With Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) ruling the fantasy and tabletop gaming industry, its Open Gaming License (OGL) has become the standard for how many gaming systems and products are released. But now, Paizo Publishing has announced the launch of a new gaming license and system for its Pathfinder role-playing game, without relying on D&D’s OGL.
The new license, called the Community Use Policy (CUP), will allow for more flexibility in product development than the OGL does. Under the CUP, product developers will be able to use all of Pathfinder’s trademarks, logos, and artwork to create products of their own. Additionally, developers will be able to create their own campaigns, special rules, and other mysteries that are added to the Pathfinder RPG, free of charge.
The response to Paizo’s announcement has been largely positive among product developers, who have long felt constricted by the limitations of the OGL. Product developers now have unprecedented access to the huge array of Pathfinder content, which can be used to build and bolster their own products. The CUP also allows developers to make money and publicly sell their products, something which was previously prohibited under the OGL.
While the CUP is a welcome change, not everyone is happy with the news. The OGL has been a major part of the D&D license for over a decade, and some fans feel that the move to a new license will disrupt the balance that has become part of the D&D community.
Overall, Paizo’s announcement of the Community Use Policy is a major step forward for gaming developers and publishers, offering them more freedom to create products for their favorite role-playing game. While there may be some controversy over the move, the CUP should open up a new world of possibilities for game developers, and should ultimately benefit both Paizo and the gaming community.
