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Wolves of Freeport, Inc,[1] formerly named OneBookShelf, Inc, is a digital marketplace company for both major and indie games, fiction and comics. In 2023, OneBookShelf merged with Roll20 to become Wolves of Freeport. OneBookShelf itself was formed by the merger of RPGNow and DriveThruRPG in 2006. The company's e-commerce platforms host content from individual sellers, indie creators and major publishing companies such as Chaosium, Fantasy Flight Games, White Wolf, and Wizards of the Coast.

Key Information

History

[edit]

RPGNow (2001 – 2006)

[edit]

RPGNow was established in 2001 by James Mathe.[2][3] Academics Sebastian Deterding and José Zagal wrote that "in the beginning, the bestselling products on RPGNow were nearly always d20 products. Mathe made attempts to reach out to established publishers of other types of games, but many were hesitant about selling digital versions, worried that would increase piracy or cannibalize existing print sales. Nevertheless, RPGNow recorded better than 10% growth in every year of its operation".[4]

DriveThruRPG (2004 – 2006)

[edit]

DriveThruRPG was established in 2004 by Mike Todd, Chris McDonough and Steve Wieck.[5]

In 2005, DriveThruRPG abandoned selling DRM protected products. The Washington Post reported that "customers hated the hassle of dealing with it, and it didn't offer very good protection against piracy, Wieck said. Now, the site sells unprotected PDFs with a faint 'watermark' with the customer's name on every page. Sales rose 30 percent after the change".[5] Two more DriveThru digital storefronts, DriveThruComics and DriveThruFiction, were also launched in 2005.[3]

In 2007, it was reported that DriveThruRPG did $2 million in business annually.[5]

Wieck said "the business idea of 'first-mover advantage' is more commonly discussed than that of second-mover advantage or being a fast-follower. Despite the many advantages that accrue to first-movers into a new market segment [...], I personally prefer to be a second-mover into many business opportunities. For example, when starting DriveThruRPG, we were a second-mover behind James Mathe, who had already started RPGNow".[6]

Merger to become OneBookShelf

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In 2006, RPGNow and DriveThruRPG merged into a new company called OneBookShelf. Originally, OneBookShelf maintained the separate digital storefronts of RPGNow and DriveThruRPG while merging the digital inventory.[7][8] James Mathe said "the focus of the merger is providing the best experience for rpg fans. Combined with DriveThruRPG, we will now offer consumers over 9,000 titles from over 500 different publishers. Many of the titles have never been available in print or are no longer available in print".[9]

In 2008, the company took over Mongoose Publishing’s Wargaming Online digital store and relaunched it as Wargame Vault.[3]

On April 6, 2009, Wizards of the Coast suspended all sales of its products for the Dungeons & Dragons games in PDF format from places such as OneBookShelf and its subsidiaries RPGNow and DriveThruRPG due to concerns of piracy and copyright infringement.[10][11] ICv2 reported that OneBookShelf "took a hit to its volume when Wizards of the Coast abruptly halted sales of PDFs of its products" and that although Sean Patrick Fannon, RPG Marketing, Communications, and Publisher Services Manager for OneBookShelf, "acknowledged that the move was a negative for PDF sales, he said that Wizards of the Coast was 'not even close' to half the company’s sales".[12]

OneBookShelf (2010 – 2022)

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In 2010, OneBookShelf launched a print on demand program and then in 2012, the company launched a new digital storefront called DriveThruCards for custom card products.[3][12][13]

In 2013, OneBookShelf was once again allowed to sell Dungeons & Dragons products through a new partnership with Wizards of the Coast.[14][15]

OneBookShelf did not originally have an offensive content policy. In 2015, "DriveThruRPG was involved in a controversy due its decision to sell a title called Tournament of Rapists. DriveThruRPG was initially criticized for its slow reaction to complaints about the offensiveness of the product [...], and the product was eventually removed from the store".[4] This led to the creation of an offensive content policy for all of OneBookShelf's platforms. Wieck said:

So, going forward, our offensive content policy is simply going to be this: Offensive Content: We'll know it when we see it. I will be the final arbiter of what OneBookShelf deems offensive. [...] Any title in which racial violence, rape, torture, or a similar subject is treated as a central feature will naturally be subjected to increased scrutiny. [...] We will continue to be reactive, not proactive, on judging new title releases. Historically, 99.99% of publishers' content has been inoffensive. Being able to activate their own titles for sale with our marketplace tools gives publishers additional control over their release marketing timing and generally gets RPG products to market more quickly. [...] Once the reporting feature is live, we will review titles already on the marketplace that are reported by customers. There will be no "grandfathering in" of past content.[16]

