in this way: through a cooperative effort with many TTRPG companies (large, medium, and small), I would gradually have the D&D Classics re-scanned, reformatted, and recreated using modern publishing software. These refurbished versions would then be made available to other publishers for converting to other TTRPG systems, with their own statblocks, and other essential mechanical re-workings (e.g. rebalancing of encounters according to each RPG system, etc.). Their versions of the PDFs would retain the storyline, lore, artwork, and font, but the pagination might change due different sizes of stat-boxes and other re-workings. The conversion work would be done by those companies, and they would receive a generous portion of the proceeds. WOTC would also benefit from royalties, and by furthering interest in the D&D brand / lifestyle / mass media. A group who plays Savage Worlds in the World of Greyhawk (using converted SW WOG Classic PDFs) are more likely to be interested in D&D films, television shows, and lifestyle merch. It's a win-win-win situation.</em></li> </ol><p>Here are just a few of many examples of publishers I'd invite to participate in the D&D Classics Conversion Project (in no particular order):</p><ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><em>Paizo: D&D Classics for Pathfinder 2E.</em></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><em>Goodman Games: D&D Classics for Dungeon Crawl Classics.</em></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><em>Kobold Press: D&D Classics for Black Flag <Core Fantasy>.</em></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><em>Monte Cook Games: D&D Classics for Cypher System.</em></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><em>Green Ronin: D&D Classics for AGE.</em></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><em>Pinnacle Entertainment Group: D&D Classics for Savage Worlds.</em></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><em>Cubicle 7: D&D Classics for C7d20.</em></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><em>Necrotic Gnome: D&D Classics for Old School Essentials.</em></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><em>Level9: D&D Classics for MAZES.</em></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><em>Gold Piece Publications: D&D Classics for The Black Hack.</em></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><em>Runehammer Games: D&D Classics for The Index Card RPG.</em></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><em>Goblinoid Games: D&D Classics for Labyrinth Lord.</em></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><em>Chris Gonnerman: D&D Classics for Basic Fantasy.</em></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><em>Finch & Marshal: D&D Classics for OSRIC.</em></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><em>Troll Lord Games: D&D Classics for Castles & Crusades.</em></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><em>Steve Jackson Games: D&D Classics for GURPS.</em></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><em>Hero Games: D&D Classics for Hero System.</em></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><em>Chaosium: D&D Classics for Basic Roleplaying.</em></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><em>Mongoose Publishing: D&D Classics for Legend.</em></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><em>Modiphius: D&D Classics for 2d20.</em></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><em>Fandom: D&D Classics for Cortex.</em></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><em>Free League: D&D Classics for Year Zero Engine.</em></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><em>Flying Buffalo: D&D Classics for Tunnels & Trolls.</em></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><em>ENWorld Publishing: D&D Classics for Level Up, for WOIN, and for Simply6!</em> (Note: A company that supports multiple game systems would be free to do various versions of the PDFs. As long as they put in the effort, they're free to do that!)</li> </ol><p>There could also be niche publishers who focus only on certain settings within the D&D Multiverse, for example:</p><ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Chaosium converting the <em>Cormyr</em> (2e) PDF for the Pendragon system, as the Forgotten Realm's equivalent of Arthurian Britain.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Legend of the Five Rings conversion of classic Kara-Tur PDFs.</li> </ol><p>It's all D&D. There's no better way to show real love for the TTRPG ecosystem as a whole, than to open the D&D Multiverse setting as mutual revenue stream for companies of all sizes to dip into, as they will.</p><p></p><p>(For part 3 of my post, see below.)