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OneD&D: What we know and our current plans.
🕑 Added 2022-12-18 16:44:16 +0000 UTCHey all!
Yesterday, I addressed one major elephant in the room, A.I. Art, and gave my official stance on it. Today, I figured I'd address the other elephant in the room, and that's OneD&D.
What is OneD&D?
One D&D is set to be the 'forever' edition of Dungeons & Dragons, one that's fully integrated into the D&D Beyond platform (fully absorbed into Wizards as of 2022) and does away with the need for a sixth or seventh edition.
Basically, D&D will become an "app" that will have regular updates. And likely, there'll be some microtransactions involved with it, although to the exact extent of which we don't yet know.
Though a playtest version of One D&D is available to play right now, the official release of One D&D will arrive via three core rulebooks coming in 2024.
So yes, we'll all have to buy the core three again. :eye-roll emoji:
Why are creators worried about OneD&D?
A lot of third-party creators, myself include, suspect that Wizards of the Coast will make it a lot harder to make content for OneD&D by altering the legal document we use to create content, the open gaming license (OGL). This is the document that I have to add to all my content to say, "Hey, I've got permission to make this stuff." Currently, the OGL doesn't restrict where I can post the things I want to post. That's why I can sell them here on Patreon, on my own website, Roll20, Kickstarter. etc.
Wizards have said that it plans to "continue third-party support," but they have yet to clarify exactly what that means and is being rather coy when it comes to direct questions.
I and others in the community suspect that they will make it so third-party creators can only post content through D&D Beyond. We think they will make it a bit like they do with DMsGuild now, where they take 50% of the revenue and own the content outright.
I'm speaking from my own experience, but this is not a viable business model for the DMDave brand. Not only is 50% a huge cut of the work that my team and I do, but owning it outright—without them directly promoting it, mind you—is a bit of a violation.
But isn't it their brand?
Of course! And they would hardly be the first ones to utilize such plans. In fact, Chaosium, the company that makes Call of Cthulhu RPG, does kinda similar to Call of Cthulhu. You can create content using their rules which they allow through their own version of the Open Gaming License, but all Call of Cthulhu content (despite the works of HP Lovecraft being in the public domain) has to go through Miskatonic Repository (their own version of DMsGuild) or has to be officially licensed through them, which there's no guarantee that third-party folks like myself will get.
Now I love Call of Cthulhu's system. In fact, I prefer it over Fifth Edition. However, this restriction bars me from ever writing content using that system. Which is a total bummer.
So Wizards of the Coast may certainly clamp down on how and where third-party content built on their rules is posted.
But that doesn't mean I have to use it.
What will happen if Wizards of the Coast restricts its OGL with OneD&D?
Unfortunately, I am not a divination wizard. But I do have proficiency in Intelligence (History), especially when it comes to D&D's history. And this isn't the first time Wizards of the Coast tried something like this.
Back in 2008, Wizards of the Coast ended 3.5 and killed the OGL for the Fourth Edition. This made it so that not even the people who were currently producing their magazines, a little company called Paizo Publishing, could write new content for the system. So Paizo decided to take the existing 3.5 OGL and SRD and create their own game: Pathfinder. In fact, they touted it as "3.5 Survives!"
According to a market report published by Roll20 in 2019, Pathfinder and 3.5 still own approximately 10% of the tabletop RPG market. That might not seem like much, but when you consider that Wizards of the Coast made $814 million in 2020 and they own half the market, that's a huge chunk of change. And if you've ever seen Paizo's impressive floor display at GenCon, you can see that Wizards is probably pretty ticked they missed out on that.
And let's not forget that 4e was a total disaster. Sure, it had some highlights, and frankly, I like a lot of what it put out, but it was the shortest-lived edition in D&D history (if you don't count 3.0), ending five short years after it started. Fifth Edition is the most successful edition in D&D history and has been around for nearly a decade.
Will this happen with OneD&D?
Again, I'm no diviner. But I suspect that this change is headed for disaster for a few different reasons.
1) Fifth Edition is an insanely popular edition, and a lot of people have just started to get into it.
