But, though third party creators have contributed to 5e, who is the company that created it in the first place? I’m not saying that we should attack the TPC’s but we need to stop talking all this shit about WoTC.
This does not make them immune to vaild criticism. Who wrote the frist published 5e adventure? Kobold Press was commissioned to do so, not WotC. They use the talent that 3PP fostered all the time. This will affact the quality of future DnD products and thus everyone should concerned. Also: Competition breeds the best result for customers - not monopolies.
But, though third party creators have contributed to 5e, who is the company that created it in the first place? I’m not saying that we should attack the TPC’s but we need to stop talking all this shit about WoTC.
This does not make them immune to vaild criticism. Who wrote the frist published 5e adventure? Kobold Press was commissioned to do so, not WotC. They use the talent that 3PP fostered all the time. This will affact the quality of future DnD products and thus everyone should concerned. Also: Competition breeds the best result for customers - not monopolies.
Could not agree more. More over: corporations are NOT owed our loyalty, and the sooner that attitude dies the better. They are not our "friends", they are not "just your friendly IP owner", NO: they are a business. At best we're a valued customer to them... at worst (and it seems to be the case here) we're wallets on legs, or a series of anonymous numbers.
There isn't a publicly available copy of OGL 1.1 around, so we are all working on conjecture.
D&D 4th edition shot itself in the foot by not using the OGL, and D&D 6th edition would be doing the same thing if the the OGL 1.1 rumours are true.
Everybody can stay on D&D 5th edition without issue - but they might have to find a different character creator since dndbeyond will be updated to use the newer OGL.
There isn't a publicly available copy of OGL 1.1 around, so we are all working on conjecture.
D&D 4th edition shot itself in the foot by not using the OGL, and D&D 6th edition would be doing the same thing if the the OGL 1.1 rumours are true.
Everybody can stay on D&D 5th edition without issue - but they might have to find a different character creator since dndbeyond will be updated to use the newer OGL.
If the rumours are true, there won't be any legal 5e character creators. All other companion apps would also cease to exist. These are issues.
I can not wait for WotC to stop publishing printed books.
At that point you will get instant updates, even if you do not want them, but they can then charge you internet access fees just to read them.
Sure you "own" the books you paid for but the access is very costly for them to provide. You will just have to pay a very small fee monthly for that service. Can you imagine, DM;s will pay a higher fee than simple players because they have to access more books. Bringing in outside content will not be allowed unless a small fee is paid. .........
Hey I am just imagining how bad it could get. I am not saying that it will ever get that bad.
If they ever stop publishing printed material they will soon be out of business. But printed material does not make a continuing revenue stream. Once bought forever owned.
Funny enough, that was basically what they did with 4e.
There were so many powers, and most of them were constantly changed for "balance" that the physical books quickly became obsolete and the best way to build a character was through their paid app.
There isn't a publicly available copy of OGL 1.1 around, so we are all working on conjecture.
D&D 4th edition shot itself in the foot by not using the OGL, and D&D 6th edition would be doing the same thing if the the OGL 1.1 rumours are true.
Everybody can stay on D&D 5th edition without issue - but they might have to find a different character creator since dndbeyond will be updated to use the newer OGL.
Yes, it is conjecture, but considering that if the leak was completely made up, WotC would have stomped it down 2 seconds after the Gizmodo article came out. And considering what we've "seen" of OGL 1.1 there is a deadline of January 13th (which is 5 days from now) for creators to move to One D&D, so this probably isn't a draft from weeks or months ago, it is probably final, or as near final as it can be before the deadline. Which does worry me. I originally was a "wait until we see something official" when the OGL controversy started up early December. But now I'm not so sure.
There isn't a publicly available copy of OGL 1.1 around, so we are all working on conjecture.
D&D 4th edition shot itself in the foot by not using the OGL, and D&D 6th edition would be doing the same thing if the the OGL 1.1 rumours are true.
Everybody can stay on D&D 5th edition without issue - but they might have to find a different character creator since dndbeyond will be updated to use the newer OGL.
Yes, it is conjecture, but considering that if the leak was completely made up, WotC would have stomped it down 2 seconds after the Gizmodo article came out. And considering what we've "seen" of OGL 1.1 there is a deadline of January 13th (which is 5 days from now) for creators to move to One D&D, so this probably isn't a draft from weeks or months ago, it is probably final, or as near final as it can be before the deadline. Which does worry me. I originally was a "wait until we see something official" when the OGL controversy started up early December. But now I'm not so sure.
