Major third-party Dungeons and Dragons publisher Kobold Press just announced it is making a new tabletop roleplaying game. The new system is being designed in response to the recent Dungeons and Dragons controversies surrounding Wizards of the Coast's changes to its Open Game License for One D&D.Kobold Press is one of the largest and most popular publishers of third-party Dungeons and Dragons content. In 2014, Wizards of the Coast commissioned Kobold Press to write Hoard of the Dragon Queen and Rise of Tiamat–the first two official adventure paths released for 5th Edition Dungeons and Dragons. Since then, it has gone on to release dozens of critically-acclaimed third-party products, including the Tome of Beasts and Midgard campaign setting books.RELATED: Former Wizards of the Coast Vice President Doesn't Think Dungeons and Dragons can Revoke the Old OGLNow, Kobold Press is starting a brand new TTRPG project from the ground up. Code named “Project Black Flag,” this new Core Fantasy tabletop ruleset promises to be open, available, and subscription-free. Though it will still finish its current 5th Edition projects, it seems like its future endeavors will be for its own system. Kobold Press’ announcement was so popular that players crashed its site from the sudden influx of traffic.

Wizards of the Coast is in hot water with the Dungeons and Dragons community after the new OGL documents leaked ahead of schedule. The OGL 1.1 introduces heavy oversight, royalties, and full creative control of homebrew Dungeons and Dragons content, while simultaneously revoking the decades-old original OGL. Its unpopular actions have caught fire across social media, with millions of Twitter posts causing subjects like “D&D” and “OGL” to trend for several weeks.

At face value, the new Dungeons and Dragons OGL’s restrictions are to avoid making competition for itself. PathfinderDungeons and Dragons’ biggest competitor–was created by Paizo using the original OGL. That said, Pathfinder only exists because Dungeons and Dragons refused to carry the OGL into 4th Edition Dungeons and Dragons. By repeating its past mistakes with the OGL 1.1, Wizards of the Coast may be setting up Kobold Press to become the new Paizo.

If the overloaded site is any indication, jaded Dungeons and Dragons fans are excited to see what Kobold Press comes up with. Many players were hoping some of the big homebrew Dungeons and Dragons publishers would stand up to Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast, and they are glad to see a beloved company like Kobold Press doing so. If other gaming groups like Critical Role refuse to follow Wizards of the Coast’s new policies as well, Dungeons and Dragons could have a big problem on its hands.

Dungeons and Dragons is available now. One D&D is in development.

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Source: Kobold Press