My Letter to Wizards of the Coast
It's been quite a few weeks, both for you and us. As a small content creator, we have waited for updates on the proposed changes to the Open Gaming License with bated breath. There were leaks, fury found on Twitter, apologies, and boycotts. No one came away happy.
Like many of our fellow creators, we are staunchly against changes or the elimination of OGL 1.0.
You need to know I understand that Dungeons & Dragons is a business. While you must listen to your customers, you must also listen to your shareholders. Please remember that for 3rd party creators, this is also a business. You are impacting our livelihoods with your decisions. Please don't confuse our passion for the game with our anger at our lost revenue.
Here are my humble suggestions to begin the process of healing and regain the trust of your customers. Some will never forgive Wizards of the Coast for this debacle. Others may be suspicious at first but will return to the game they love when they see the effort you are making to repair the damage that has been done in the eyes of so many of us.
OGL 1.0
First, keep OGL 1.0 and make it irrevocable. If you must dispose of it, write 2.0 with the same language as the original and make it irrevocable. Most people, including myself, do not want 1.0 unauthorized. For many, it's a non-starter if you get rid of 1.0. I'm willing to see what options you provide as alternatives.
Also, add protections against individuals or companies using D&D in conjunction with blockchain games, NFT, and hate speech. Any reasonable person understands why Wizards should be staunchly against this, and those who play D&D should be behind you on this subject 100%. Blockchain games are more of a financial threat than all the 3rd party creators combined. Gripnr was a warning shot across the bow of D&D, and everyone, from Wizards of the Coast to content creators to the casual player, must realize the potential harm it will cause.
If we, as players and creators, want to crucify Wizards for destroying the spirit of the game, it should be clear that playing for real money tears at the very fabric of what we are trying so hard to defend. People playing for financial gain instead of fun will kill the very soul of the game.
Community Relations
Second, consider working with "community liaison." Notice I did not say hire. As I was writing this, the announcement was made that a survey was being created on D&D Beyond to get feedback on how to proceed with the OGL. Immediately people questioned its validity and whether or not the decision-makers would care about the results. Given where we are now, these are valid questions.
Anyone working for Wizards will be subject to mistrust, and anything they say will be regarded with suspicion. I truly wish this wasn't the case, but at this point, this is where we are. Finding someone may be difficult, as many of the top names in the D&D community would probably refuse either out of spite or principle. Let them sign whatever NDAs you need and share information with them so they, in turn, can share them with us. This individual would also have to communicate the news without bias. In return, Wizards of the Coast would have to provide them with honest information. You have a better chance of the community listening to news/announcements/updates if it is delivered by one of our own.
The Virtual Tabletop
Finally, share with the community your ongoing progress while developing the 'official' virtual tabletop. As I'm sure many people inside your company believe, the VTT market alone will be your most significant avenue for growth over the coming years. The rumor of a monthly access charge felt ridiculous from the start, and per several tweets, it is absolutely false. A one-time payment to purchase the VTT is entirely reasonable. I'd encourage you to have a DM purchase tier and a player tier, exploring the idea of the DM getting a virtual copy of the Player's Handbook, DMG, and Monster Manual.
In contrast, the player tier receives only the PHB. Additional books and adventures would cost extra money. Also, allow for 3rd party content to be used within the VTT. This would go a long way with many alienated 3rd party creators.
While this is a significant part of the overall plan for the VTT, I hope to see a marketplace where people can buy a wide range of items for their virtual games. Games such as DotA and Fortnite survive and thrive on the income generated through these sales. Again, I am sure this is part of the plan, and I cannot wait to see it.
Overall, no one is happy with where we stand. As I said earlier, there is still time to rebuild the lost trust between WotC and the community. A first step would be honest, calm, and transparent communication between both sides. A simple "We don't know" is preferable to half-truths and ambiguous answers. The community may not be thrilled with such an answer, but the level of rage directed at the company would be significantly reduced. I hope everyone involved can move past this and return to making Dungeons & Dragons the greatest roleplaying game it can be.
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Art Source - WotC (Dungeon Master's Guide Core Rulebook II v.3.5)
