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The D&D world is not covered by the OGL. its the core mechanics that have been mirrored by not just other TTRPGs, but video game RPGs as well. This is like if
by MrStonedOne 4y ago
The D&D world is not covered by the OGL. its the core mechanics that have been mirrored by not just other TTRPGs, but video game RPGs as well.
This is like if the names of the functions in the c++ STL (and their argument/return types) was released under gpl, and they came out and "updated" their license to be basically cc-by-sa-nc but worse and also claimed it retroactively applied to the license. It could technically have repercussions to other languages that mirrored the style.
Now the fun question! how much of what was covered by the OGL was actually copyrightable?
Ideas and facts are not copyrightable, arrangement of ideas and facts can be copyrightable with a higher bar of 'creativity', but the barrer to change before it becomes a new 'arrangement' and not covered is also lower.
- the_af 4y agoAh, the OGL is just core mechanics? I cannot imagine this being a big hurdle to videogames from now on, then. It's not that difficult to use entirely different mechanics in a computer RPG, and they had the details anyway. If the world/setting doesn't matter, I can't see how this can affect videogames not set in D&D worlds. That is, I don't see video gamers rejecting a CRPG because its rules are not based on D&D. They'll get to kill monsters or whatever in Fantasyland, what does it matter that the inner workings are entirely new?
- wincy 4y agoIt might be difficult for virtual tabletop software called “roll20” to pivot away from the concept of using 20 sided dice to make decisions and determine success at an activity.