OGL 1.1 and One D&D VTT 🔑 Foretold by Matt Colville and James Haeck 🔮 Flutes Loot's future

The D&D OGL controversy unleashed mayhem in the TTRPG community, but is the One D&D Virtual Tabletop (VTT) the real enemy? This video takes commentary from respected TTRPG third-party publishers and commentators to piece together why this is happening and what can be done about it. #opendnd
‪@GhostfirePodcasts‬ full interview: • #45. 'Wizards Presents...
‪@DungeonMasterpiece‬ VTT video: • ONE D&D's New VTT is B...
‪@legalkim‬ revolutions video: • How and Why Revolution...
⏰Time Stamps:
00:00​ See my hat? No? Because I threw it in the ring.
00:39 Matt Colville's first prophecy
02:29 WotC's VTT is the future
02:57 Two wolves in every company...
04:35 James Haeck predicts no old OGL
05:29 Actual goal of OGL 1.0a
06:27 PDFs and shipping have emptied shelves
07:38 Dungeon Masterpiece explains VTT impact
10:06 Flutes Loot plans
12:20 Can Hasbro be beaten?
13:06 How to win the OGL fight
13:35 Hasbro's win condition
13:57 Bidoof
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[@FlutesLoot]

I encourage those of you with a D&D Beyond subscription to cancel it. You'll still have the perks for months after cancellation. Don't delete your account, but stop giving them money. This request is based on a leaked message from a WotC employee about what the executives are looking at: twitter.com/DnD_Shorts/status/1613576298114449409?s=20&t=GF3BsHtkjv2Ucr_I-7UsTQ I rolled a nat-1 when I put my captions over dialogue you're trying to listen to, especially if you have cc turned on. My bad! I'll improve in the future.😅 Links to videos I referenced and used in my video:​ @GhostfirePodcasts full interview: kzbin.info/www/bejne/amKYpmSopJplas0 ​@DungeonMasterpiece VTT video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aqjPhHatpcR9jKM @legalkim revolutions video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bWfIgJePictsqZI

[@monkeyg0d]

Cancel Hasbro Pulse subscriptions too.

[@chronosschiron]

i said that wotc wold do this when they started the ogl 20+ years ago

[@thecrossroadstavern1447]

Also: play paper and pen! The math and the analog of the gameplay is really, *really* rewarding

[@miahsbrokengarage]

Don't just cancel it, open a support ticket and request your account to be deleted.

[@thefitgm335]

I've been master tier since beyond launched. Cancelled, with my sub expiring yesterday. I don't care about the perks. I won't resub until at least a year from now, depending on how they handle this.

[@harryravenkiller8580]

Goes to show that Matt Colville truly has his hand on the pulse of the industry.

[@AnathemaMysticalcel]

Probably why he is doing so well.

[@PalleRasmussen]

He is also well-read and seems above-average intelligent.

[@jtyranus]

He worked for videogame companies previously didn't he? So he probably understands corporate environment for game development better than most people.

[@crowhaveninc.2103]

@@jtyranus Yes he did. He's also just generally very down-to-earth. He has a video about power or politics or something like that, where he explains the board-game "diplomacy". He uses that as an example of how and why powerful people make such illogical and insane decisions.

[@PalleRasmussen]

@@jtyranus several actually.

[@karrachr000]

Matt Colville is one of the wisest people in the industry. Also, I wholeheartedly agree with you, that since the start of 5e, third-party publishers have all stepped up their game, and in many cases, have long since overshadowed anything that WotC is officially creating.

[@Rubo2333]

3rd party books are just better than anything WOTC has been putting out.

[@FlutesLoot]

100% - I wish I got into 3PP content sooner.

[@FlutesLoot]

@@Squeekysquid I got it too and I enjoy it

[@russellstephens3580]

@@Squeekysquid I think strongholds and followers real greatness is that it's a great resource even if your characters don't build a base. The summonable monsters are great, I regularly use them as a DM and when my players want to do a summon spell, I'll hand them a monster from strongholds because the book literally tells you how to run them.

[@ericaltmann5711]

As a wise Cylon once said “it has happened before, and it will happen again”

[@darksean99]

History repeats itself, first as tragedy then as farce.

[@thudtheace]

Yep another Williams is in charge of D&D and will kill D&D like the last Williams did.

[@FlutesLoot]

So say we all.

[@andresmicalizzi5420]

So say we all!

[@simonfernandes6809]

That is all. Frack.

[@jeffreybomba]

I am a casual RP gamer and the day after One DnD was announced, I was warning my DM, who was dancing in creating a VTT that WotWC was going to try to squash everyone again.

[@Ryotbh]

Indeed. Given that WotC has been pushing the idea of DM-less adventures, I think this will almost certainly be an option within the 6e/OD&D App. Also, let's not forget the likely paywalls in front of just about every piece of cosmetic content, what about subscription fees for access to the D&D rules? Maybe an adventure unlock sub-fee as well?

[@jeffreybomba]

@@Ryotbh DM-less adventures? So a customizable World of War Craft. 🤮

[@FlutesLoot]

You had a health dose of skepticism! :)

[@ZarHakkar]

Wizards of the West Coast?

[@Powwer69]

Wizards of the Woke Crap

[@willinnewhaven3285]

One OGL to rule them all One OGL to bind them One OGL to find them all And in the darkness bind them

[@andresmicalizzi5420]

In the case of WotC it would be glue them, not bind them... they are too cheap to do binded hardcovers, even though they charge the same or even more than some 3rd party publishers

[@FlutesLoot]

The devs delved too deep in the dark

[@annkatrinengjom6420]

I am sure that what wotc is doing is going to hurt dnd more than they are ready for. My joy for role playing games was sparked by finding youtubers like critical role, matt colville and others. I did not start my love for it because it had the name dnd. It was the passion, the entertainment, the freedom, choises and the shared space of knowlage and aceptance. I might not be a grate dm but these small creators has helped me try. It is a shame that this makes it impossible for them to stay playing the dnd system.

[@FlutesLoot]

Well said, Ann

informative, succinct, well researched and presented in a listenable low key conversational fashion I appreciate. i enjoyed the colville clips... impossible to see all the news everywhere, so thanks for that. i also didn't know that a VTT was meant to power 4e. It explains a lot of their combat rules decisions.

[@FlutesLoot]

Thank you! And the absent VTT feels like the missing piece when I learn about 4e, for sure. I wonder if it would've been more successful with a VTT or if they would've botched that, too.

