In recent months, fans of Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) have been eagerly awaiting a response from Wizards of the Coast about their plans for the game’s Open Game License (OGL). For those unfamiliar, the OGL is a set of rules that determines how non-Wizards of the Coast companies can use Dungeons and Dragons content in their products. For example, a company may be able to use the classic “Dungeon Master” title in its product, or use one of the iconic weapons from the game.
Now, after much speculation, Wizards of the Coast has finally broken their silence on the issue and announced their plans for the OGL. The crux of the announcement is that Wizards of the Coast is “dedicated to keeping the openness and freedom of Dungeons & Dragons.”
Wizards of the Coast also clarified that the OGL would continue to be updated and provide users with access to updates and tools for creating their own adventures, character sheets, and other D&D-related content. This means that third-party creators can still create and make money off of their work with the proper licensing.
The announcement also made two key changes to the OGL going forward. The first is that Wizards of the Coast will provide third-party publishers a fee-free license to publish official Adventurers League products. This will allow smaller companies to produce their own official content, which should increase the variety of Dungeons and Dragons adventures on the market.
The second change is that Wizards of the Coast will require third-party publishers to abide by the company’s “codes of conduct” when creating content. This includes not only respecting copyright laws, but also adhering to company standards such as prohibiting discriminatory language or pictures in their products.
On the whole, the announcement that Wizards of the Coast is keeping the OGL intact is a welcome one for fans of Dungeons and Dragons and third-party publishers alike. With these changes, Dungeons and Dragons will remain open and accessible, enabling new creators to create exciting adventures and products for players to enjoy.