That same document said that the OGL 1.1 would be released to the public on the 4th too. That didn't happen.
Funny thing is that is the only part of this whole thing that can be completely vetted to be either right or wrong and it was wrong.
But, though third party creators have contributed to 5e, who is the company that created it in the first place? I’m not saying that we should attack the TPC’s but we need to stop talking all this shit about WoTC.
TSR created it. Wizards just came along and bought it. Then Hasbro bought Wizards.
There isn't a publicly available copy of OGL 1.1 around, so we are all working on conjecture.
D&D 4th edition shot itself in the foot by not using the OGL, and D&D 6th edition would be doing the same thing if the the OGL 1.1 rumours are true.
Everybody can stay on D&D 5th edition without issue - but they might have to find a different character creator since dndbeyond will be updated to use the newer OGL.
Yes, it is conjecture, but considering that if the leak was completely made up, WotC would have stomped it down 2 seconds after the Gizmodo article came out. And considering what we've "seen" of OGL 1.1 there is a deadline of January 13th (which is 5 days from now) for creators to move to One D&D, so this probably isn't a draft from weeks or months ago, it is probably final, or as near final as it can be before the deadline. Which does worry me. I originally was a "wait until we see something official" when the OGL controversy started up early December. But now I'm not so sure.
Don't forget that several people who have seen the draft, including the head of games at Kickstarter, have basically gone "Yep. Story is accurate."
There isn't a publicly available copy of OGL 1.1 around, so we are all working on conjecture.
D&D 4th edition shot itself in the foot by not using the OGL, and D&D 6th edition would be doing the same thing if the the OGL 1.1 rumours are true.
Everybody can stay on D&D 5th edition without issue - but they might have to find a different character creator since dndbeyond will be updated to use the newer OGL.
Yes, it is conjecture, but considering that if the leak was completely made up, WotC would have stomped it down 2 seconds after the Gizmodo article came out. And considering what we've "seen" of OGL 1.1 there is a deadline of January 13th (which is 5 days from now) for creators to move to One D&D, so this probably isn't a draft from weeks or months ago, it is probably final, or as near final as it can be before the deadline. Which does worry me. I originally was a "wait until we see something official" when the OGL controversy started up early December. But now I'm not so sure.
Don't forget that several people who have seen the draft, including the head of games at Kickstarter, have basically gone "Yep. Story is accurate."
That isn't actually what Kickstarter said at all. They never once confirmed or denied anything other than they are part of the negotiations and that they know what the numbers are.
Edit: Just because someone has seen the document being circulated, doesn't actually prove that it is the real deal either. I could write a document and show it around saying that WotC made it, that would not make it true.
How can I point this out even more simplistically...
Third party support is what helps a system succeed. They allow a system to have more content than a single creator ever could produce alone, AND it allow said content to target audiences that the single creator would never think to or attempt to. There is no way that WOTC alone could equal the amount of content that third party publishers put out. So it was with gaming in the 5th and 6th generations, so it is now in TTRPGs: the third parties are the king-makers, no king rules alone. By making their future uncertain, WOTC has already forced many of these small companies with narrow profit margins to hedge their bets elsewhere. Even if they retreat from the land-grab that OGL 1.1 represents... which they probably won't. With them gone, and a number are already gone; the pool of content for One D&D/6e has already shrunk.
And, again, I do not support WotC in attacking the ogl or third party creators, but I’m saying that we need to stop attacking WotC so harshly until the rumors have been proven true.
I DM professionally on the side and teach high school as a day job as well as run our school's D&D Club. Everyone of my paid members have been put on notice about the proposed change and all are super pissed. Some of my student club members have already messaged me this weekend about my thoughts because they're super pissed, too. Does WOTC really think that current customers and future customers (who they're looking to most likely monetize regularly through subscriptions and VTT microtransactions) will just continue to pay some membership fee when all of this eventually bubbles up for all players to learn about? I think we give the marketplace little credit in situations like this.
You pay the cable company, not because you love them, but because there is typically little choice in the marketplace. We all think cable companies suck because of their horrific service and exorbitant pricing models. The TTRPG marketplace is rich with choice. D&D is big, but when there's quality choice for a cheaper price out there, people vote with their feet and wallets. D&D will stick around for quite a while yet, but Hasbro's ability to monetize this brand for the long term will suffer greatly because of this bone-headed move.
