We got a STACKED selection of tabletop RPG news for you this week, readers! In today’s stories: Former DnD Designer Mike Mearls gives the WotC perspective on the OGL controversy, Critical Role waves goodbye to Campaign 3, The Pokemon Company shares a money problem with DnD, and Dimension 20 gets an official Webtoon.
DnD 5E Designer Mike Mearls Talks Candidly On OGL & Why DnD Is Now "Uncool"
Former Dungeons & Dragons developer Mike Mearls gave a revealing account of his time inside Wizards of the Coast from 2005-2023. He took part in a lengthy interview with DnD historian Ben Riggs, and the result was picked apart for the interesting bits by EN World. According to Mearls, WotC was genuinely surprised by the ill will garnered by the OGL debacle of 2023.
As Mearls tells it, the business intentions of the OGL began with the DnD boom of 2020. With the game’s popularity skyrocketing, WotC wanted to take advantage of licensing opportunities with other IPs. But the way the Open Game License worked, anyone could use the basic 5E rules without paying any royalties. An example hypothetical was Disney putting out a “Star Wars DnD” game using the OGL and raking in the cash while WotC got nothing.
In preparing for DnD 2024, WotC sent out a draft of the new OGL to certain partners for feedback. This in-progress version was what leaked and caused outrage. In the interview, Mearls and Riggs comment on how WotC’s perspective was that of being betrayed since a partner leaked the incomplete plan and it was taken in the worst possible light. Later on, Mearls predicts that DnD had its moment in the spotlight and is now “uncool again.”
Critical Role Ends Campaign 3 This Week, Campaign 4 Not Announced
Matthew Mercer and his merry band are set to end Critical Role Campaign 3 tonight, February 6. The announcement came during State of the Role where the cast said that there will be a double-length, 8.5 hour finale episode. After that, the Exandria Unlimited mini-series will return with a 4-parter DM’d by Brennan Lee Mulligan. There was no mention of a Critical Role Campaign 4, leading fans to speculate that the group might leave DnD behind for their home-published game Daggerheart.
The Pokemon Company Goes After Diamond To Reclaim Products
Pokemon is a rare topic in TTRPGs (although people do play Pokemon on StartPlaying), but the gaming giant is now wrapped up with DnD in a big bankruptcy domino effect. Diamond Comic Distributors went bankrupt earlier this month, which affected comic stores in a big way but also extended to collectible and gaming sales. Diamond went out owing money to companies like WotC and WizKids parent NECA.
The Pokemon Company International is one of the first to try and collect what it’s owed. It and a company called Fright-Rags Inc. filed reclamation claims, reports ICV2. These claims are an attempt to get back product that was given to Diamond on credit. Fright-Rags is looking to reclaim cases of Terminator trading cards while TPCI wants over $500,000 worth of shipments back.
Dimension 20 Scores Fantasy High Webtoon
The online comic phenomenon Webtoon is publishing a comic based on Dimension 20 Fantasy High. This official collaboration with Dropout appears to be an adaptation of Fantasy High season 1. Polygon notes that the Fantasy High Webtoon is already set for 61 chapters, hinting at a planned-out conclusion that would follow that of the show. The comic will drop this Spring exclusively on Webtoon.
Another week down, and the weekend is here! Thanks for ending your week with our little TTRPG news breakdown. If you play this weekend, may your dice be kind.