It costs $30 to $50 (or more) just to get the Player's Handbook, which is a lot of money for some folks. And to have the complete library, you can easily spend thousands of dollars (I know I have!). It's pretty hard to have to turn around and buy all new books. I don't know about you all, but I'm pretty annoyed already that I had to get Mordenkainen's Monsters of the Multiverse when I already had copies of Volo's and Tome of Foes, which had the same monsters in it (albiet with a few updates).
Getting people to change editions is a difficult and slow process.
2) They want to change the overall dynamic of how people can access the game.
If Wizards of the Coast does actually want to put it all through DNDB, they're asking a whole lot of people to get really good at a lot of technical things pretty fast. Granted, DNDB does have exceptional onboarding and design. But not everyone in the industry is a kid who grew up with the internet or a technical wizard. Sure, it's a digital age, but this is still very much an analog game. Even I, a PDF-making/Roll20-using guy, will admit that.
3) Third-party creators are major influencers.
2008 was a pretty different time. Facebook was still new, and Twitter was just born. YouTube was around, but many of the biggest influencers hadn't reached the height of their popularity just yet.
I alone have 94,000 followers on Instagram and a massive mailing list. Plus, I have all of you. ❤️
Now, that might be a microscopic slice of the overall market but imagine all the other third-party folks out there that have similar, if not larger, fan bases.
We aren't just people "making money on your brand," Wizards. We're out there actively evangelizing for that brand. None of us have our own core rulebooks, so we point new folks to you. And we keep them fed with new content that reminds them of how great the game is.
Now imagine if all of that stopped.
Suddenly, all those YouTubers, Patreon creators, Kickstarters, etc. just said, "Hey, we can't make stuff for this new brand. So we're going to stick with Fifth Edition or whatever other Open Gaming License gives us the best possible deal?"
2008 already proved that this could be disastrous when 4e tried the same trick, and that was before the internet was what it is today.
4) Somebody will fill the vacuum.
It doesn't take a business genius to understand how important the OGL was for the promotion of the 3rd and 5th editions. Sure, not all of the content is/was great, and Wizards is missing out on a tiny bit of funds by letting 3pp creators do their own thing. But if they make the dreadful mistake of restricting the open gaming license, here is what will likely happen:
- It's pretty difficult to get rid of the original OGL and systems reference documents. If it was easy, they'd have done it with 3.5. But not only is the 3.5 SRD still available, but you can also even get super obscure SRDs like the d20 Modern one, which is still in effect. Therefore, there's no reason that any of us 3pp folks will need to change systems at all. Likely, we'll just stick with 5e and keep doing our thing. Having recently surveyed folks on the mailing list, only 7.8% of 4,000 respondents (many of which aren't even patrons of mine) said that they will for sure change to OneD&D. So you can bet your booty I'm going to keep writing 5e content.
- Someone will become the next Paizo. The only thing that 5e needs to continue into the future is a set of core rulebooks. This isn't very hard to do; it just requires a 5e creator with the right amount of capital and inclination to do it. If you're wondering if I would do, let's just say that it's definitely on the table.
- Other companies will create less restrictive OGLs. And even if Wizards somehow finds a way to avoid all the legal headaches of unraveling 22 years of the open-gaming license and its associated systems reference documents, other rules sources will emerge that are more flexible. Already, Free League (the people who make Tales from the Loop, Aliens RPG, etc.) have a pretty badass open gaming license. Although I can't create stuff with Call of Cthulhu, Chaosium still makes their rules usable (the Basic Roleplay System). Fate also has its own OGL. And so forth.
Isn't this all just alarmist stuff based on conjecture?
Possibly.
We could all just be playing the part of Chicken Little here. But the reality is that OneD&D is coming. Supposedly, the purchase of DND Beyond by Wizards was on the condition they create a new edition.
As of yet, they haven't given us any clear answers on how the new OGL will work, which makes many of us suspect that they're going to try to change it.
We know through the higher-ups at Wizards of the Coast and Hasbro that they feel the D&D brand is "under-monetized."
Already, Wizards is reaching out to larger publishers (names unknown) with Non-Discloscure Agreements (NDAs) likely to discuss the new OGL and award special licenses. These NDAs prevent these companies from saying anything.