Like the part that gets to me the most about all of this is that WotC could be looking to actively hire and/or compensate people for stuff that they use and the act of doing so would both increase the ammount of content that they're putting out and also cause 3rd parties to up their game in hopes of getting those contracts.
Instead we have this absurd cash grab that only the biggest simps could defend.
How can I point this out even more simplistically...
Third party support is what helps a system succeed. They allow a system to have more content than a single creator ever could produce alone, AND it allow said content to target audiences that the single creator would never think to or attempt to. There is no way that WOTC alone could equal the amount of content that third party publishers put out. So it was with gaming in the 5th and 6th generations, so it is now in TTRPGs: the third parties are the king-makers, no king rules alone. By making their future uncertain, WOTC has already forced many of these small companies with narrow profit margins to hedge their bets elsewhere. Even if they retreat from the land-grab that OGL 1.1 represents... which they probably won't. With them gone, and a number are already gone; the pool of content for One D&D/6e has already shrunk.
And, again, I do not support WotC in attacking the ogl or third party creators, but I’m saying that we need to stop attacking WotC so harshly until the rumors have been proven true.
Rumblings about the direction of D&D and the OGL have been ongoing for a month and the company has done nothing to clarify the situation. This is either a level of PR incompetence that should be getting someone fired or they have gotten busted with their hand in the cookie jar and simply don't care.
In either event they deserve castigation for their efforts, not patience and understanding.
if the rumors check out, and everything I read seems to confirm that they do unless they smell the fart they just dropped and decide to change course before it becomes official, then this is a massive middle finger to try and nuke Paizo and Kobold press and the likes... the net result is that they will force those companies, and others, to create their own gaming system... which is replicating the situation with the 4e GSL that caused Paizo to become a thing in the first place... so they're trying to pull a stunt that backfired big time in the past. Now, that particular middle finger is understandable, because as they say, the release wasn't intended as a freebie for their competitors (or rather, in their hubris they never thought that real competition would be a possibility)... but the predatory and ruthless way they go about it is going to screw over pretty much everybody else too.. people who collectively don't even reach a 1% turnover of WotC and who's work actually enriches WotC because it keeps so many players tied to this particular gaming system, are going to find their entire projects, current kickstarters, recently funded ones, and new stuff they aim to launch, to be completely gauged from under their feet, putting them out of business. The only way forward for them is side with the bigger players in some sort of class action, but that too requires resources that most of the small creators cannot possibly invest in this whilst at the same time having to go back to looking for a day job. Yes, Hasbro has the right to do this (although if the text is as reported they are going to be attacked on the timeline they are proposing for people to "cease and desist" because such a timeline has to be at least somewhat reasonable and 10 days just isn't it)... I was saying, yes, Hasbro has the right to defend their IP and their product however they see fit.... but it is a scummy move that belies a lack of understanding of the community and how the third party creations have fueled the community and kept things interesting for everybody involved.
It so happens that I have fairly recently renewed my subscription to DnDbeyond, but I am seriously considering buying the books I haven't got yet in paper format to ensure that I won't loose them in the upcoming shift to One DnD. I fully expect printed books to eventually become a thing of the past, and in the new paradigm postulated by this leaked document, I now also expect that my ability to enjoy the future editions moving forward will forever be held hostage by whatever shape and microtransaction and royalty fee markup the future holds. I have, by paying the DnDBeyond subscription, now paid the books that I "own" a few times over... and I was fine with it. I accepted the tradeoff of having to keep paying for content I already have paid once when I bought it to be able to access it, with the ease offered by the character creator and so on... now, that goodwill is dwindling, and I assume the same can be said for many other players.
I think WotC will see a spike in sales in paper copies, and then a solid chunk of people riding out their subscription and then set sail to friendlier shores.. Not all of us have been brought up listening to music on spotify.. some of us still buy CDs and vinyl and listen to the music we like on our terms rather than those of the provider... I don't need a VTT.. I can just as well play with a webcam pointed at my kitchen-table and running a zoom call. I use VTTs and was willing to consider eventually using WotC's own one when the time came, because they're available... if suddenly WotC's is going to become the only one on the market, then I will think twice whether I want my hobby to be held hostage by them, especially after they pull this stunt (again, if it's confirmed).
