Today, December 31, 2008, is the LAST day for the D20 License (or D20STL). Established as a trademark license for DnD's 3rd edition OGL related material, the D20 license gave Wizards of the Coasts a small amount of control over 3rd party publications. Most notably, the Book of Erotic Fantasy, caused WotC to alter the license so that the Valar Publications product could not be released under the D20 license. Many publishers have since abandoned the D20 license in favor of the less restrictive OGL.

Today marks the day WotC has stipulated that the license is terminated. No further products are allowed to be released with the D20 logo.

So long D20STL! We saw a lot of good material (and arguably more crap) under your logo.

Wow.... it's like there is a little empty spot inside that can never be filled.

So now I know how you 2nd Edition people who refused to move to 3.X feel. I'm am not impressed at all with 4th ed. I'll just stick with 3.X.

I wonder if this affects Paizo's 3.75 version at all?

Not one bit. They are going open source all the way. The modified rules are based enough on the 3.5 system that it HAS to be OGL. I think they will not license the names of the gods and locations but other than that, it should be OGL.

Not that it matters anymore I guess, but what was the difference between the STL and the OGL?
And what exactly does the end of the STL mean to us gamers?

I've never got into D20 games, so I've a hard time guessing...

The STL was a more WotC controlled license. You actually had to submit your work to be "OK-ed" be Wizards. Basically more hoops but it was supposed to be of higher quality. Not that it worked out that way...

Ah, thanks!
Anyone know when the OGL expires?

that's the beauty part... it doesn't. Ever. The OGL was written without a way to terminate it.

Oooh ... cool... So not all the Wizards of the Coast are necromancers?

Well... i won't say that. The guys and gals responsible for the OGL back in 2000 aren't evil... the guys responsible for 4e? I don't know...