According to information released by WotC, and this thread over at the Enworld forum The new Game System License (GSL) for 4th Edition D&D has been released early and is every bit as restrictive as I had feared.

Linae Foster of WotC clarifies that:

• Publishers can put out a product under the OGL - OR - they can put out a product under a 4E GSL.
• 3.x or 4E
• Not both
• One or t’other
• By “mutual exclusivity” I mean, different versions of the same product cannot occur at the same time.

Regarding ‘Mandatory Restrictions’ in the GSL, Scott Rouse, also from WotC, states that:

No Covered Product may contain rules or instructions of any kind that:

• Describe a process for Creating a Character
• Describe a process for Applying the Effects of Experience to a Character

No Covered Product may change or extend the definition of any Defined Game Term as enumerated in this Guide.

No Covered Product may include “Miniatures.”

No Covered Product may use the term “Core Book” on its cover, title, advertising, or self-reference.

No Covered Product may be an “Interactive Game” as defined in this Guide.

It is very clear that they want people and companies to support their new product line - after spending multi-millions in developing it - why shouldn’t they? So it will remain a company by company choice whether to remain under the 3.x OGL, or move to the new GSL.

For the above reasons alone, I shall not be adopting the GSL for this site, or for the LoreWeaver Wiki. I’ll have more to say about this later in Table Talk, as more information, community and 3rd party reaction takes place.