Also, in 2015, OnceBookShelf had a credit card breach and hackers "used the OneBookShelf's servers to launch DDOS attack on other sites".[17] ICv2 reported that "one of two load-balanced servers was compromised, the company said, and it had no way of knowing which of the customers that had transactions during that period were processed on which server. [...] It said it had no information to indicate that encrypted credit card numbers of customers that did not make purchases during the period were taken, but could not rule it out".[18]

From February 2016 to March 2016, DriveThruRPG held a bounty program for high quality scans of old hard-to-find Dungeons and Dragons campaigns, modules and boxed sets.[19][20]

In November 2018, it was announced that in February 2019 the RPGNow digital storefront would be shut down and redirected to the DriveThruRPG digital storefront.[21]

On February 12, 2019, OneBookShelf announced that it would no longer work with Zak Smith "after multiple women publicly accused Smith of abuse. [...] The company went on to say that its own portion of any revenue generated by Smith’s existing titles already up for sale on its storefront will be donated to RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network), the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization".[22]

In June 2019, co-founder Mathe passed away. Wieck wrote "well before the iPhone, iPad, or the Kindle, James recognized the opportunity for RPG publishers to reach more fans through digital versions of their titles. By 2004, when I and a few others started DriveThruRPG, we were the Johnny-come-lately to the pioneering work James had already done with RPGNow. Nevertheless, it was through the resulting friendly business rivalry between DriveThruRPG and RPGNow that I got to know and soon came to respect James. [...] James was a very smart entrepreneur in a hobby business full of smart people. He embodied the best of the US Midwestern virtues of work ethic, honesty, and fairness. He's gone too soon".[23]

In June 2020, OneBookShelf came "under scrutiny" after a queer themed adventure by ENNie Award nominated designer Oliver Clegg was removed from the DMsGuild platform for "distinctively sexualized" artwork.[24] "After the adventure was pulled and the DMs Guild released its statement, many DMs Guild creators and D&D fans spoke out about the adventure's removal and a wider discussion of artwork used in Dungeons & Dragons material. Laura Hirsbrunner, another prominent DMs Guild creator, compiled a number of art pieces used in official D&D materials and available for use on the DMs Guild showing women and monsters in sexualized outfits or in various states of nudity".[24] The company responded that "the OneBookShelf team stands by our decision to request adjustments to the art in question in this recent scenario [...]. However, we agree we want to be fair in how such standards are applied, which includes examining any internal biases that might have affected past decisions too. We're still very much in the process of listening, both personally and professionally, so we hope the community will afford us some patience and time in adjusting and improving our own processes and guidelines".[25]

In July 2020, Wizards of the Coast added a sensitivity disclaimer to some of their legacy products for sale on DriveThruRPG and DMsGuild.[26][27] Many of these products feature cultures inspired by Asia, Mesoamerica and the Middle East.[27]

Wolves of Freeport (2022 – present)

[edit]

In June 2022, OneBookShelf announced a new partnership with Roll20 that would allow content creators on DMsGuild to sell modules and add-ons which are directly integrated with Roll20's virtual tabletop system.[28][29] In July 2022, Roll20 and OneBookShelf announced a merger between the two companies. This merger will combine the content libraries of both companies[30][31] and make "OneBookShelf's PDF libraries accessible within Roll20".[32] Ankit Lal, CEO of Roll20, will become the new company's CEO and Steve Wieck, CEO of OneBookShelf, will become president of the new company and join Roll20's board of directors.[32][30] The combined company's name was not initially announced.[31][33] In 2023, it was revealed that the company's name is now Wolves of Freeport, named after Wieck's EverQuest guild.[34]

In July 2023, Wolves of Freeport updated the marketplace guidelines to restrict the use of generative artificial intelligence which will go into effect on July 31. Written work "primarily" created by "AI-generated writing will not be allowed" and "standalone artwork products that utilize AI-generated art" will not be allowed.[34] All products that use AI-generated content are now required to report that in the "Creation Method".[34]

Partnerships

[edit]

DNDClassics

[edit]

In 2013, OneBookShelf launched a new digital storefront in partnership with Wizards of the Coast to sell classic Dungeons & Dragons products.[14][15] This site sold Dungeons & Dragons products from Advanced Dungeons & Dragons through the 4th Edition of the game.[35][36]

Community Card Creator

[edit]

In 2015, OneBookShelf launched a new card creator web application as part of DriveThruCards in partnership with Paizo Publishing for the Pathfinder Adventure Card Game. The "card creator allows fans of PACG to create their own card, which can be purchased and printed for $0.50 each. You can either keep your build private so that it is unique to your deck, or make it publicly available so that other PACG fans can try it out".[37]

