For those that thought the very nasty changes in the Open Game License were the whole of their chicanery, buckle up.
When WotC President Cynthia Williams told investors that they were planning to create a recurring revenue model for D&D what she meant is that they would drive out any competition within the D&D community (3rd party publishers) and then make it so that anyone wanting to play or DM had to go through them via D&D Beyond.
The plan began with the egregiously horrible OGL version 1.1 that no sane company or creator would ever agree to. Now it is moving on to eventually jacking up D&D Beyond pricing by outrageous amounts.
It appears, via leaked info, that the top tier access will cost $30/month and free accounts are likely a thing of the past. Micro-transactions will be a regular part of the equation with both DMs and Players forking over cash for simple stuff like fancier character model skins, clothes, armor, weapons, continuing on to attribute buffs, etc.
It wouldn't surprise me if in the future they stopped publishing D&D in book form and went entirely online. No more gathering around the table and playing for free, they want you logged in and spending.
This whole thing sounds like one would imagine the largest drug gang in a city might operate when they decide to have all of the revenue mainlined into their pockets.
Step one - drive out or absorb the other drug gangs and small-time dealers.
Step two - raise prices.
Step three - ensure the addicts have no other means to get their fix.
Step four - keep jacking up prices.
The only problem with this operating model is they're leaving out the means to create new addicts, and gradually through kicking the habit, overdosing, or getting jailed while stealing to support the habit (caught pirating), the pool of paying junkies will decline.
Wizbro is going to kill the brand.