@@FlutesLoot WOTC doesn't have the best history with tech as I'm sure you know. Even just buying DNDBeyond for all the money... they're not buying the tech, they're buying the subscriber base. That site lacks so many normal QoL features (a "search" that works for one) and has for years so they can finesse their $$$ digital dice. Meanwhile, actual VTTs offer customisable 3D dice for free. So... my money would be on it flopping, arriving late, being feature poor, being to slow to update, not include all the content, not include all the maps required to run (their in-book maps are not all that VTT friendly) and most likely be impossible to "go off script and ad lib" as everything in the VTT must be visible for their to be tokens to fire off actions. At that time I don't think they were set up to run a digital software platform. Maybe now with all their recent hirings... but with all this OGL nonsense, so many of the us are just not interested to be nickel and dimed by predatory microtransactions to purchase colour palettes, avatar clothing, spell effects (for the avatar to match the player's imagination) , not to mention dungeon dressing, add-on DLC, monster varieties, attack sets, music and ambient packs, et al for the DM. I've tried building in Neverwinter Nights and Divinity to test out something for my players... so much work that doesn't actually enhance the session.

[@KirbyMoyers]

Good on ya for bringing together the best viewpoints Flutes. From Coville to Opal, I think this summarizes the situation well.

[@FlutesLoot]

Thank you, Kirby! I was excited to share what I found, so I'm glad others are excited by it.

[@storyrant]

TTRPGs are MAGIC for your imagination. I just ranted about what this could do to damage the formative experience that new players (children especially) coming to the game would have gotten from a Theater of the Mind game. As a storyteller, this is invaluable to me, and it's why SFF writers like me are huge fans of D&D and the more obscure systems that surround it.

[@FlutesLoot]

More work for the DM, too. Providing visuals can be a cumbersome task.

[@storyrant]

@@FlutesLoot Oh, basolutely! I tried using map packs and dynamic lighting a long time ago, but found that all to be a gigantic waste of time. It was a black hole for time loss.

[@FlutesLoot]

@@storyrant if I had a nickel for each time Roll20 dynamic lighting failed me...

[@josephaulisio9281]

Maybe lame fcks who rely on a company to “make” their fantasy world should just stick to monopoly or video games.

[@everettwatson4966]

The best video I have seen about the OGL 1.1. Very informative. Thank you.

[@FlutesLoot]

That means a lot, thank you :)

[@DarkSwan01]

The arguments of Hasbero are flawed as they don't realize how much both in person and on-line play is important while 3rd party content expands interest in the game. I know a group that creates 3rd party content and is popular and with this, it would hit them hard.

[@FlutesLoot]

I concur. Playing 5e a lot made 3PP a breath of fresh air that kept me engaged.

[@DarkSwan01]

@@FlutesLoot Agreed... A breath of Fresh Air indeed. The main 3PC that this group created I really hoped to find a group and a DM to run it so I can play but can't. If this OGL goes through, I think it would be that much harder.

[@Lilitha11]

I was never really into 3rd party stuff, and never use any of it in any groups I play, but then when I get bored I just straight up go to a different system. Getting rid of the third party content just means those who normally continue playing d&d but like third party to freshen things up, will just go to different games entirely. Whether or not the people will go to other systems and stay there or come back, probably depends on just how good their VTT is.

[@eternal7912]

I mean its similar to video games like Skyrim for example. The modding community, though not making money off their content, is responsible for much of the game's continued success. Its the same thing for D&D and 3rd party content. And then there's the whole thing about not wanting people to make videos about d&d without paying WotC. Like what? You don't have to pay video game developers to play their games on twitch or youtube, because that's just absurd, and the developers and publishers likely recognize that its free advertising for their game.

[@DarkSwan01]

@@Lilitha11 Not all 3rd party content rely entirely on VTT. Some I know of can be well played at a table as well as VTT via Roll 20 and the like.

[@MannyBrum]

One of the things that contributed to 5e's success that is probably underestimated is the nostalgia for face to face contact. In a world where everything is done online, and people long for a taste of fun while unplugging, it's a bit tone deaf to take D&D and make it fully online or even prioritize it. There's a huge difference between playing online and playing in person, and playing in person is so much more fun because of the social interactions and mental presence. Online D&D play is not a whole lot different than playing an MMO. People are generally less likely to turn up to an online game as well because they feel there is less commitment because nobody left their house (when the DM probably has more commitment since they have to put everything into some online platform and set it up when they could have just sketched a doodle on a mat and called it a day. On top of that these robust online tools take away the imagination which in turn constricts game play. For instance DMs are less likely to create imaginitive dungeons if the tileset or maps they have to create them with are limited. On top of that players are less likely to use imagination when exploring these areas, thinking what they can see is a 1:1 replica of what they see when in reality it's just the same assets used over and over and asking the DM what's in the room may benefit them. I think they're really killing the golden goose here regardless of whether or not the OGL is changed. The easier they make it to find a group, the lower quality the groups will be and the less fun will be had and the more likely the campaign will end before it's done. Just because streamers and paid actors have fun on a VTT doesn't mean the average person will.

[@omarbenmegdoul8950]

Tyranny of the grid×1000

[@guydunn8259]

Hi, I have played D&D both in person and online, my best friend is someone I met online and have known for almost 10 years. This argument is disingenuous for me. I'm not less imaginative when I play online, and my friends certainly aren't. They all show up on time. They've been great friends for a majority of my life. I have struggled with two social disorders and D&D has helped me learn to be more social. I'm with you the OGL is gonna kill the game, the focus is backwards and I'm aware that online can be somewhat niche. I don't think it's respectful to say that one is better than the other. I don't want that to be monetized, monopolized, or turned into a cow. Both my experiences on and offline have been wonderful and if I'm a fringe case (which I don't believe I am) then perhaps you can consider me. I think this is a false dichotomy perhaps given by personal experience. One does not beat the other anymore than chocolate cake beats vanilla. Both our experiences are valid you don't have to punch the other down because WOTC has lost the plot. Besides all I need is a single picture I found off google of a castle, either in person or online the players don't seem to be less imaginative or having less fun. We all have jobs and errands but still try to show up. I've even finished a year long campaign purely online. The memories we made online are something I cannot replaced, online or IRL. I feel like you're coming from a place of spite, I may be wrong. But knocking down the other won't do any favors for nobody. I hope what I said gives you perspective, and if not I hope you at least be respectful.

[@aqualust5016]

5e's system being primarily a storytelling game paired with media such as Stranger Things only improved the public desire to get off the internet and back to the dining room table or basement table. How did they manage to think we would all forsake the third party content we use and resort to online gaming only? Idiots.

[@omarbenmegdoul8950]

@@guydunn8259 I interpreted this comment - maybe incorrectly - to be implicitly about unreal engine driven DnD which is what wizards is working on. Very cool that online play has helped you connect btw, I think people underestimate to what extent the old promise that the internet would help people find their people has been realized.