Dungeon Masters Guild

[edit]

In 2016, OneBookShelf launched a new digital storefront in partnership with Wizards of the Coast called the Dungeon Masters Guild (DMsGuild).[38] The DNDClassics site was replaced by the new DMsGuild storefront. With the 5th Edition Dungeons & Dragons open game license, third party publishers are allowed to print and publish content based on the 5th Edition System Reference Document (SRD). The DMsGuild took that a step further by allowing individuals and third party publishers to create and sell content based on the Forgotten Realms.[39][40][41]

The Escapist reported "the Dungeon Masters Guild alone is a big deal since it allows anyone to be paid for Forgotten Realms content - something that once required a specific contract with Wizards of the Coast" and that "options for content range from new monsters, to NPCs, to locations, to entire Forgotten Realms adventures and campaigns. The creator can set any price on their content - or give it away for free - with the only caveat being that Wizards of the Coast and OneBookShelf take a 50% cut of the proceeds".[39]

VentureBeat reported that content on DMsGuild is "available for D&D video game developers to buy. [...] According to D&D spokesperson Greg Tito, Wizards of the Coast would negotiate with the author to license or purchase their creations".[42]

As of 2019, content can now be based on other Wizards of the Coast intellectual property such as Ravenloft, Eberron, and Ravnica.[43][44][45]

Community Content Programs

[edit]

After the success of the DMsGuild, OneBookShelf continued to partner with other publishers to allow individuals to create and sell content based on intellectual property on the DriveThruRPG website.[3] The number of programs grew rapidly. As of August 2020, there are nearly 30 programs, including ones with well-known publishers like Chaosium, Mongoose Publishing, Pinnacle Entertainment Group and White Wolf.[46]

Astral Virtual TableTop

[edit]

In April 2019, it was announced that DriveThruRPG had partnered with Astral Virtual TableTop (Astral) and the virtual tabletop platform received a major update.[47][48] OneBookShelf said that content "purchased through any DriveThru site, including DriveThruRPG and Dungeon Master's Guild" can be imported and shared in Astral.[48]

In October 2021, Astral's founder Tom Lackemann left the project with OneBookShelf "continuing to oversee and maintain Astral’s current services".[49] At the same time, it was announced that Astral would no longer be in active development and its marketplace would shutdown.[49][50] Following the announced merger between OneBookShelf and Roll20 in July 2022, it was announced that Astral was scheduled to shut down in August 2022.[51][52]

Reception

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In 2015, Paste reported that "RPGs can be expensive, so while PDFs can be harder to pass around or to look up rules on, they are a much more financially astute option. DriveThruRPG.com is a great place to find PDFs".[53]

In 2018, Deterding and Zagal wrote that "by its own account, DriveThruRPG, run by OneBookShelf, is currently the largest online marketplace for TRPGs. [...] It allows TRPG publishers to offer their current and historic catalogs as PDFs and print-on-demand books. As online digital and print-on-demand distribution maximizes reach and minimizes up-front investment hurdles and risk, it has contributed to the flourishing of 'long tail,' 'indie' RPGs".[4]

Jason Wilson, for VentureBeat, said that "the DM’s Guild is my favorite project from the Dungeons & Dragons team in recent years. [...] The Dungeon Masters Adept program, [...], has resulted in other community writers producing official material on the Guild. We’ve seen how the Guild just expands on the official books. Now, with Eberron, we’re seeing how Wizards can use it to resurrect its past. [...] The DM’s Guild gives Wizards a cost-friendly method of opening up the gates to the past. It can conduct some polling on what the community wants on the Guild, when it comes to books for older settings, and then, commission someone to do so".[43]

In 2019, The Verge included DriveThruRPG on a roundup of websites to purchase from that are not Amazon.[54]

In 2020, Polygon reported that "Wizards runs an organized play series known as the D&D Adventurer’s League. You can find all of its past 5th edition content online, available for a nominal price. It’s among the most polished content on the DMs Guild, with playtesting provided by customers at game stores around the world".[45]

References

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Wolves of Freeport

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Wolves of Freeport, Inc., formerly OneBookShelf, Inc., is an American operating digital marketplaces for games, , , and related indie and major publisher content. Its platforms, including DriveThruRPG and Storytellers Vault, facilitate direct-to-consumer sales of PDF and electronic formats, supporting creators through print-on-demand options and community-driven publishing models. Founded as a merger of RPGNow and DriveThruRPG in 2006 under the OneBookShelf banner, the company expanded to host thousands of titles from independent authors and established gaming firms, becoming a cornerstone for accessible digital RPG distribution. In 2023, OneBookShelf rebranded to Wolves of Freeport, drawing the name from an guild tied to its executives' gaming history, and unified operations with , integrating virtual tabletop tools for online play. This structure, with Roll20, LLC managing sites under the Wolves of Freeport umbrella, has enhanced synergies between content marketplaces and remote gaming infrastructure. The company's model emphasizes creator royalties and broad accessibility, hosting niche genres from cosmic horror to warfare supplements, while navigating industry shifts like licensing disputes and . Its growth reflects the rising demand for electronic tabletop resources, particularly amid virtual gaming surges, though it has faced scrutiny over policies favoring certain ideological alignments in user-generated material.

