The Citadel Is under Siege
- gregorymaness
- Jan 26, 2023
- 3 min read
Updated: Dec 20, 2024
We all make mistakes. We all miscalculate. We all occasionally create problems for ourselves that are entirely of our own creation. That is true of individuals and it is true of communities, organizations, and corporations.
In what was perhaps one of the most public and embarrassing instances of a major American corporation blundering about in a dark room and stubbing its toe on the corner of the bed frame that I have witnessed, Coca-Cola in 1985 decided to reformulate its namesake soda and unveiled a new and supposedly improved Coca-Cola, later referred to as "New Coke." Outrage by Coca-Cola's dedicated fans was swiftly made public. As someone that witnessed what amounted to a consumer call to arms, it was fascinating to watch. I myself was a Coca-Cola drinker, although Pepsi and Diet Pepsi were more commonly purchased by my parents for our home. Like many other Coca-Cola fans, I was shocked that the classic American soda was changed without our permission. The backlash was so fierce that Coca-Cola later reversed course and returned "Coca-Cola Classic" to the marketplace and in time "New Coke" was relegated to the dustbin of history. But not before giving PepsiCo, Inc. a very public win during the "Cola Wars."
I have written a handful of times on this blog about how I have purchased a variety of tabletop roleplaying game books , box sets, and accessories of late as a collector of sorts and how I intend to eventually return to playing these games. And Dungeons & Dragons or D&D is the godfather of these games. It is the game that is synonymous for many people with tabletop roleplaying games, just as Vaseline is synonymous with petroleum jelly and Kleenex is synonymous with facial tissue. For many players of these types of games, it is their first introduction to the hobby. And the keepers of the D&D legacy, Wizards of the Coast LLC/Hasbro have seemingly slammed all five toes on one foot painfully into the corner of the bed frame. The question is will they continue to painfully and repeatedly bang into the furniture and what will be the impact on their business and the hobby as a whole.
The kerfuffle stems from Wizards of the Coast LLC's/Hasbro's efforts to unveil a new, revised licensing agreement known as the open game license or OGL that allowed third parties to create content with the blessing of the game's owners. Arguably, the original OGL has helped D&D rise to unprecedented heights of popularity in recent years and has allowed a very passionate fan base to indulge their enthusiasm and their creativity to create content and perhaps even make a few bucks along the way. In fact, a number of companies have been created as a result of the original OGL. This has certainly appeared to result in a win-win for all involved. But perhaps predictably, someone in the lofty citadel of Wizards of the Coast LLC/Hasbro grew unhappy and now wants to renegotiate the terms of the arrangement. Much in same way that Darth Vader "renegotiated" with Lando Calrissian in The Empire Strikes Back (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3D8TEJtQRhw).
So now the barbarians are amassed at the gates of the citadel and they are in a foul mood.
It is not my intention to debate or examine the affair in any depth. As someone that has played the game in the past, it is my game too. But I am not as invested as many others, current players and game designers/developers/publishers, in the outcome. I have posted some links to articles and videos on the topic if you are interested in learning more about the affair. Just know that you are not the only one that miscalculates. 😉
https://www.msn.com/en-us/entertainment/gaming/analysis-nobody-could-dethrone-dungeons-dragons-excep
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