[@JacksonOwex]

I absolutely HATE trying to play online! If I want to play something like D&D online I'll find an MMO! TTRPGs CAN work in the VTT space but it's JUST NOT THE SAME as being IN PERSON and sharing excitement, in fact sometimes I wonder if that's not what some dislike about Critical Role! We see them sharing each others excitement but so many people who have come to D&D and other games in the last decade or so may have NEVER played a game in person! VTTs also don't help with the issue I've always had with my groups, finding TIME to actually play! For a while it was actually just people wanting to TAKE the time because we didn't have jobs, significant others, or kids yet, we were still in school, and NO schoolwork wasn't an issue most of the time either, my friends were either immediately on top of it or they didn't do at all!

[@elvenfirefly]

Excellently presented, thank you for compiling all the information so succinctly!

[@FlutesLoot]

I certainly tried! :) thank you for the compliment

[@thetoweroftomes]

Personally I think that TTRPG will win in the end. The problem with VTT is the competition will be both from TTRPG and computer games (which are getting better and better). But that's just a feeling. I hope someone will make an open game license that will take over the TTRPG space that WotC are leaving behind (I'm looking at you Paizo and Koblod Press). If that results in some, even most, playing VTT and the rest playing TTRPG, so be be it. To me nothing beats sitting around the table with friends and going on adventure together! Thanks for the vid! :)

[@GreenBlueWalkthrough]

And oter VTT's and the fact that other VTTS can still let you play OneD&D if their is a physical book/ other means... Like you can just roll the dice like you would IRL that is how I plan to play my universal Wargame/RPG on One D&D to try it atleast as I all I need is a dice rollers and some tokens/map would be nice.

[@bluebird3281]

VTT doesn't compete with video games, they are not really like video games they are electronic "pen and paper". VTT allows me to play in more games in a week then I was able to find in 48 years prior. Now I have only played fantasy grounds but I "roll" dice, refer to my sheet often, I move my token across the map, I role play, it isn't Skyrim. It also makes it easy for people to find folks that can play when they are free and your able to find the "right" group because there are players across the world of all play styles. VTT isn't as bad as some think. You always get to pick the snacks and can play naked.

[@Masterom2000x]

Nothing beats sitting around a table with friends until you don't have friends that play lol. VTT was the natural evolution that TTRPGs needed to follow.

[@FlutesLoot]

I've played online a lot in recent years (never wanted to before), and I can say it has its perks, but nothing beats the in-person experience with friends.

[@thetoweroftomes]

@@bluebird3281 I am not saying VTT is bad. It has it's advantages. I play online roll20 with a few friends that live too far away to meet. But sometimes I'd actually rather just play a Baldurs gate kind of game instead. But that's me and so computer games do compete with VTT in my case. :) But I think VTT is a wonderful tool and awesome for those who enjoy it. I like going through books and highfiving friends and invite them to my house and all the things that come along with that and as long I have that option, I will prefer that to anything else. Personally I am not that big a fan of all the digitalisation going on with TTRPG and know I am old school, but I think many feel the same. In the end whatever works for you is best for you, I just think there should be room for both and it kind sounds like WotC doesn't think so.

[@SlocumJoe7740]

God, I said this 2 weeks ago at my D&D groups local game. They all replied "The OGL only affects people making 750k" the battlecry of the apologist

[@trucid2]

Some peopke are just not able to think for themselves and will parrot whatever corporations feed them.

[@xczechr]

OGL 1.1 states it can be modified in any way, at any time, with only 30 days notice. Suddenly that 750k might become 7.5k, or 75 cents. It also allows WotC to use any content published under it. EVERY player of OGL games/content should be very concerned about this.

[@FlutesLoot]

Yeah, I hear that. Plenty of that going around.

[@ANDELE3025]

Honestly, to a degree yes because legally there is absolutely nothing the OGL does to a person except makes their content usable by others which binds the community as a group of friends/keeps people from being stupid. After all, during 4th edition WOTC lost the vast majority of all intellectual property protections for D&D. Mind flayers, Beholders, even "DM" as to represent the dungeon master (even tho dungeon master itself is still trademarked) all became public domain due to lack of renewal or outright genericization causing the trademark (or in a few cases even copyright) registry to become dead. Especially because without the OGL, you can use "D&D compatible" instead of "5e compatible" as part of the promotional text because reference to trademarks that isnt part of the logo/cover/product presentation itself is explicitly protected by intellectual property treaties in the bulk of the world.

[@Xplora213]

@@ANDELE3025 these are enormous juggernauts of corporate power and they are losing their IP because they did not bother. TSR was known to be litigious… so they understood the battlefield intimately when WOTC then Hasbro acquired them. Don’t feel sorry for bad lawyers. They are paid like kings to ruin the lives of others. 😊

[@thoughtgaming492]

The D&D players that think its "just drama", have no understanding of the impact that it will have on them and are extremely naive. This doesnt only affect creators. As D&D players you will be funneled into only the products that WotC makes themselves. Additionally, as 3rd party content wont be as available and as WotC can just steal content, it removes their need to innovate and improve the game.

[@FlutesLoot]

Right, innovation has driven much interest in the game. That'll be going away (for the most part) with OGL 1.1 and the VTT.

[@rattuspatanus4032]

Also is naive to ignore the fact that once they get total grip of the content there is nothing that stop then to artificial shortage for profit, or paywall every little detail, microtransactions for every other change in the character or campaigns etc.

[@trbry.]

I'm one of the play anything but D&D tabletop roleplaying games, so I might be completely wrong here; will you be unable to play your current system if/when this drops?

[@thoughtgaming492]

@@trbry. any system that uses the OGL will disappear and be remade to not need the OGL and 3rd party content for dnd will virtually disappear.

[@josephaulisio9281]

Why haven’t you been writing your own material? Stop relying on someone else to entertain you.

[@ProxyResearch]

Very good video, lots of info in one place, thanks for compiling it all!

[@relint12]

Great cuts and commentary thanks for putting this together.

[@FlutesLoot]

Thank you! I'm glad it was interesting for you.

[@ThunderChanter]

This reminds me of what Blizz did with Reforged custom games. They weer so scared of another DotA 2 incident that they went "Hey if you make something in the engine we get rights to it if it gets popular" and players raked them over the coals for it

[@FlutesLoot]

I'm a big DotA 2 fan, so I feel you. That reforged project was laughably disappointing in the news. I played WC3 a lot as a teenager.

[@MrBiloxifireman]

You've got a new subscriber here and I totally agree with what you've said. The independent creators need to get together and go to one system and people like me who've been playing D&D for 30+ years will follow and screw this corporate greed I'm done with them

[@FlutesLoot]

Thank you! There are definitely discussions among creators about consolidating to a system, but we might see something of a Manifest Destiny or arms race as people try to become that banner system. Revolutions are messy :P It'll be interesting to see things develop.