</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Dungeonosophy, post: 8941762, member: 6688049"] [URL='https://www.enworld.org/threads/divest-the-d-d-rpg-studio-helpfully-modelling-a-drastic-course-of-action-for-chris-cocks.695581/']My thread on this topic (understandably but regrettably) got shut down[/URL], so I'll reformat it in a more preferable way. [CENTER] [URL='https://postimages.org/'][IMG]https://i.postimg.cc/fRYHxW3X/b-w-travis-selfie-reduced-PARTLY-CROPPED-LEFT-AND-TOP.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [I][SIZE=7]Travis Henry, President of D&D. :)[/SIZE][/I] [/CENTER] There are three tiers of action I'd take as "President of D&D": [LIST] [*]Tier 1: [B]Corporate/Structural Actions[/B] (e.g. spinning off the D&D RPG Studio as a separate B-Corp and/or Purpose Trust) [*]Tier 2: [B]Mid-Level Actions[/B] (e.g. Open licenses, DMs Guild) [*]Tier 3: [B]Design/Product Actions[/B] (e.g. D&D 7e, very-high quality compendium products, with academic-quality research; ) [/LIST] [SIZE=7]Tier One Changes: [/SIZE][B][SIZE=7]Corporate/Structural Actions:[/SIZE][/B] These would be actions taken by Hasbro C-suite. (e.g. Chris Cocks and the Hasbro Board of Directors...and me, "President of D&D"): [I]First off, here is why I would take these drastic actions: Hasbro killed the golden goose. Hasbro dis-enchanted the D&D cultural dream. Hasbro burned to the ground 23 years of goodwill. I honestly feel that associations with Hasbro and WOTC are irredeemably tainted...and that shame-tinged emotional associations among consumers will continue for decades. (For example, just last night, I showed a player a D&D mug a friend had given me right before the OGL-debacle; but after I showed it, I felt a twinge of "shame"--like I was promoting Hasbro flunkey shtfuff.) But if Hasbro/WOTC spun off the D&D RPG Studio as an independent entity, then the D&D culture..the D&D identity…the D&D lifestyle…would have the emotional space to become re-enchanted…to come back to life. But, I would have Hasbro keep the rights to make D&D-branded films, computer programs, and D&D lifestyle merch.[/I] [I]So, I'm proposing differentiating the assets of D&D into two entities:[/I] [I]1) The [B]D&D TTRPG Studio[/B], which would be divested from Hasbro. This entity would own the D&D tabletop pencil & paper RPG. (Including paper RPG books, PDF RPG books, miniatures rules) There are a number of models for how this entity could be divested and embodied.[/I] [I]2) [B]D&D Media Properties[/B] (aka [B]D&D Media Holdings[/B]), which would remain a division of Hasbro. D&D Media Properties would retain the exclusive rights to produce and sub-license D&D-branded films, virtual tabletops, computer games, and lifestyle merchandise. These kind of endeavors are where a large corporation can shine—a big corporation does have the resources to make this kind of cool stuff.[/I] [I]As for how the D&D TTRPG Studio could be divested. As "President of D&D", I'd ask for your feedback, and I would also be talking closely with the larger creators and stakeholders in the TTRPG community. These are the models I'd consider:[/I] [I]1) The B-Corp model: Divesting and incorporating the D&D RPG Studio as a B-Corp, headed by the existing creative team. Here are some draft ideas of what I'd be aiming for: Though distinct corporations, there would be a perpetual, irrevocable, and mutual right of the two "D&D companies" (the RPG Studio and Hasbro's D&D Media Holdings) to use each others' creations within their own field of work. For example, the D&D TTRPG Studio would be forever free to use our Hasbro D&D films and television shows to produce RPG content off of that IP (e.g. an RPG sourcebook that ties into each movie). And likewise, Hasbro would remain forever free to make D&D films, VTTs, computer games, and lifestyle merch using all D&D Studio IP (e.g. to make a movie based on any adventure or worldbook). No further permissions would be required. They wouldn't even have to coordinate with each other, though it would be mutually-profittable and sensible if they did (e.g. the Media Holdings share film images with the RPG Studio for use in their film-sourcebook).[/I] [I]The mutual supportiveness of this relationship would be ensured by a perpetual and irrevocable royalty scheme, whereby both entities give, say, 10% of their revenues to the other. The royalty amount (income-sharing) would of an equal percentage both ways. This would be an unusual but doable legal regime--kind of like how the makers of the Star Fleet Battles game have an irrevocable right to make games based off of certain elements from the original Star Trek series. But, in the case of the two D&D companies, the regime would be comprehensive and mutual.[/I] [I]Most of the product categories are pretty clear:[/I] [LIST] [*][I]Hasbro's "D&D Media Holdings" would retain the "big hardware" items: films, television shows, computer programs (video games and VTTs), and manufactured commodities (plush toys, action figures, etc.)