That of course is just my 2cents, and in the grand scheme of things that's more than the turnover WotC will lose if I take my business elsewhere... but I suspect, and sorta hope, that I am not alone.
Finally, the whole "we expect pushback but are also open to being told we have made a mistake" bit is such a bit of PR varnish that it's laughable.. it's obviously written by someone who does engage with the community and has studied media communication, but has exactly 0 pull to make that promise... There is not going to be a dialogue or a modification in the company's intents and strategies.. those are coming from the top of the food-chain... it's frankly irritating to see this happen. I've actually worked in the toy industry for over a decade and rubbed elbows with these people, and people like them, at tradeshows, in a previous career... they are suits, through and through and my outlook on this issue can't be anything but grim.
How can I point this out even more simplistically...
Third party support is what helps a system succeed. They allow a system to have more content than a single creator ever could produce alone, AND it allow said content to target audiences that the single creator would never think to or attempt to. There is no way that WOTC alone could equal the amount of content that third party publishers put out. So it was with gaming in the 5th and 6th generations, so it is now in TTRPGs: the third parties are the king-makers, no king rules alone. By making their future uncertain, WOTC has already forced many of these small companies with narrow profit margins to hedge their bets elsewhere. Even if they retreat from the land-grab that OGL 1.1 represents... which they probably won't. With them gone, and a number are already gone; the pool of content for One D&D/6e has already shrunk.
And, again, I do not support WotC in attacking the ogl or third party creators, but I’m saying that we need to stop attacking WotC so harshly until the rumors have been proven true.
The problem with this approach is that by the time partial releases are proven to be true it will likely be too late to make a difference. The 4th edition GSL was extremely unpopular but it stayed in effect for 6 years despite dnd actually becoming less popular than pathfinder. They didn't change it until they released a new edition in 5e. We thus have a pretty good example of how WotC is likely to handle controversy. Once a license like this is officially released it will be much more difficult to get WotC to change it so the time to make it clear that the proposed OGL 1.1 will lose them money is now.
Again, all of this controversy started from a rumor, a rumor that still hasn’t checked out. I think that we should stop arguing until we know for sure that the rumors are true.
Again, all of this controversy started from a rumor, a rumor that still hasn’t checked out. I think that we should stop arguing until we know for sure that the rumors are true.
We're all in a pot and it's getting warmer but surely they wouldn't bring the water all the way up to a boil. We just heard our appointed lookout say they saw the chef turn up the heat even more but that's just a rumor. Lets do nothing; surely that will make everything better. /s
The fact is that critical aspects of the leaked OGL 1.1 documents have been independently confirmed by several people in the media and within the industry. Businesses think this is serious enough to pay money to a lawyer to send a threatening letter. They've also started publicly speaking out against WotC despite having an interest in preserving a positive relationship with the central actor in the industry/source of a lot of contract work. There is every reason for the public to take this seriously and to act now while we have time to influence the public release.
Again, all of this controversy started from a rumor, a rumor that still hasn’t checked out. I think that we should stop arguing until we know for sure that the rumors are true.
Griffon's Saddlebag, among others, has confirmed some stuff, and so have Kickstarter. We're out of the territory of rumors and in the territory of "probably true"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Leaving OGL 1.0(a) untouched and making SRD 5.1 CC-BY-4.0 is a great first step. The next is a promise to do the same for future editions. Here's a discussion thread on that.
This does not make them immune to vaild criticism. Who wrote the frist published 5e adventure? Kobold Press was commissioned to do so, not WotC. They use the talent that 3PP fostered all the time. This will affact the quality of future DnD products and thus everyone should concerned. Also: Competition breeds the best result for customers - not monopolies.
Could not agree more. More over: corporations are NOT owed our loyalty, and the sooner that attitude dies the better. They are not our "friends", they are not "just your friendly IP owner", NO: they are a business. At best we're a valued customer to them... at worst (and it seems to be the case here) we're wallets on legs, or a series of anonymous numbers.
There isn't a publicly available copy of OGL 1.1 around, so we are all working on conjecture.
D&D 4th edition shot itself in the foot by not using the OGL, and D&D 6th edition would be doing the same thing if the the OGL 1.1 rumours are true.
Everybody can stay on D&D 5th edition without issue - but they might have to find a different character creator since dndbeyond will be updated to use the newer OGL.
