WotC 2024 D&D Core Rules Will Be Added To SRD In 2025

The 2024 version of the D&D core rules will be included in an expanded version of the System Reference Document, and available to third parties via Creative Commons (though there is no mention of thr Open Gaming License). The new SRD 5.2 will be available early 2025 after the new Monster Manual has been released.

The new SRD will be localized in the languages which WotC supports.

Regarding the long-awaited SRDs for previous editions, WotC says that they will start reviewing those documents once the 2024 rulebooks are out.

 

[jerryrice4949]

Nice. Perhaps those who insist on using 5.whatever to identify the revision could settle on 5.2 to match the SRD.

Still, I wonder how many posts it will take for someone to spin this as a negative. I predict 7...

Over under on 3.5 posts. Darn too late.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

What I really like are two additional things:

• they explicitely state that the SRD 5.2 will be irrevocable and unchangeable by WotC.
• they won't touch the SRD 5.1, so everyone is free to use one or the other license.

I really can't see any way how someone spins this as negative... but probably I am underestimating some people who have an axe to grind... let's see

 

[MoonSong]

Pardon my ignorance, but what are the main differences between releasing the new SRD under the OGL, and releasing it under Creative Commons? Why would they want/need to do both?

The point is we should want to have both. Creative Commons is nice, but the viral nature of the OGL and the ability to remix with previous Open Game Content is nice. Currently the only way to access existing Open Game Content is through the OGL. Both are open licenses, but aren't compatible with each other.

 

[CleverNickName]

The point is we should want to have both. Creative Commons is nice, but the viral nature of the OGL and the ability to remix with previous Open Game Content is nice. Currently the only way to access existing Open Game Content is through the OGL. Both are open licenses, but aren't compatible with each other.

I guess that's the part that's confusing me. If both are open licenses, why would you need both? Isn't one always going to be enough? Is there ever a situation where one would be preferable to the other?

(I promise I'm not trolling. This has always been confusing to me.)

 

[Reynard]

I just get a sense of impatience. The 2024 SRD is clearly priority.

Releasing the old SRDs has no value to WotC except as a good will gesture. Therefore, it is easy to imagine that they will never see the light of day -- not because of mustache twirling malevolence, but because it doesn't matter to WotC and every day matters to fewer and fewer of its customers. Unfortunately, it continues to matter to companies and individuals that built livelihoods on the old SRDs (I don't know how many of those there are, but the number is not zero).

I am skeptical that they will ever release them into commons, but for the reason that it holds no value for WotC and therefore someone is going to have to make it a priority without any tangible payoff.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

The point is we should want to have both. Creative Commons is nice, but the viral nature of the OGL and the ability to remix with previous Open Game Content is nice. Currently the only way to access existing Open Game Content is through the OGL. Both are open licenses, but aren't compatible with each other.

Since everything will eventually go to creative commons, this seems to be just a temporary problem. Now we are good. And after SRD 5.2 gets out, most probably it won't take that long until older SRDs are released under CC.

 

[Reynard]

I hope the new SRD is released under the OGL also.

I'll bite: why? What value does the OGL have that CC lacks?

Never mind, I answered my own question.

 

[rules.mechanic]

It's great news, but it's also important to note that "SRD 5.2 will provide revised rules at the same scope as 5.1" so we may not see many subclasses or new bastion rules etc...

 

[Reynard]

I guess that's the part that's confusing me. If both are open licenses, why would you need both? Isn't one always going to be enough? Is there ever a situation where one would be preferable to the other?

(I promise I'm not trolling. This has always been confusing to me.)

It is easier under the OGL for people to also release their material as well, whereas there isn't really a mechanism as I understand it to release part of a document under CC.

If WotC believed in Open Gaming, they would have fixed the OGL by now. Failing that, they would release the 5E SRD under ORC. They won't.

 

[kenmarable]

The SRD under CC-BY-4.0 allows it to be used with the OGL, but not necessarily the other way around. So adding the 5.2 SRD to OGL is moot if it is CC-BY. OGL publishers will need to make sure you include both citations - proper OGL declaration with updated Section 15 and OGC declaration AND the CC-BY reference for the SRD.

It's not viral and if people want to only use WotC SRD content and nothing else, there are no requirements to open their work as well, which is something I'm not a fan of since there's value in the OGC Commons, but vast majority of 5e 3pp just use the SRD and completely ignore everyone else anyway. (It is ironic how many small 3pp were waving the "Open Gaming!" banner during the OGL Kerfuffle but don't open their own content. But anyway! )

But if you want to publish under the OGL, you can still use the 5.2 SRD after it is released under CC-BY-4.0. So it's the right move by WotC.