[4e] Is 3rd Party Publisher adoption of the GSL slow?

[naturaltwenty]

I know that the GSL was proposed, Goodman Games using copyright, Paizo's Pathfinder splinter, Necromancer talk-to-the-hand, GMS's Venture 4th, Mongoose's Wraith Recon, and a few other PDF companies are out there but are there any campaign products beyond WotC planned material?

For better or worse the OGL brought us Midnight, Freeport, Accordlands, Everquest, WoW, Conan, A Game of Thrones, Evermore, the list goes on and on....

Is the GSL that bad?

[Shroomy]

I know that the GSL was proposed, Goodman Games using copyright, Paizo's Pathfinder splinter, Necromancer talk-to-the-hand, GMS's Venture 4th, Mongoose's Wraith Recon, and a few other PDF companies are out there but are there any campaign products beyond WotC planned material?

For better or worse the OGL brought us Midnight, Freeport, Accordlands, Everquest, WoW, Conan, A Game of Thrones, Evermore, the list goes on and on....

Is the GSL that bad?

Its different in the sense that you can't use the GSL to create brand new game systems, but several of the companies that signed up are working on their own campaign settings. Here is a list of most of the companies that have signed the GSL:

http://wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/4dnd/partnerships

[Luke Fleeman]

The GSL is more restrictive and has some scary wordings that is scaring off third parties. Many of them are concerned about the implications of working with it.

OGL still works though!

[DJorgensen]

I know that the GSL was proposed, Goodman Games using copyright, Paizo's Pathfinder splinter, Necromancer talk-to-the-hand, GMS's Venture 4th, Mongoose's Wraith Recon, and a few other PDF companies are out there but are there any campaign products beyond WotC planned material?

For better or worse the OGL brought us Midnight, Freeport, Accordlands, Everquest, WoW, Conan, A Game of Thrones, Evermore, the list goes on and on....

Is the GSL that bad?

Considering the GSL gives WotC the right to tell you what to do with any IP you publish under the GSL, yes, it is that bad. When they terminate the GSL, and it is a matter of when, not if, they can stop you from converting any material you published under the GSL to another game system.

Given the giant "FU!" they just gave their PDF customers, there's absolutely no reason for any publisher to expect to be treated any better.

[Skywalker]

I know that the GSL was proposed, Goodman Games using copyright, Paizo's Pathfinder splinter, Necromancer talk-to-the-hand, GMS's Venture 4th, Mongoose's Wraith Recon, and a few other PDF companies are out there but are there any campaign products beyond WotC planned material?

For better or worse the OGL brought us Midnight, Freeport, Accordlands, Everquest, WoW, Conan, A Game of Thrones, Evermore, the list goes on and on....

Is the GSL that bad?

The GSL is more restrictive than the OGL in many ways. So I wouldn't expect the rash of new games that don't rely on D&D that the OGL allowed. On saying that its not as restrictive as many fear.

A number of 3PP are citing that the main reason for the slow publication are due to other things, such as:

1. The mechanical bar is much higher. To release a new class in 4e is much more work than 3e.

2. Character Builder is such an integral part of 4e in calculating bonuses that the fact that it won't support 3PP material is a significant handicap.

I am hoping that the above will focus 3PP to cover the significant gap in adventures and settings left by WotC. So, far only Alea Publishing and Mongoose seem to have recognised this opportunity.