Taking a break from the game we love can be difficult, but sometimes it's necessary for our mental and emotional well-being. Recently, I've been feeling the stress of the Open Game License (OGL) weighing heavily on me, and I've decided to take a hiatus from writing these blogs, and 5e in general.
For those who may not be familiar, the OGL is a legal framework that allows for the use of certain parts of the D&D rules in third-party products. While it's great for fostering creativity and expanding the D&D community, it can also be overwhelming to keep up with all the new changes, the discussions, and navigate the legal nuances of using it.
I've found myself spending countless hours pouring over OGL documents and worrying about whether or not we will be able to continue publishing going forward. We'll be using the ORC (Open RPG Creative License) going forward for Pathfinder and Starfinder, but that still leaves 5e. It's taken the fun out of creating and left me feeling burnt out.
So, I've made the decision to step back for a while and focus on other things. I'll still be keeping up with the 5e community and staying informed about new developments, but I won't be actively interacting with that particular brand of RPG for a while. We're still committed to releasing our next 2 free adventures for 5e as well as PF2, but once we are past those two, I don't know.
It's important to remember that our hobbies should bring us joy, not stress. And much as I would wish that Beyond the Horizon was bigger and my full-time work, it plainly isn't. Almost all the work here is done by me, except for the writing and the creation of art. Much of the writing is still on me, editing, layout, and publishing are however. If you're feeling overwhelmed by the OGL or any other aspect of your D&D game (or any game), don't be afraid to take a break. Your mental health and well-being are worth it.
In the meantime, I'll be back soon with fresh ideas, new inspiration, and a renewed passion for the games we all love.
Kim
Publisher, Editor, Writer, Octopus, and Cat (author) Wrangler