Insider connections tell us that there are active protests at WotC's offices for people trying to keep the OGL in place and protect third-party creators.
And frankly... there's a historical precedent for all of it.
TL;DR
So the long and short of all of this is this:
I'm going to keep creating 5th-edition content. And if OneD&D becomes available for me to make stuff with without having to go through DNDB to do it, I'm going to make stuff for that, too. I think it sounds like a cool edition!
But if I can't, I will no longer serve as an influencer and promoter for Wizards of the Coast and will point folks toward whoever makes the next set of rulebooks, whether that's me or somebody else with the means to become the next Paizo. No disrespect to Wizards and everything they've done for me in the thirty+ years I've been playing the game, but I gotta protect myself, my family, and my contractors.
Thank you all for your continued support, and know that I really, really love this job, and I don't see myself stopping anytime soon.
- Dave
Comments
Thomas Mustard
So since the leak of the new OGL 1.1, and all of the potential ramifications, I may be transitioning to a completely, truly, open gaming system in the coming months/years. I have recently started using FoundryVTT and do not want to switch to a OneD&D version which I have to pay a subscription to. I like owning everything on my server and knowing that next month/year I can restart that game with all the DM work done and ready to go. I would love to see some conversion tables/documents to convert 5e content into a completely open source gaming system. That way I can use my old 5e campaigns with a new system.
Mark Widner
As a GM of Savage Worlds Fantasy and Pathfinder for Savage Worlds, I would love some new content that I can use in that game system.
Roosevelt Cooper
And even those who do plan to switch to OneD&D that doesn't mean that they won't use 5e content. Unless they are completely lying OneD&D is supposed to be backwards compatible with 5e so even if I run OneD&D games I absolutely still plan on using 5e content to run them especially after literally spending thousands of dollars on 5e content over the years.
DM Dave
Yeah, Mork Borg is by Free League. I really like their stuff and they have a cool system.
David of the North
Create Mork Borg or other OSR content and I'll still be here. After my current campaigns with my three groups, (2 online, 1 live) I may switch the online groups to a new system if OneD&D disrupts my online play.
DM Dave
the cool thing about writing adventures is that it's pretty easy to switch systems. The only tricky bit is the syntax, which changes from game to game.
I don't think it's going to be a completely new rule set, I think this is going to be more like 5.5 versus going from 4e to 5e
Chun Kung
So would you consider creating some PF2E adventures? , as a adventures writer who also has several years of experience, I would say that creating a PF2E adventure is as easy as a DND5E adventure
Brbmonkeytime
Build it you must ... come they will. Call it alarmist though I'm betting money DMDave y'all might as well have a framework of new DMDave 5e rules/ogl & copying it to 1D&D until they eventually make it monetized cut off the ogl. I expect it to be a slow warming of the water & then a super monetization kill off of 1D&D. I'll follow your content at the end of the day....n I'd pay for a dmdave GMs thing doing Oneira content on the regular as further marketing of your stuff :)
Frank Moore
I seriously doubt that WotC is going to make something better.
Frank Moore
Paizo did something similar with PF 2.0. Although, they actually seem to have produced a better product than what they had.
Ltbadger
I too think its naive to not call it 6E. As Dave notes that "they" thing that D&D is under monetised so if you think that the next iteration of D&D that comes out will do so without cost, you are naive. This major consultation they are doing with the public 'beta test' will cost them majorly and they will be seeking to claim that cash back somehow some way.
Ltbadger
Dave, Thank you, what a really thoughtful article. I have tried to stay abreast of the current news so much of what you said, I already knew. That said I really liked the grace, tone and way you walked through the issue in this article. It helped speed along the process of bringing together some thoughts for me. I have been growing disenfranchised by WOTC recently and it started with the 'refurbished' Tyranny of Dragons campaign. Claiming it was revamped when actually it really wasn't. Then there here have been numerous ups and downs over the next few years but the Spelljammer release was a major nail in the coffin. All they had to do was update some rules. They could have even riffed off the Starfinder stuff for inspiration but it was the first release they have made in the 5E ruleset that i have refused to buy. I hear now that they are again [again] releasing the Tyranny of Dragons campaign in January and I am feeling like a patsy suddenly. In what universe is owning 3 copies of the same campaign [from the same ruleset] justifiable? I am really hoping for another Paizo split should oned&d be the way folks are predicting. Again great article and thanks. Will be sharing with friends.