If the rumours are true, there won't be any legal 5e character creators. All other companion apps would also cease to exist. These are issues.
Funny enough, that was basically what they did with 4e.
There were so many powers, and most of them were constantly changed for "balance" that the physical books quickly became obsolete and the best way to build a character was through their paid app.
Yes, it is conjecture, but considering that if the leak was completely made up, WotC would have stomped it down 2 seconds after the Gizmodo article came out. And considering what we've "seen" of OGL 1.1 there is a deadline of January 13th (which is 5 days from now) for creators to move to One D&D, so this probably isn't a draft from weeks or months ago, it is probably final, or as near final as it can be before the deadline. Which does worry me. I originally was a "wait until we see something official" when the OGL controversy started up early December. But now I'm not so sure.
EZD6 by DM Scotty
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397599/EZD6-Core-Rulebook?
That same document said that the OGL 1.1 would be released to the public on the 4th too. That didn't happen.
Funny thing is that is the only part of this whole thing that can be completely vetted to be either right or wrong and it was wrong.
She/Her Player and Dungeon Master
TSR created it. Wizards just came along and bought it. Then Hasbro bought Wizards.
Don't forget that several people who have seen the draft, including the head of games at Kickstarter, have basically gone "Yep. Story is accurate."
That isn't actually what Kickstarter said at all. They never once confirmed or denied anything other than they are part of the negotiations and that they know what the numbers are.
Edit: Just because someone has seen the document being circulated, doesn't actually prove that it is the real deal either. I could write a document and show it around saying that WotC made it, that would not make it true.
She/Her Player and Dungeon Master
And, again, I do not support WotC in attacking the ogl or third party creators, but I’m saying that we need to stop attacking WotC so harshly until the rumors have been proven true.
I uses to be dndlover_2.
How can I point this out even more simplistically...
And there is no reason to be rude.
I uses to be dndlover_2.
I DM professionally on the side and teach high school as a day job as well as run our school's D&D Club. Everyone of my paid members have been put on notice about the proposed change and all are super pissed. Some of my student club members have already messaged me this weekend about my thoughts because they're super pissed, too. Does WOTC really think that current customers and future customers (who they're looking to most likely monetize regularly through subscriptions and VTT microtransactions) will just continue to pay some membership fee when all of this eventually bubbles up for all players to learn about? I think we give the marketplace little credit in situations like this.
You pay the cable company, not because you love them, but because there is typically little choice in the marketplace. We all think cable companies suck because of their horrific service and exorbitant pricing models. The TTRPG marketplace is rich with choice. D&D is big, but when there's quality choice for a cheaper price out there, people vote with their feet and wallets. D&D will stick around for quite a while yet, but Hasbro's ability to monetize this brand for the long term will suffer greatly because of this bone-headed move.
DM - Tales From the Yawning Portal
Like the part that gets to me the most about all of this is that WotC could be looking to actively hire and/or compensate people for stuff that they use and the act of doing so would both increase the ammount of content that they're putting out and also cause 3rd parties to up their game in hopes of getting those contracts.
Instead we have this absurd cash grab that only the biggest simps could defend.
Rumblings about the direction of D&D and the OGL have been ongoing for a month and the company has done nothing to clarify the situation. This is either a level of PR incompetence that should be getting someone fired or they have gotten busted with their hand in the cookie jar and simply don't care.
In either event they deserve castigation for their efforts, not patience and understanding.
if the rumors check out, and everything I read seems to confirm that they do unless they smell the fart they just dropped and decide to change course before it becomes official, then this is a massive middle finger to try and nuke Paizo and Kobold press and the likes...
the net result is that they will force those companies, and others, to create their own gaming system... which is replicating the situation with the 4e GSL that caused Paizo to become a thing in the first place... so they're trying to pull a stunt that backfired big time in the past.
Now, that particular middle finger is understandable, because as they say, the release wasn't intended as a freebie for their competitors (or rather, in their hubris they never thought that real competition would be a possibility)... but the predatory and ruthless way they go about it is going to screw over pretty much everybody else too..
people who collectively don't even reach a 1% turnover of WotC and who's work actually enriches WotC because it keeps so many players tied to this particular gaming system, are going to find their entire projects, current kickstarters, recently funded ones, and new stuff they aim to launch, to be completely gauged from under their feet, putting them out of business.