History

Origins and Early Platforms (2001–2006)

RPGNow was established in 2001 by James Mathe as one of the first online marketplaces dedicated to selling digital PDF versions of role-playing game (RPG) materials, enabling publishers to distribute both new indie titles and out-of-print books directly to consumers. This platform emerged during a period when digital piracy was rampant in the RPG community, providing a legal alternative that empowered small publishers and hobbyists by reducing such as printing and shipping costs. By focusing on electronic delivery, RPGNow quickly gained traction among RPG enthusiasts seeking affordable access to niche content that traditional retailers often overlooked. In 2004, DriveThruRPG launched as a competing platform founded by Steve Wieck, , and Chris McDonough, initially emphasizing partnerships with established publishers like White Wolf to offer high-profile titles in digital format. The site started with (DRM) to protect content, but after approximately six months, it abandoned this approach due to technical flaws and customer resistance, leading to increased traffic, sales, and broader adoption of watermarking as a less intrusive alternative. DriveThruRPG differentiated itself by curating premium RPG brands and facilitating direct sales from creators, further accelerating the shift toward in the industry. The period culminated in 2006 with the merger of RPGNow and DriveThruRPG into OneBookShelf, Inc., which consolidated their extensive catalogs—encompassing thousands of titles—and operational infrastructures to create a unified dominant player in digital RPG sales. This integration allowed for shared resources, expanded publisher agreements, and enhanced tools for creators, setting the foundation for sustained growth in electronic and later print-on-demand RPG products, though OneBookShelf would eventually rebrand as Wolves of Freeport.

Consolidation and Growth as OneBookShelf (2006–2022)

In 2006, OneBookShelf was formed through the merger of DriveThruRPG, founded in 2004 by Steve Wieck, and RPGNow, established in 2001 by James Mathe. The transaction positioned the new entity as the leading distributor of digital role-playing game (RPG) content, combining the strengths of both platforms to capture a significant share of the PDF market for tabletop games. Described as a merger of equals, it retained key personnel from the predecessor companies and initially maintained separate operations for DriveThruRPG and RPGNow while developing a unified infrastructure. Following the merger, OneBookShelf consolidated its digital storefronts, gradually integrating RPGNow's catalog into DriveThruRPG as the primary RPG marketplace, which streamlined user access and publisher submissions. This period saw organic expansion into adjacent genres, with the addition of specialized platforms such as Wargame Vault for miniature wargaming materials and extensions of the DriveThru brand to and , broadening the ecosystem to include non-RPG media like graphic novels and novels. By fostering a one-stop model for creators, the company supported thousands of publishers, from indie designers to major houses, through royalty-based sales models that emphasized digital delivery and . A pivotal development occurred in 2010 with the launch of a print-on-demand () service, allowing publishers to offer physical editions of digital titles without upfront inventory costs, produced via partnerships with on-demand printers. This innovation addressed demand for tangible products in a predominantly digital market, enabling limited runs of RPG books, supplements, and accessories, and significantly boosted revenue streams for legacy and out-of-print titles. Over the subsequent decade, POD adoption grew, with options for , softcover, and premium bindings, contributing to OneBookShelf's dominance in hybrid digital-physical distribution. By the early 2020s, OneBookShelf had achieved steady operational growth, reporting annual revenue of approximately $4.7 million and employing 21 staff members, though expansion lagged behind broader industry averages. The platform's emphasis on creator tools, such as promotion points and , solidified its role as an essential hub for the industry, hosting extensive catalogs that drove consistent sales in RPG PDFs and related content amid rising interest in hobby gaming.

