I decided some months ago that when the new edition of D&D came out I'd try my hand at putting out some quality Adventures for use with the new system. I want to emphasize roleplaying, thinking, and, of course, exciting combats. Nothing new there :) I am also emphasizing quality editing.
Anyway, I'm about halfway into my first Adventure, and after quite a bit of deliberation I've decided not to sign onto the 4E GSL. The gains that the GSL provides do not, for me, justify signing on. The license is restrictive enough that I feel like I might as well develop material without signing on.
So I hope to have my first Adventure done within a month, at which point I'll have some people play test it (I'll post here when the time comes - maybe some will be interested). I'll edit the Adventure based on the play testing, and then release it. The reception the first few Adventures receive will probably determine whether I move forward from there.
I was pretty excited about the GSL prior to seeing the license. Having reviewed it, though, I'm not comfortable with it. I wonder how many 3PPs will feel the same. Ironically, the more restrictive GSL could drive more 3PPs to try to make supplements without signing on, whereas OGL was open enough that there was little pressure to go that route.
Thoughts?
The question is if you are going to only make PDFs or also printed products.
If you are only making PDFs, then I would say to go for the GSL. You get that nifty compatibility logo and you can feel more confortable that WotC won't threaten to sue you. If anything happens - such as WotC deliberately changing the GSL, you just make the necessary adaptations, or, in the worst scenario, just remove the compatibility logo and have a non-GSL product again.
However, if you are going to make printed products, then I don't know if the GSL is a good idea, as for having to recall a product could be a big annoyance.
Of course, I'm no lawyer neither publisher, so I don't know if my suggestions are of any use. =)
The question is if you are going to only make PDFs or also printed products.
Just PDFs for the foreseeable future. I don't like the restrictiveness of the license, however, or the backward-reaching provisions to squelch OGL activity if I sign on. What you get for signing GSL doesn't seem worth it to me. Different businesses will evaluate it differently, however.
** Note: looks like a lot of what I was getting at in this thread is being discussed in the Goodman Games thread, so I'll go there **
I would be happy to playtest it for you. I believe in community support as well.
I would be happy to playtest it for you. I believe in community support as well.
Thanks, Azigen. I appreciate it. I'm plugging away at it :)