[@DDHomebrew]

Great video! I'm concerned about the new OGL and was around for 4th edition (though I never played it) yet I didn't realize the machinations that have been going on and the total investment WotC has in this iteration of a VTT. You put it all in perspective. Scary stuff, but important. Thank you.

[@FlutesLoot]

Thanks, Kevin! I'm glad the video was useful to you. :)

[@walterbunn280]

There was an OP-ed on RPGDrive thru back when Pathfinder first "won' their arbitration case against Wizards. At that time, the prediction was that WotC was going to simply pivot all material to a closed-license platform, like a Virtual Table top, and then transition official content away from anything open sourced. The thought at that time was it would be 10-15 years before WotC would be hitting the peak profitability of Dungeons and Dragons because of Paizo. This is simply matching up perfectly with that prediction. Honestly, I was rather put-out when i realized how good 5e was, because i knew Hasbro was going to take a dump on that stuff asap.

[@FlutesLoot]

That is a really good op-ed, wow.

[@voland6846]

Can you tell me what I should google to find this article please?

[@walterbunn280]

@@voland6846 It'd be on "The Way Back" machine. the forums don't exist any more on the normal internet. I'll see if there's a a sister site that has a similar dudely-do though. 50/50 as to whether they will

[@yotelex]

Well done, you've pulled together some interesting points and highlighted them. I suspect Hasbro / WotC will just sit back and let this blow over, take the bad press and fan backlash. In a year when the VTT is released, the bulk of the players will have forgotten about it all and move over to the new One D&D VTT. The new players certainly will, and it's those new players that are going to fund WotC in the future.

[@newnamesameperson397]

That is what the pessimistic in all of us is thinking. Then again around the time of 4e something similar happened and pathfinder was the result. Kobold press is creating their own system that they say will be truly open with no strings attached so I mean witc is creating competition for themselves

[@FlutesLoot]

Thank you! And the pessimist/realist in me fears what you described; that this will blow over and Hasbro/WotC will come out of it without significant issue. There's momentum right now, but will it last?

[@arthurcarlyle7263]

Just saw this (video and channel) which led me down a rabbit hole. Subscribed!

[@FlutesLoot]

Thank you for sticking around! :)

[@ChristopherMathieu]

There WAS a 4E VTT (of a sort), but it was a third-party program called Masterplan. It had a battle map that could track tokens, handle initiative and conditions, roll saves and attacks and such. It had a "player view" that could be sent to a second monitor, and nowadays it could be sent via Discord.

[@crypticmedicine]

Commenting for engagement; I found my way here via algorithm after watching Bob World Builder's video on a cool non-OGL rpg about skateboarding wizards. Consider me subscribed. Wishing the best to you and Opal, and I'm looking forward to exploring your back catalogue and supporting your work!!

[@FlutesLoot]

Thank you very much!

[@JScottGaribay]

This is a brilliant video - I have a few thoughts on this over on my channel - but frankly you guys got a lot right here. Fantastic DND coverage! Thank you.

[@FlutesLoot]

Thank you! I watched your video and totally didn't anticipate where you were going with that, haha.

[@JScottGaribay]

@@FlutesLoot yeah I have a different take and you guys did too I love to hear stuff that isn't in the echo chamber Great job on this video Love your stuff

[@matthewburton6360]

Quality addition to the discourse thank you!

[@FlutesLoot]

Thanks so much :)

[@katecritt]

Great video. May this engagement please the algorithm.

[@Bloodfencer1990]

Hasbro has decided to try and pull this move because a while ago there was an independant investigation into their finances and it was found that WotC would be MUCH more profitable and valuable if it was made into its own company. There even was a "Free the Wizards" movement begging shareholders to intervene and enable this split. Hasbro HAS to prove that they can make WotC more profitable or they risk losing control. Thankfully, this whole thing going on right now is probably going to hurt WotC's bottom line and infuriate a lot of shareholders.

[@TimothyMReynolds]

This is a great overview of the issue. Thank you.

[@FlutesLoot]

Thank you, Timothy!

[@negativeionz]

This is hands down the best video I've seen explaining the situation. Well-done. 10/10.

[@FlutesLoot]

That's high praise! Thank you.

[@invisibledooley]

Thanks for this, this has been one of the most lucid videos I've seen on the topic, staying away from the 'Sky is Falling' panic and anger I've been seeing.

[@p.f132]

When they bought DnDB, I was like "Aww, damn, they're gonna lootbox microtransact this like crazy..." I never imagined they'd go for such an All In move.

[@woolyyyyyyy]

The fact that you would consider the moral and ethical implications of giving a voice to an evil greedy corporate entity just earned my sub. Don't support these big corps when they act like this. The dollar is louder than our voices. And those inhuman revenue addicts will never listen to anything but money.

[@FlutesLoot]

Thanks very much for the support :)

[@thecrossroadstavern1447]

Yo @Flutes Loot! I am absolutely astonished by your research and attention and composition of this breakdown. I’ve been trying to get a real picture of this, and this is THE video that I’d been searching for. Looking forward to that Inquisitor class, regardless of what system it’s for.

[@FlutesLoot]

Thank you and I'm glad the video was helpful for you :)

[@xanxangel8640]

Extremely insightful, sub earned. Thank you.

[@FlutesLoot]

Thank you x2 :)

[@sansasama299]

Wow did not know! Very interesting video! Thx!!!

[@FlutesLoot]

I was hoping it would be interesting. Thank you for the comment :)

[@WereMike]

Damn, Matt Colville is a seer.

[@FlutesLoot]

I would bet other pros in the industry could've made similar predictions, but Matt definitely knows his stuff. James Haeck in the video also was extremely knowledgeable and called the OGL situation clearly! Smart people.

[@Bortnm]

Well put together - great video

[@FlutesLoot]

Thank you very much :)

[@thecountrygardener3072]

I think one very large issue that Wotc is overlooking is alot of the players and dms cannot and will not try to afford their new microtransaction based system, mostly because alot of the players dont own computers or have a reliable way to play online sessions, due to other financial responsibilities. Many dms still only do theater of the mind, and pen and paper.

[@FlutesLoot]

The way I think of it, a lot of passionate gamers already participate in what *could* be classified as micro-transactions, such as buying minis or building terrain. New generations are practically raised with devices in their hands, so who knows if they'll love VTT gaming with some micro-transactions.

[@Silas_MN]

this is the first time I've seen anybody talk about VTT stuff in the same conversation as the OGL issues. it really pulls everything together

[@biggrayalien4791]

"Aggressive digital transformation" says everything you need to hear. Oof, I was kinda hopeful for D&D1, but with all the changes, idk if I'll update anything. 5e and Call of Cthulu might be my only TTRPG collection for a while

[@FlutesLoot]

I haven't purchased 5e content in a hot minute, so I guess I'll keep the streak going.

