Just got a mail from DMsG telling me they are pulling all extensions for sale out

[damned]

Just posting my humble opinion so they can read all about it...
I don't understand how WoTC can shadow ban extensions to a program they do not author. If the extensions violated content, perhaps, but ones that are designed to enhance functionality of the program (not under authorship, maintenance, or control of WoTC), I just don't see it. Unless SmiteWorks was somehow stupid enough to relinquish control of their product's development to a 3rd party... ???
But I do know this... I've spent thousands of dollars on FG, including additional content, over the years. If they are going to revoke my right to access those products, then they owe me a full refund for depriving my continued use of said product(s). I don't care if 'they' ultimately = SW, DMsGuild, or WoTC. That's between them to fight out. All I know is, I legally bought a product in good faith, and I am entitled to continued use...IMHO. I accept refunds in the form of cash only, NOT "store credit" -- for the record.
This is just one more way WoTC is continuing to drive the enjoyment of the hoby into the dirt. Good luck with that. I hear PF2 is a better product than 5E, anyway...
/end rant

Everything you bought was made available to you to download.
Most likely everything you bought can still be downloaded.
No one has taken away your rights to use anything you have bought.
They just wont sell you any new products that are primarily code vs content.

[Roach]

As I understand it, DMsG essentially is a joint initiative between WOTC and OneBookShelf to have a platform dedicated exclusively for 5E content. This does include FG modules that contain 5E specific material such as third-party adventures, tips and tricks to official adventures, map packs and similar for official adventures, new character classes and so on. Extensions for FG not only could be used for other game systems but also effectively are content specific for Fantasy Grounds, and therefore do not fall under the data that DMs Guild is supposed/allowed to offer. Therefore, DMsG, when asked by Smite Works to release the mentioned extension [because it was not 5E exclusive] could not pretend not to know that this content did not fall under the provisos of the site. By asking WOTC, the Guild passed on the buck as to whether to allow extensions, and Wizards, as one of the owners and completely unwilling to offer a platform for their competition, told them to remove the extension in question – and probably hinting that these extensions were non grata, which in turn forced the Guild to start acting the way they are now. I can understand Wizards' stance on competition using infrastructure that Wizards pays for, I can understand the Guild not wanting to poke the bear any more, all in all I am not willing to point fingers but have to say this definitely is what the Armed Forces so colorfully call a snafu. With no one really to blame

[ddavison]

tbh, I looked over the many extensions I've bought over the last few months, and I'm not sure I see what WotC has a problem with ... unless it's that the extensions (at least the ones I have) aren't so much about D&D, and are more about FGU. It seems to me that none of the extensions (that I have anyway) are in any way infringing on ip anywhere. Does WotC really have the right to say what DMsG can and can't have? Is that their agreement?

That said, it would be a LOT easier to have all my extensions and modules in one place, though I'm unlikely to repurchase things I've already bought.

Good point. Our solution will probably need to allow creators to gift copies to buyers who already bought it.

[damned]

Good point. Our solution will probably need to allow creators to gift copies to buyers who already bought it.

You will need OBS to share that data with you and they may not be able to (privacy) as the creators do not get access to this.
I dont even think creators on DMsGuild (unless you are on the top tier) can even send buyers a message say with a discount code.

[mattekure]

You will need OBS to share that data with you and they may not be able to (privacy) as the creators do not get access to this.
I dont even think creators on DMsGuild (unless you are on the top tier) can even send buyers a message say with a discount code.

I know that DMsGuild does not have the ability for a publisher to contact customers, but I believe thats not true across all OneBookshelf sites. DTRPG allows a publisher to contact customers, and each customer can elect which publishers they will allow messages from. DTRPG also emails you when a product is updated.

[ddavison]

You will need OBS to share that data with you and they may not be able to (privacy) as the creators do not get access to this.
I dont even think creators on DMsGuild (unless you are on the top tier) can even send buyers a message say with a discount code.

Interesting. I didn't realize this either since we get access to our sales info from our Publisher account over at OBS. Well, that is less useful but the customer may need to have some ability to send the receipt to the extension author so they know that they've already purchased it.

[Milmoor]

If DMSGuild only allows mods, sell just the mod there and make the extension dependent on the availability of that mod. Offer the extension elsewhere, for example at FG. Either the mod or the extension could even be free, since they rely on each other. Preferably they both should be able to function as stand alone product, to avoid bad blood for circumventing the rules.

Source references:
Diablobob suggested something similar on the Rob2e Discord server. Quote available on request .

[ssides]

Absolute trashy move as Fantasy Grounds is missing vital features that are required to mod into with extensions.
It is unreasonable and tbh crazy.

I would suggest in response to this that DMs Guild is not the only way extensions have ever been available. The community had a thriving extension component in the forums long before any of them was ever monetized...

[DGM]

It's all a bit sudden and we haven't had a chance to fully react and plan for a suitable solution. The one thing we've spoken about previously was that we intended to make something called a Fantasy Grounds Forge, where creators could post their own creations (no copyright protected content) and list it for sale, for free, etc. Users could subscribe to those creations and they would get updated alongside normal FG updates. I built an early prototype and the start of a database to do this about a year ago but it's been on the back-burner. John and I spoke just an hour ago about maybe spinning up Steven Melton (our network and installer dev) to finish this out and bring it to production level. If we did that, we would most likely have the same 50% royalty for any content published through that interface.

We would need to divert resources over to this and that means it will cost us to do this. It's something I've kind of wanted to have in place for a while, though, so we are really just moving it up in the schedule to fill a need. It's kind of a crappy way to have it roll out, but on the plus side I think the final result will be a much smoother experience for creators and users.

Thank you for clarifying, this situation is very shocking and suddenly.
I'm an avid supporter and promoter of Fantasy Grounds as the platform to use to host D&D online.

But DMsGuild extensions are of vital importance to this, there are core features and quality of life aspects missing to running with just SmiteWorks platform provided content.
There are some extremely creative and talented people out there making high quality content, I think about everyone who uses Fantasy Grounds frequently has either Grimm Press team or Rob2e's Team.
These folks and many others I've not mentioned, deserve respect, love, recognition and compensation.

We have hosted 1116 sessions between January 2018 and November 2019 on Sleeper Island.
Every session being at least 4 hours long some going up to 18 hours means that we have hosted a minimum of 4464 hours of D&D sessions on Fantasy Grounds
With 6 players per session that comes to a total of 26,784 hours committed to D&D sessions from players on Sleeper Island.

Without extension that add necessary quality of life improvements we would have looked at other platforms.

[mshall]

If WOTC doesn't want .ext on dmsguild, could they be moved to drivethrurpg? There is other compatible content there that is specifically there because it doesn't meet the criteria for dmsguild, so if the issue is keeping a clean branding of what content should reside dmsguild, perhaps the sister-site would be acceptable? The move would still be confusing but maybe there is a mechanism that exists for the migration from one OBS subsite to another that might be easier and faster than spinning up a new Smiteworks solution (still may want to do that as well, but will take time to implement and also need to resolve how to deal with those of us who have purchased a lot of extensions via dmsguild.)