Wizards of the Coast has announced that by 2025, D&D will have an updated Systems Reference Document.
It is the Systems Reference Document that determines which parts of 5e and D&D lore that third-party creators can use if they stick to the rules without first getting a special agreement and a deal with Wizards of the Coast.
Known as the SRD 5.2, the new guide will include new D&D rules, classes, and monsters that will be introduced in the D&D 2024 editions—you know, the new but not new editions, the D&D books being published in 2024 for the 50th anniversary.
The Monster Manual, though, is due February 2025, and for SRD 5.2 to cover all the news rules, we need the rules out first.
The SRD 5.2 will be governed by the CC-BY-4.0 license, which means once published the rules of Creative Commons will prevent Wizards of the Coast tinkering or unpublishing it. You remember the OGL drama!
The CC-By 4.0 license means that people can copy, redistribute and even sell the SRD material and adapt it but not place restrictions to prevent others from making changes. However, CC-BY-4.0 means you must credit Wizards of the Coast and call out any changes you made.
If D&D designers, such as those who sell via the DMsGuild, do not wish to use the SRD 5.2 license, then the old SRD 5.1 license is still valid.
Importantly, with two valid SRDs in place, old 5e material via the DMsGuild is still valid.
Wizards of the Coast are calling SRD 5.2 a massive update, and even if they’re restructuring and making big changes to SRD 5.1, it suggests that D&D 2024 will have plenty of new changes, too.
Via D&D Beyond.
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