[@amuppet6678]

Wow, that footage is stunningly prophetic.

[@FlutesLoot]

I felt the same

[@johnsavard7583]

Thank you for an important insight.

[@FlutesLoot]

I had to share it once I found the words. :)

[@Nash_Idaho]

I think maybe it could be a good thing for 3rd party creators, now is the time to get onto the ground floor of some of these up and coming RPG systems that don't have a over saturated 3rd party marketplace...

[@FlutesLoot]

As long as they find systems they like that also have need for 3PP designs, I think they'll have staying power.

[@Zr0din]

SUCH a good analysis I had to watch this Twice! I even liked and shared (and I never do that)! So it looks like they are putting the cart before the horse. If the VTT was up and running, this wouldn't be an issue because (if they did it right) people would love it. DM's would love it. and they would be able to migrate people over. They are trying to migrate people over with no place to go. That was straight DUMB!

[@FlutesLoot]

I think you nailed it. I speculate that the cost of the VTT's products is the biggest driver of their decision making. They could've developed it for D&D 5e and then repurposed it for One D&D, but that's more cost. They're also losing good faith of stalwart fans by releasing mediocre content in recent years. Getting overshadowed by 3PP and missing out on a lot of money by not having a VTT during lockdowns have clearly pushed them forward, imo.

[@cloudstone123]

I'm in the class of one of those indifferent ones. Since D&D started for me in 87, I never once bought 3rd party content. I looked at it, sure, but then I put it away. It never offered anything extra that I felt was missing. I could often just customize existing classes to work in the way the third party content was trying to create as its own thing. Or the 3rd party content was so ridiculously overpowered that it lost me quickly. As for adventures, those products can last years which in itself can be a problem for Wizards. Right now with the adventurer books in 5e I have almost the next decade planned. I never use them completely as written and modify them for my needs. All I need really is the basic core structure of the game that is simple and easy to understand so the story can be told rather than getting bogged down in rules with exception and tons of modifiers to consider. I feel you are right about the approach to try to get them to do what you want. I don't see any other way to motivate a for profit company from doing what for profit companies want to do: make money. D&D as a game currently has a couple things going for it in my opinion. One is its name recognition. People have heard about it. Second is its 5e rules having simple mechanics. The whole advantage/disadvantage mechanic was a brilliant way to do away with all these ridiculous exceptions and modifiers. Third is its bestiary. They have lots of unique monsters and villains. Now if another game can offer the last two, I'm good with that too. I'd switch if D&D was gone because Wizards dumped it due to being unprofitable. But as, based on those last two things, the changes are not going to affect me personally or the group I run.

[@FlutesLoot]

I see 3rd-party content as a great way to save me time and give me new ideas while supporting the community. And it looks like money has definitely done the talking recently!

[@cloudstone123]

@@FlutesLoot WotC's material already saves me time. I can pick it up off the shelf and flip through it to see if it will suit my needs for my campaign, typically adventures I can insert. Unfortunately online 3rd party digital content you pay for can't do that for me. I can get snippets in some previews maybe but that isn't enough for me to really know if it'll work and I'd rather spend money on things I feel confident will work. None of the local game stores I've been to carry any 3rd party books anymore. Maybe because so little of it gets printed now. And/or maybe because they were opened during 3E when the ogl first came out and bought a bunch of stuff that never sold so they don't want to take that chance again. I don't think it is money that has done all the talking, it's bad PR and the reminder of what happened with 4E that would taint the next release. Since OneD&D is really just modifications on the already popular 5E and its simpler ruleset but will come with a VTT, money will come rolling in from people in the same class as me as well as the next generation of players. I'm not one for microtransactions though so no fancy digital dice for me. It was always an easy win for WotC. Just let the OGL stand for 5E and it will eventually just fade away with the next edition that can make use of 5E content anyway rather easily. They could have just done that from the beginning but they seem to have learned the wrong lesson from 4E's launch.

[@fernandozavaletabustos205]

Thank you for the video, you have gained a new subscriber!

[@FlutesLoot]

Thanks for being here :)

[@TabletopBob]

I agree. I think the writing on the wall has been there for a while in regards to the VTT. However, this pushback is actually a good thing. And in fact, that statement in the leaked OGL article about how they might change their minds was probably a fall back in case of backlash. The wizards social team posted they will discuss the OGL soon, so we shall see.

[@FlutesLoot]

Let's keep up the pressure!

[@yarnevk]

Actually when read in context that statement was not about the ogl at all it was about you cannot sue if you get canceled but do not worry your peers can maybe convince them to change their mind about you getting canceled

[@TheSinisterheroes]

Very good points all around. I hope people just calm down, there’s so much hysteria around with this.

[@FlutesLoot]

Agreed, SH! Frenzy will burn out. Calm decisiveness will win out.

[@VenzyntRoleplay]

This reminds me of Bethesda repeatedly trying to monetize modding.

[@FlutesLoot]

I'm with you. I thought of Skyrim as I made the video.

[@Arby631]

Just because 4/5 party members doesn’t pay attention to the OGL actually doesn’t matter too much. As Hasbro said I’m their own investors meeting, DMs account for 80% of revenue and if I had to guess I would say the majority left over would be royalties. If the DM says no to Hasbro that’s final. The players will follow

[@BearUmbra]

Really great video, great job

[@FlutesLoot]

Thank you very much :)

[@teh201d]

This gives me hope. If enough people were able to predict this, perhaps they've had time to prepare.

[@FlutesLoot]

That is comforting.

[@disky01]

Waiting patiently for Matt's video on this whole thing.

[@FlutesLoot]

I suspect he will mention it when he makes a video about their intentions for a new system, which MCDM announced.

[@whiskeygamesnerdstuff789]

appreciate the video

[@CaraesNaur]

A tiny, unknown podcast called Flail Forward predicted the basic premise of "the next version of d&d will be all digital" in 2018. I made the prediction. Not all of the other 6 hosts bought into it at the time.

[@FlutesLoot]

Nice prediction

[@CaraesNaur]

@@FlutesLoot It was based on: 1. Hasbro is an old-school game company that never wanted d&d and didn't understand it because their main focus is board games and children's toys. 2. 4e was designed to be more like a video game. 3. The rise of Pathfinder and influence of so-called "narrative" RPGs (Blades int he Dark, Apocalypse World, etc) forced the creation of 5e. 4. Hasbro execs saw Pokemon Go and decided "We want d&d to be that." Every business move WotC has made in the past couple years points to d&d becoming an all digital walled garden VTT supported by subscriptions and in-app purchases. But it will take probably 5 years for that to fully materialize. I also think there are at least some people in the company with lofty plans to make d&d into a global multimedia IP, at which point they don't really need the game itself anymore. Exhibit A: hard copy comics sales have tanked while the corresponding cinematic universes bring in orders of magnitude more revenue.