[/I] [*][I]The newly independent "D&D RPG Studio" would retain the actual RPG. Designing and publishing the pencil & paper game: its paper books, PDF books, skirmish/mass combat/miniatures rules, and game aids.[/I] [/LIST] [I]But some categories don't fit clearly into either: novels and short fiction, Endless Quest gamebooks, audio books, video shorts, in-house actual play videos, miniatures production (and sublicensing, e.g. to WizKids), boardgames, and cardgames. And what about online character builders for the paper & pencil RPG? Either the categories would be fully divvied out in complete clarity, or, in some cases, perhaps both entities would retain a right to produce (and sub-license) in the same category, so there could even be friendly "competition" between the two entities in this regard. In the same way that there have been Star Fleet Universe ship-combat games and Star Trek Universe ship-combat games in production at the same time.[/I] [I]Those questions and provisions would also apply to options #2, #3, or #4 below.[/I] [I]2) The Patagonia model. A B-Corp, but with the ownership divvied into two entities: 1) a D&D Purpose Trust, and 2) a D&D Charity Collective. However, who would make up and manage these two entities is as yet unclear, since unlike WOTC's D&D Game Studio, Patagonia was, and still is, stewarded by a single family.[/I] [I]3) The Non-Profit model. Transferring the D&D Game Studio (and ownership of the RPG itself) to a Non-Profit Organization.[/I] [I]4) Selling the D&D RPG Studio to an existing TTRPG company with a better track record of devotion to the pencil & paper tabletop RPG culture, such as Paizo or Kobold Press.[/I] [I]5) If I failed to enact one of those options, then I would close Hasbro's D&D RPG Studio, and instead gift the D&D TTRPG brand to all 3PPs and the wider community—but in regard to RPG production only. This option would involve releasing not only the SRD, but also the D&D brand itself into some sort of commons license. In that case, I would seek out an existing license which enables Hasbro to let go of all rights within a certain medium only: namely, TTRPG production (paper, PDF, and other closely associated mediums). I would then also revise Hasbro's D&D Trademark so that it does not apply to RPG products. In this option, there would be no single "successor" corporation which holds the D&D TTRPG; rather, any and all companies (such as Paizo and Kobold Press, and you yourself) would be free to brand themselves as "Dungeons & Dragons." The crème would rise to the top. Hasbro would continue to benefit from this creative ferment, by creating films, computer programs, and lifestyle merch with the D&D brand, for which we would retain exclusive ownership in those fields of production. This option would possibly involve either mothballing One D&D, or selling off the One D&D progress so far to another company. We would also wish to facilitate the transition of the design team to other workplaces.[/I] [I]Which of these five options do you prefer and why? Do you have an even better idea?[/I] [I]As "President of D&D", with regard to Hasbro (an entity which have no great love for), I'm seeking a future where:[/I] [I]1) The shame which Hasbro marked on the D&D brand is healed.[/I] [I]2) You go see Hasbro's D&D movies and television shows, and buy some of our cool D&D merch.[/I] [I]3) You let us Hasbro off of your lifetime boycott.[/I] [SIZE=7]Tier Two Changes: [B]Mid-Level Actions[/B][/SIZE][B][SIZE=7][B]:[/B][/SIZE][/B] [I]It would take at least six months to divest the D&D RPG Studio. In the meantime, as President of D&D, I would not sit around like a lame duck. I would show you how the creatives on the D&D Studio team, in cooperation with the higher-ups at WOTC, would step up and offer healing actions toward the shared D&D / Tabletop RPG cultural ecosystem. These actions will go into effect over the course of the next six months:[/I] [LIST=1] [*][I]I'd add the [B]"irrevocable" wording to the OGL1.0[/B], to make OGL1.0b.[/I] [*][I]I'd also release the [B]5.1 SRD under the ORC license[/B]. Even though I haven't even seen the ORC draft yet, I'd be committed to "re-joining the party" in this way. We trust in our colleagues at Paizo, and in the ORC Alliance, to craft a wonderful, robust, inspiring license.[/I] [*][I]I would release the [B]3.0 SRD, 3.5 SRD, d20 Modern SRD, and the 4E SRD and Revised 4E SRD (limited though they are) into all three open licenses[/B]: OGL1.0b, Creative Commons, and the ORC license.[/I] [*][I][B]All editions of D&D will be allowed on DMs Guild. [/B]I'd have some clear tags; for example, all titles would start with a bracketed tag as to what edition they're for: [OD&D], [Holmes BASIC], [1e], [Moldvay/Cook B/X], [1.5e UA], [BECMI], [2e], [Classic RC/WotI] (“Classic D&D” Black/Tan Box/Rules Cyclopedia/Wrath of the Immortals), [2.5e Options], [3.0e], [3.5e], [4e], [4.5e Essentials/Rules Compendium], [5e], [5.2e]. I mean, if WOTC had done this years ago, they could have directly profitted from the Old School Renaissance. They still can.