The only way forward for them is side with the bigger players in some sort of class action, but that too requires resources that most of the small creators cannot possibly invest in this whilst at the same time having to go back to looking for a day job.
Yes, Hasbro has the right to do this (although if the text is as reported they are going to be attacked on the timeline they are proposing for people to "cease and desist" because such a timeline has to be at least somewhat reasonable and 10 days just isn't it)... I was saying, yes, Hasbro has the right to defend their IP and their product however they see fit.... but it is a scummy move that belies a lack of understanding of the community and how the third party creations have fueled the community and kept things interesting for everybody involved.
It so happens that I have fairly recently renewed my subscription to DnDbeyond, but I am seriously considering buying the books I haven't got yet in paper format to ensure that I won't loose them in the upcoming shift to One DnD. I fully expect printed books to eventually become a thing of the past, and in the new paradigm postulated by this leaked document, I now also expect that my ability to enjoy the future editions moving forward will forever be held hostage by whatever shape and microtransaction and royalty fee markup the future holds.
I have, by paying the DnDBeyond subscription, now paid the books that I "own" a few times over... and I was fine with it. I accepted the tradeoff of having to keep paying for content I already have paid once when I bought it to be able to access it, with the ease offered by the character creator and so on...
now, that goodwill is dwindling, and I assume the same can be said for many other players.
I think WotC will see a spike in sales in paper copies, and then a solid chunk of people riding out their subscription and then set sail to friendlier shores..
Not all of us have been brought up listening to music on spotify.. some of us still buy CDs and vinyl and listen to the music we like on our terms rather than those of the provider...
I don't need a VTT.. I can just as well play with a webcam pointed at my kitchen-table and running a zoom call.
I use VTTs and was willing to consider eventually using WotC's own one when the time came, because they're available... if suddenly WotC's is going to become the only one on the market, then I will think twice whether I want my hobby to be held hostage by them, especially after they pull this stunt (again, if it's confirmed).
That of course is just my 2cents, and in the grand scheme of things that's more than the turnover WotC will lose if I take my business elsewhere... but I suspect, and sorta hope, that I am not alone.
Finally, the whole "we expect pushback but are also open to being told we have made a mistake" bit is such a bit of PR varnish that it's laughable.. it's obviously written by someone who does engage with the community and has studied media communication, but has exactly 0 pull to make that promise... There is not going to be a dialogue or a modification in the company's intents and strategies.. those are coming from the top of the food-chain... it's frankly irritating to see this happen. I've actually worked in the toy industry for over a decade and rubbed elbows with these people, and people like them, at tradeshows, in a previous career... they are suits, through and through and my outlook on this issue can't be anything but grim.
The problem with this approach is that by the time partial releases are proven to be true it will likely be too late to make a difference. The 4th edition GSL was extremely unpopular but it stayed in effect for 6 years despite dnd actually becoming less popular than pathfinder. They didn't change it until they released a new edition in 5e. We thus have a pretty good example of how WotC is likely to handle controversy. Once a license like this is officially released it will be much more difficult to get WotC to change it so the time to make it clear that the proposed OGL 1.1 will lose them money is now.
Again, all of this controversy started from a rumor, a rumor that still hasn’t checked out. I think that we should stop arguing until we know for sure that the rumors are true.
I uses to be dndlover_2.
We're all in a pot and it's getting warmer but surely they wouldn't bring the water all the way up to a boil. We just heard our appointed lookout say they saw the chef turn up the heat even more but that's just a rumor. Lets do nothing; surely that will make everything better. /s
The fact is that critical aspects of the leaked OGL 1.1 documents have been independently confirmed by several people in the media and within the industry. Businesses think this is serious enough to pay money to a lawyer to send a threatening letter. They've also started publicly speaking out against WotC despite having an interest in preserving a positive relationship with the central actor in the industry/source of a lot of contract work. There is every reason for the public to take this seriously and to act now while we have time to influence the public release.
Griffon's Saddlebag, among others, has confirmed some stuff, and so have Kickstarter. We're out of the territory of rumors and in the territory of "probably true"
Leaving OGL 1.0(a) untouched and making SRD 5.1 CC-BY-4.0 is a great first step. The next is a promise to do the same for future editions. Here's a discussion thread on that.
#OpenDnD
DDB is great, but it could be better. Here are some things I think could improve DDB