[@tabletopbro]

Best video you’ve ever done Jordan. 2023 is gonna be a HUGE year for the hobby as we’ll see if other companies can step up to fill the hole WotC’s implosion is leaving

[@FlutesLoot]

Thank you very much, Austin! And 2023 is shaping up to be quite the year for TTRPGs, I agree.

[@laurenceT141]

I think a good option for content creators would be to create "system agnostic" adventures. There's nothing Hasbro can do to stop someone creating a group based "pick your own adventure" book with an overview page that explains that players should agree on what system to use at the start and use any mechanic from that system that would solve the puzzles and make their way through the adventure, a scenario that needs physical force to resolve can use any "Strength Check" mechanic it likes for example. I think even new players would be fine with something like this, though it does make game nights where random people get together a bit more tricky compared to everyone knowing the same system.

[@LibertyMonk]

You're absolutely right, this OGL change is about a VTT. They want that platform unearned income from third parties like Roblox makes. The OGL changing doesn't actually change anything outside of Hasbro controlled ecosystems like Beyond, DMs Guild, etc, unless the third party is explicitly reprinting sections of rules. Trademarks like the name of the Wizard who invented the Tiny Hut or Tentacles or Big Hand spell, or the actual setting specific details were already off-limits in the OGL and were DMs Guild exclusives. Direct references to game mechanics are either protected under Fair Use, or not covered by copyright, again excluding just reprinting sentences from the SRD word for word. This isn't legal advice, but all this does is take the OGL from an empty encouragement to a useless obligation outside of Hasbro controlled publishing platforms. The move is absolutely predatory, but they're just following the example of Roblox and abandoning any of the Patreon scale third parties.

[@FlutesLoot]

I felt a conviction that the VTT was the key, and that conviction has grown to a certainty with recent events!

[@benjones1452]

Really appreciate your views thanks for the interesting foreshadowing for this it was great.

[@FlutesLoot]

Thank you for the kind words!

[@RobertLeeBrownBlind]

As a blind person who plays Dungeons and Dragons with a screen reader, I have no plans on ever using a VTT. Actually, they don't work with screen readers by nature and Roll20 for example freezes and shuts down my computer when I tried using it in the past. While I do plan on still playing fifth edition, I won't be playing with anything One D&D and thankfully my players know and understand this. I have a feeling that the VTT will absolutely crush the accessibility era of Dungeons and Dragons that Fifth Edition brought the Blind community specifically. I do buy content on DNDBeyond and I plan on exporting copies of all the books I bought before the release of the VTT and One D&D as a whole. As for other plans...Well, I'm working on a setting that I wish to release and expand on at some point in the future. I'll probably end up releasing it through some other game system that isn't bound by the shitty OGL ploy that WotC is trying to cram down all of our throats.

[@FlutesLoot]

I'm really glad you commented to share your perspective, and I'm sad to hear that VTTs work poorly with screen readers. I hope they make accessibility a priority.

[@Ryotbh]

I mean, many of us for a long time have wondered why WotC did not release an all-in-one app; VVT with built-in rules/adventures, VOIP or chat client, match-making system, etc. It really felt like they massively missed the boat on this as it would have been ideal during the pandemic. It also makes some sense that, if WotC feels like the reason why lots of companies are making money is that they are trading on the D&D name, they would seek to charge a licencing fee. However, if this OGL 1.1 is true (which based on the lack of denial, we must assume is the case), I think many were shocked as to just how draconian it was. I mean, the huge 25% of revenue licencing fee was pretty bad but the fact that WotC would be able to effectively steal your creations and then prevent you from using them? Or be able to force others to adopt certain design decisions or else fear having their content pulled (in the name of diversity and anti-hate speech!)? These things are extreme and just show how little WotC value the 3rd parties that have helped make D&D the game it is today. All of these crazy conditions to use a ruleset that, without 3rd party intervention, is not fit for purpose. Hopefully, the positive of OGL 1.1 is that it will be a wake up call for 3rd party content creators and force them to explore new systems; or in Kobold Press' case, create their own.

[@FlutesLoot]

The VTT project seems cursed (and definitely tragic) ever since 4e. I cut out the part of the interview where Matt points out how one of the original leads of the VTT project murdered his family and took his own life. Very dark stuff. I agree that I hope OGL 1.1 will encourage exploration of other TTRPGs, but I fear that burst of interest will be ephemeral if nothing changes.

[@artistpoet5253]

11:18 totally taking this idea into my next game of Ironsworn. "You have to hunt down these rogue inquisitors that have been hoarding artifacts. We suspect the taint of Chaos on all of this. Do not hesitate. There will be no innocents among them." kind of borrowed that from a book. Cool aint it?

[@FlutesLoot]

🤘 🤘 🤘

[@okamiv5]

ill always believe the sudden release and push for companions in 5e was a response to counter strongholds and followers, and was the sign for me to start finding my ttrpg fixes away from wizards

[@silverthorngoodtree5533]

I still don't understand how people did not see this coming. Both ceo's said they were going to do this. Sis no one listen to them?

[@FlutesLoot]

A lot of people saw this coming. I've spoken with many independent designers who were worried even before One D&D was announced. Casual players don't think about this stuff and have no idea about it, which is most players.

[@azathought_games]

Great video

[@FlutesLoot]

Thank you!

[@tqbrowne]

This was a great video. I like your editing and your framing of his commentary. I was under the assumption that OGL "leak" was likely fake and meant to drum up outrage simply to drive attention to the brand. This perspective is starting to change my mind about that.

[@FlutesLoot]

Thank you! I appreciate the kind words and feedback. I've tried to up my game with editing. I personally have no remaining reservations about the leaks' (plural) authenticity. We'll see what gets released officially. If they make concessions, I'll still be skeptical but encouraged.

[@silvergreylion]

@@FlutesLoot The only thing that would make me think their plan had been dropped, was if they fired all the programmers they hired to develop the VTT app and back-end. But I know that won't happen until it's abundantly clear to anyone, that their plan failed.

[@startingfromlevelone9510]

Dungeon Masterpiece really called it with his video. I remember watching/listening to it over the summer.

[@cosmiccowboy9358]

My love for dnd is all about gathering around the table with books and pen and paper and unplugging from reality

[@FlutesLoot]

It's a beautiful thing

[@bluedragonguild]

Awesome video, Flutes!!