[/I] [*][I]I'd[B] ditch the name "One D&D."[/B] It's now ruined with associations with the "One Ring" of Sauron. I'd lower expectations, and call it "D&D 5.2e." Nothing says "backwards compatibility" more than a drab name like "5.2."[/I] [*][I]In indirect support of the all-editions DMs Guild ecosystem, I'd slap together an [B]SRD for each of the older editions[/B], and release those via OGL1.0b, CC, and ORC. We're committed to getting that done within six months.[/I] [*][I][B]All worlds of D&D will be opened to DMs Guild.[/B] (For example, Greyhawk, Nerath, Mystara, Dark Sun, and Birthright.) We are not waiting for the release of some future worldbooks. We'll ask you to help us identify obscure worlds and mini-settings which can also be explicitly included, such as Council of Wyrms, Ghostwalk, Thunder Rift, and Jakandor.[/I] [*][I]All of the [B]Classics PDFs will be changed to pay-what-you-will[/B]. And we will grant special, irrevocable permission for [B]Internet Archive to host them[/B] as well.[/I] [*][I]I would initiate a [B]partnership program for restatting the D&D Classic PDFs in other game systems.[/B] As a way of lucratively raising all ships, including WOTC's. Though I would "give away" the Classic PDFs as they were originally statted, I would provide newly profitable versions of them in this way: through a cooperative effort with many TTRPG companies (large, medium, and small), I would gradually have the D&D Classics re-scanned, reformatted, and recreated using modern publishing software. These refurbished versions would then be made available to other publishers for converting to other TTRPG systems, with their own statblocks, and other essential mechanical re-workings (e.g. rebalancing of encounters according to each RPG system, etc.). Their versions of the PDFs would retain the storyline, lore, artwork, and font, but the pagination might change due different sizes of stat-boxes and other re-workings. The conversion work would be done by those companies, and they would receive a generous portion of the proceeds. WOTC would also benefit from royalties, and by furthering interest in the D&D brand / lifestyle / mass media. A group who plays Savage Worlds in the World of Greyhawk (using converted SW WOG Classic PDFs) are more likely to be interested in D&D films, television shows, and lifestyle merch. It's a win-win-win situation.[/I] [/LIST] Here are just a few of many examples of publishers I'd invite to participate in the D&D Classics Conversion Project (in no particular order): [LIST=1] [*][I]Paizo: D&D Classics for Pathfinder 2E.[/I] [*][I]Goodman Games: D&D Classics for Dungeon Crawl Classics.[/I] [*][I]Kobold Press: D&D Classics for Black Flag <Core Fantasy>.[/I] [*][I]Monte Cook Games: D&D Classics for Cypher System.[/I] [*][I]Green Ronin: D&D Classics for AGE.[/I] [*][I]Pinnacle Entertainment Group: D&D Classics for Savage Worlds.[/I] [*][I]Cubicle 7: D&D Classics for C7d20.[/I] [*][I]Necrotic Gnome: D&D Classics for Old School Essentials.[/I] [*][I]Level9: D&D Classics for MAZES.[/I] [*][I]Gold Piece Publications: D&D Classics for The Black Hack.[/I] [*][I]Runehammer Games: D&D Classics for The Index Card RPG.[/I] [*][I]Goblinoid Games: D&D Classics for Labyrinth Lord.[/I] [*][I]Chris Gonnerman: D&D Classics for Basic Fantasy.[/I] [*][I]Finch & Marshal: D&D Classics for OSRIC.[/I] [*][I]Troll Lord Games: D&D Classics for Castles & Crusades.[/I] [*][I]Steve Jackson Games: D&D Classics for GURPS.[/I] [*][I]Hero Games: D&D Classics for Hero System.[/I] [*][I]Chaosium: D&D Classics for Basic Roleplaying.[/I] [*][I]Mongoose Publishing: D&D Classics for Legend.[/I] [*][I]Modiphius: D&D Classics for 2d20.[/I] [*][I]Fandom: D&D Classics for Cortex.[/I] [*][I]Free League: D&D Classics for Year Zero Engine.[/I] [*][I]Flying Buffalo: D&D Classics for Tunnels & Trolls.[/I] [*][I]ENWorld Publishing: D&D Classics for Level Up, for WOIN, and for Simply6![/I] (Note: A company that supports multiple game systems would be free to do various versions of the PDFs. As long as they put in the effort, they're free to do that!) [/LIST] There could also be niche publishers who focus only on certain settings within the D&D Multiverse, for example: [LIST=1] [*]Chaosium converting the [I]Cormyr[/I] (2e) PDF for the Pendragon system, as the Forgotten Realm's equivalent of Arthurian Britain. [*]Legend of the Five Rings conversion of classic Kara-Tur PDFs. [/LIST] It's all D&D. There's no better way to show real love for the TTRPG ecosystem as a whole, than to open the D&D Multiverse setting as mutual revenue stream for companies of all sizes to dip into, as they will. (For part 3 of my post, see below.) [/QUOTE]
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