Exactly. I've just gotten into DnD and DMing in the last year and I have no interest changing everything up in a couple years. 5e for the long haul for me
A Conspiracy of Ravens
Thanks for the epic email mate! I had no idea what was going on with OneD&D. But your explanation was thorough and well written. I love 5e content and I’ll be sticking to whoever produces it. Cheers again.
Thomas Mustard
I just got started with 5e (a couple years now) and I don't want to learn new systems, buy new books, scrap all the DM work I have done for current campaigns. Your, and the communities, 5e work will be important for years to come.
David Geary
I don't think I've ever played any of the rulesets completely "straight" without homebrewing something, starting from when I got the blue box and going to when I played last week. I don't play "Pure 5e, and didn't play "pure 4e, 3.4, 2, advanced or basic. I always grab what I find cool in anything and mix it in there. I don't play pure pathfinder or starfinder, If it's fun and works for my table, it's in. I'll keep picking up your stuff as long as you keep producing it, I bet.
Jason Juillerat
I will NOT be making the move to One D&D. 5th is where I'm ending my love/hate relationship with WotC. Ive seen and read too many things that have brought me to that decision. I cant say with any certainty, but it almost seems like this is going to burn them as bad as 4E if not worse. Dave, please keep doing what you're doing, it works and is obviously successful. I'll continue being a Patron for 5E content but not One D&D. Perhaps maybe one day you might come up with a gaming system of your own. I'll sure as hell be one of first to support it! This last Kickstarter has got me all fired up for sure! Can't wait till next year! Keep being feckin awesome Dave & Team!!!
Frank Moore
When I first read through the UA for 6th Edition (I refuse to call it One D&D because only a complete idiot would believe that this is the LAST version of D&D which will be released), I was disappointed. Nope, that's too kind. Disgusted and infuriated would be more apt. My opinion softened when the second installment came out and then I saw the third installment and I went back to being disgusted and infuriated again. In times like that, I've found it helps to gain perspective of others. A friend, Skeeter Green, who's also an independent publisher, posted a link to this video blog from The Questing Beast (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1l198KwRfeo). In the video, Ben points out that D&D players tend to fall into two camps: Official D&D and Folk D&D. Folk D&D players (of which I am one) are the people who were playing not only when Gary Gygax was alive, but when he still ran TSR. We're the ones who have home-brewed worlds, house rules, and a propensity for confusing rules defined in the Expert Boxed Set with Rules from the Players' Handbook. Official D&D players tend to be newer to the hobby and generally adopt a Rules as Written (RAW) mindset and rely heavily on officially published materials. They're the ones complaining on social media about DM shortages. Given that perspective, I view the 6th edition as a release intended to bilk more money out of the Official D&D crowd, specifically targeting the ultra woke parochials who take offense at common game terms which were canonized before they were born (sorry, not sorry). Sadly, it also demonstrates the massive disconnect between Hasbro's WotC and its consumers because it seems to make an assumption (and a flawed one at that) that all D&D/RPG players operate similarly to the manner that MtG players do, in that they're always looking to purchase new content as soon as it comes out so that they don't miss out. My real concern is with Hasbro/WotC's plans for DnD Beyond. I have to say, I was slow to adopt it over paper and pencil. But once I did, I really loved the fact that it summarized my character's features and allowed me to highlight all its abilities in a way that made them accessible. The ability to single click a rest also made things easier for session resource management. I am troubled because I feel as though D&D Beyond is going to force me to have to play 6th Edition once that comes out. At that point, all of the money I've spent there is wasted. So, like you, I'm hopeful that the 5E ruleset and SRD will live on, healthily, beyond 2024, but I'm not sure. That said, as long as you're creating content for 5E, I'll be here supporting you.
Grakius
Before your survey I had not heard of One D&D. Now it seems to me popping up in various feeds. The info you just shared was the clearest and most succinct explanation I have read I will be a supporter of DM Dave as long as you keep making content. Long live the analog players!