[@FlutesLoot]

Thanks, BDG! Much appreciated.

[@bluedragonguild]

@@FlutesLoot no worries!

[@MyBacktrail]

I've been playing off and on since the 70s. My 5e group (which is my adult son and also daughter + her BF) knew about the drama when I asked them. We've been playing since 2019 and now we're coming up on the last session of Strahd. After that we are switching to Pathfinder, at least for the immediate future. My prediction is that WotC (and maybe Hasbro) will be dead/bankrupt within a year. There will be too much good competition, and the ill will Hasbro has generated will not be forgiven until people have forgotten about it. And The Internet is Forever, so...

[@FlutesLoot]

I'm very interested to see how WotC fairs. And I enjoy playing D&D with family as well (especially Curse of Strahd, which I have videos about if that interests you).

[@darcyw156]

Literally just found your channel. Thanks for your level head about this. No rants and no threats, just info and thoughtful ideas presented. Great job. Now, time to binge on some new videos. Thanks!

[@FlutesLoot]

Thank you so much for the compliment and interest in our other content :)

[@cosmoreverb3943]

I always appreciate Matt Colville's input, but I didn't realise the parallel with 4e's attempted VTT.

[@FlutesLoot]

It really contextualizes the current affairs for me

[@RIVERSRPGChannel]

Yes WotC is going to push for digital and their VTT. They are trying to stop anyone else from making money. It’s going to get ugly though

[@FlutesLoot]

That's right! Thanks Rivers.

[@matthewkondziela6733]

The key will be the ease of access for DM's part of the success for 5thedition was the ease of access for DM's to teach new players and the simplifying of the rules. This allowed the DM's to effectively tell whateever story they wanted within the frame work of 5th edition. A VTT has to be DM friendly to start with and speaking personally I cannot see that being the case after seeing the UA for One DND. There will be some DM's that would benefit from the tools a VTT can offer but the limits imposed by it will neuter some of the best parts of DND , the boundless creativity of both players and DMs.

[@FlutesLoot]

They will definitely be banking on ease of access for players. In my perspective, they're not good at enabling and guiding DMs. They can try, but they don't have a track record of that, imo. It seems extremely difficult to enable DMs with a VTT if that's not their focus, so I hope it is.

[@TheFirstArcadianDnD]

You actually made a tinfoil hat, that is so perfect XD (edit: omg, you have a bidoof hat too) This is a great video, the inputs of all these people were great at the time but get even better in hindsight. I also think it's very important to give Hasbro "a way out" and show them that going back on the terms of the OGL draft will benefit them more than harm them. Maybe the example of the modding community in videogames is a good example to show them custom-made content will only enrich the experience?

[@FlutesLoot]

The modding community is a great example. And thank you! I wear many hats, haha.

[@JEffinger]

Hasbro has fumbled this so hard I don't think they can recover it.

[@declanandrewbell]

i could listen to matt's voice all day

[@CharlesEtheridgeNunn]

Definitely some interesting things to hear. It would be great even if this does end up getting walked back by WotC/Hasbro to see some of the more D&D focused channels explore beyond that realm and into other RPGs, or general advice. I worry that a lot of publishers and channels will just carry on like usual after these leaks if it does get walked back, and they’ll be unprepared for the time this happens and a pushback isn’t enough to change their mind.

[@FlutesLoot]

I believe it will be unavoidable for creators to reconsider how engaged they are with D&D. It's tough to give up a large audience to try something else, but it can work.

[@silvergreylion]

@@FlutesLoot Considering how well the OGL 1.1 has been discussed and explained, in detail in other videos, and how mindblowingly bad it is, I just don't see why anyone would sign that agreement. It would have to be some seriously extenuating circumstances, like being sick and unable to work for months, and only having the income from selling copies of their previously made content for the foreseeable future. Still, that would only tie them over until WotC had imported their content into something else (possibly D&D Beyond), after which they'd be selling the content themselves, and locking out the owner.

[@maninalift]

Thanks, i loved this video. I love what you say at the end, essentially that the community needs some clarity in what they want and to persuade WoTC that that is the most profitable direction for them. If the DnD public just shouts in outrage, wotc will likely either ride it out or provide the minimum concessions to break the unity in the community. Ps Please lookup indestructoboy and promote/participate in his January 13th DnDBeyond boycot

[@FlutesLoot]

Thank you! I'm glad the call to action was heard and made sense.

[@quickattackfilms7923]

Kind of looking forward to an official VTT. Especially if it was cross play on console. If it were as easy to play dnd as it is to hop in an Xbox party, I’d be stoked. And I don’t particularly mind micro transactions. Like, idk what that would entail exactly with this VTT, but if I can pay like 5$ for some virtual minis to use or whatever… I’d be into that.

[@silvergreylion]

I don't think you realize how microtransaction-heavy it's going to be. It'll be (mtx's for short) for everything but the absolute bare minimum to be able to play, and maybe even only to a certain level. Mtx's for skins for your character, for your weapons and other equipment, for your subclass, for each little part of a campaign, for each of the expansions (Tasha's, Mordekai's, Xanathar's), for other colours or animations of most spells, seriously, you name it, there's going to be some mtx for it. And that's fine if you don't mind being a cash cow being milked, but everyone else is going to stay away.

[@FlutesLoot]

Microtransactions don't bug me if they're not required or invasive. For example, I can play DOTA 2 all I want, and they raise funds by introducing cosmetics and taunts that people can buy. That's a great way for people to support a game like that when it gets seasons, patches, updates, and tournaments to constantly build it up and refresh the experience. D&D is already full of what could be called microtransactions in the forms of miniatures and such. I don't want it to feel like a mobile game, surely, but if the only complaint right now was about microtransactions instead of all this OGL and licensing stuff, I'd be much happier.

[@quickattackfilms7923]

@@FlutesLoot Yeah, I agree

[@eckroattheeckroat4246]

the question at wotc shouldn't be "are the players upset" the question should be "are the SPENDERS upset." The reality is at most tables I've played at, the DM has laid out 20 times (or more) more money than any of the players. I doesn't matter if the players are upset. If that DM decides "next campaign is going to be pathfinder" the players are going to follow the game master or lose interest and quit. The question here is "is wotc alienating GMs" and if that answer is "yes" then it could be a bigger problem for them than "word on the street" might indicate.

[@DaveTpletsch]

The thing I think is the most funny, is that because of this OGL debacle, I think WotC is going to end up with MORE competition, not less. All D&D discords and micro-communities and tables at which I play are poised to ditch official D&D for something else. The number of people looking for games that can't be affected by the OGL change, or who are ready to help companies like Paizo and Kobold Press fight the OGL change in court, or who are openly designing their own systems that explicitly cannot be claimed to be under WotC's OGL is STAGGERINGly large. If the new OGL 1.1 doesn't change, WotC is likely going to fall into serious decline. Hasbro won't really be affected, but WotC will probably die within 10 years. But this incident has at the very least spurred the creation of nobody knows how many new TTRPG's, many of them probably to be published with their own OGL focused on community inclusion and a playable on most VTT's if not outright published with their own. Hasbro needs to learn that lots of people today know how to program, and one should NEVER underestimate the creative drive of capable people filled with hate against shadowy conglomerates trying to exploit them.

[@FlutesLoot]

That would be an epic result. They worried they were "subsidizing competitors" so they create more competitors. "Yo dawg, I hear you like competitors..."

[@DaveTpletsch]

@@FlutesLoot Lol. If Hasbro hired an economist they might have known this was a bad idea. The fact of the matter is D&D isn't just a product anymore, it's the foundation of a community, where information and ideas essentially make up their own economy. Anyone who knows history or basic economics knows you can't suddenly intentionally remove access to a base resource without at least causing the creation of a black market. At this point I wouldn't be surprised if someone accused WotC's CEO of saying "Let them eat Cake" and the community just burning everything "official D&D" down to ash and moving on to something new. 5e was good, but it has never been the best at anything other than teaching people how to play TTRPG's. All WotC has really done is create a market, restrict that market, and force people who relied on their market to seek a new one.

[@priestesslucy3299]

'Recover good faith' *_RIP_*

[@FlutesLoot]

Yeah, not going well!

[@Beth-cj7ip]

Ty

[@FlutesLoot]

You're welcome :)

[@Aussie_Archmage]

I have been saying this to my friends for years. I feel like Cassandra. A sad, sad Cassandra.

[@rstlr01]

Here’s to me, hoping that Savage worlds gets a little extra pop from this! Done a few games as a player now I am planning out my first campaign, that will not be 3.5.

[@FlutesLoot]

Right on, I hope so too. :)

[@Tabletop_Takes]

They sold out of all q1 stock, overnight

[@DelphineTheWorstBladeEver]

God that new class sounds so cool....

[@FlutesLoot]

I think so too!

[@mustacheglasses5765]

I completely agree with your wife. I remember when WotC bought D&D and I immediately mistrusted them. I stuck with 2nd edition personally and I've never regretted it. 3rd edition felt too much like a video game.

[@FlutesLoot]

She's a smart one!

[@JeshieWafflez]

Unless this VTT can transfer my consciousness into a virtual world like SAO, I'm never playing D&D online again (unless I have no other choice, which hasn't ever been the case, even during covid). Did a few times, sucked every time. I agree with the Dungeon Craft channel: "When it comes to the essence of what D&D is, there's nothing better than playing D&D and hanging out with another person IN PERSON! VTT's have their place, but they'll never have the ability to substitute or replicate such a communal and intimate experience where we create worlds and characters that only exist in our collective imaginations."

[@FlutesLoot]

SAO would be nuts, haha. And I agree with the DC quote.

[@nevisysbryd7450]

Haaah, finally, someone else. The OGL and microtransations are such small pieces of this that they are almost a distraction. The real point is the monopoly power through the walled garden vttrpg. If they succeed in opening up to the video gamer or general population markets through the film, lifestyle brand, and the vttrpg automating the process and further reducing the difficulty of finding other people to play with (AI DMs?), they will make far more off of that and enjoy far greater control than they could achieve in the traditional niche ttrpg enthusiast market. I called most of this the day ONE D&D was announced, so it is a relief each time some sees the forest rather than fixating on one tree.

[@FlutesLoot]

Spot on. That's their play.

[@harrywhiteley89]

I really hope they look back at the success of Neverwinter Nights which was for two factors, the game worked fairly well all things considered, and the fan-based content meant that it was a game with so much content that it was difficult to find something you hadn't tried before,

[@FlutesLoot]

I'm unfamiliar with NN beyond the name, but if it did what you said in a digital format, that's a compelling example. Good call.

[@harrywhiteley89]

@@FlutesLoot Yeah Neverwinter Nights came out around 2002 it was a good game on its own, but the majority of its extended success had quite a large amount of fan content online, it still had a few thousand people playing it when the servers went down in 2015 and certain servers had thousands of active players despite the fact that only 64 people could be on the server at a time during the peak of the game which. It was Lightning in the Bottle at the time but the more I look back the more I think it is due to possibly unintentional community content creation support tools it had.

[@B3n3f1t]

06:30 Not true! 3 & 3.5E had and still has some of the best books written for an edition. The Forgotten Realms books are still to this day amazing!

[@FlutesLoot]

I must not have been clear. I was referring to third-party books during that dialogue, not official. Does that clear it up or do you disagree?

[@B3n3f1t]

@@FlutesLoot Never used third party stuff during that era sorry then I misunderstood you there

[@meseattlequin]

I think this is directly related to the failed Alta Fox incident a year ago. When they tried to pack board members and spin Wizards into its own company. I think the higher-ups really took a look at the money after that.

[@FlutesLoot]

That certainly could be a contributor.

[@Lizzyzil]

I honestly think we need to get ahead of them by going back to playing in person more than we play online. I've been gaming a long time. As most of you have also. We get sucked into online gaming to have diversity of players, and closeness, but I'm craving real people around a table these days more than screens.

[@FlutesLoot]

I went online due to lockdowns, but I much prefer playing in person. I'm glad to be hosting friends at my house and visiting their homes to play again.

[@elrikmordner]

Foggy memory and a Fresh mind! WELL SAID!

[@FlutesLoot]

I was proud of that line (I improvised it) haha

[@elrikmordner]

@@FlutesLoot And so fitting. Rolls across so many communities perfectly.

[@RPKris]

Before seeing your video I had similar opinions when I saw the new OGL leaks. Some words prior, I've been working for a corporation for close to 10 years now and I've seen the movement of a (major)corporation when it comes to earning more budget. They know they generate backlash, and plus, they've done it before, they will have the exact stats from 4e, and their discourse is mainly "after the backlash what % are we looking at", and WotC with the backing of Hasbro, they have the majority, and will survive, with that said, I am a strong believer that the OGL is coming tomorrow ... Friday the 13th. (talk about timing lol) Even so, I do consider this can be very healthy for the market with the OGL release. Just without anything official, a lot of publishers state that they will release new systems, so other options, heck probably in the future we will see D&D overtaken by something else, on 2022, and please don't quote me on this, Paizo's Pathfinder won the best TTRPG, so there's hope. The VTTs that are currently on the market, will be focused on specific systems, etc.

[@FlutesLoot]

I completely agree. Corporations try to account for backlash and calculate if they'll come out on top. And the market opening up is a good thing. Cheers