Merger with Roll20 and Rebranding (2022–present)

On July 13, 2022, Roll20 and OneBookShelf announced a merger to unify their operations, combining Roll20's virtual tabletop platform with OneBookShelf's digital marketplaces such as DriveThruRPG and DMs Guild. The partnership aimed to enhance user experience by integrating PDF content libraries from OneBookShelf into Roll20's tools, enabling seamless access to purchased digital RPG materials during online sessions, with initial rollouts planned for select titles like DMs Guild content. Steve Wieck, co-founder of DriveThruRPG and OneBookShelf president, joined Roll20's board as part of the integration, emphasizing expanded opportunities for creators and publishers through combined distribution channels. The merger positioned the unified entity to leverage complementary strengths: Roll20's real-time collaboration features alongside OneBookShelf's extensive catalog of over 200,000 RPG titles, fiction, and , fostering deeper ecosystem integration without immediate full consolidation of user accounts or libraries. Post-announcement, the companies proceeded with phased technical alignments, including PDF import functionalities into by late 2022, while maintaining separate branding for marketplaces like DriveThruRPG under operational oversight. In January 2023, the parent company formalized its rebranding from OneBookShelf, Inc. to , Inc., adopting the name from an guild associated with the founders to reflect their gaming heritage. This change encompassed the merged operations with , with DriveThruRPG imprinting products as operated by Roll20, LLC for , Inc., based in . The rebranding did not alter core services but streamlined corporate identity amid ongoing integrations, such as expanded licensing for VTT-compatible content from major publishers. Since the , Wolves of Freeport has continued to prioritize creator tools and expansions, including restrictions on primarily AI-generated content in 2023 to uphold quality standards for human-authored works, while sustaining growth in digital RPG distribution. The entity remains headquartered in , with Steve Wieck serving as president, focusing on sustained partnerships that bridge digital sales and virtual play.

Leadership and Organization

Key Founders and Executives

Steve Wieck co-founded DriveThruRPG in 2004 after leaving White Wolf Publishing, where he had served as CEO, establishing it as an early digital distribution platform for role-playing games and related materials. RPGNow, another foundational platform, was launched in 2001 by James Mathe, who built it as an online retailer for RPG products before its merger with DriveThruRPG to form OneBookShelf in 2006. Mathe, who also founded Minion Games, passed away in 2019 at age 52. Following the consolidation into OneBookShelf, Steve Wieck assumed the role of CEO, overseeing the expansion of digital marketplaces like DriveThruRPG, RPGNow, and others until the 2022 merger with . In the merger announced on July 13, 2022, Ankit Lal, previously CEO of , became CEO of the combined entity, while Wieck transitioned to president and joined the board, guiding the rebranding to Wolves of Freeport in 2023—a name drawn from Wieck's former guild. Roll20 itself was established in 2012 by developers Riley Dutton, Nolan T., and Richard Zayas to provide virtual tabletop tools for online RPG play, which integrated with OneBookShelf's content ecosystem post-merger to enhance digital delivery and community features. Under Lal and Wieck's leadership, Wolves of Freeport has focused on streamlining operations between content marketplaces and virtual tools, with no major executive changes reported as of 2025.

Corporate Structure and Headquarters

Wolves of Freeport, Inc. operates as a that integrates the digital publishing platforms originally developed under OneBookShelf, Inc. with the virtual tabletop services of , following their 2023 merger. The structure maintains distinct operational brands—such as DriveThruRPG, RPGNow, and DMs Guild for content marketplaces, alongside for online gaming tools—while centralizing oversight under the parent entity to streamline technology, customer support, and revenue sharing across RPG and related sectors. This setup allows for continued independent marketplace functionality but enables cross-platform synergies, including integrated purchasing and content access. Roll20 functions as a limited liability company (LLC) subsidiary within the Wolves of Freeport framework, handling virtual tabletop operations, while the legacy OneBookShelf marketplaces retain their specialized roles in PDF and electronic distribution for tabletop games, fiction, and comics. The corporate hierarchy emphasizes efficiency in digital delivery, with shared backend systems for user accounts and licensing, though no public disclosures detail exact subsidiary ownership percentages or board compositions beyond key executive involvement. The company's headquarters are located at 2657 Windmill Parkway, Suite 630, 89074, , a shift from prior OneBookShelf addresses in Georgia and that reflects post-merger operational consolidation in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. This Nevada base supports the firm's focus on scalable digital infrastructure, benefiting from the state's business-friendly environment for tech and gaming entities.

Products and Services

Digital Marketplaces for RPGs and Media

DriveThruRPG functions as the flagship digital marketplace under Wolves of Freeport, specializing in electronic distribution of (RPG) materials. It hosts hundreds of thousands of titles, including rulebooks, adventure modules, character sheets, maps, and supplements from roughly 20,000 publishers and 9,000 creators. Products are delivered primarily as PDF files for immediate download, covering both new releases and digitized vintage content dating back decades. The platform supports print-on-demand options, enabling users to purchase physical copies of select digital titles produced via partnered printing services. Creators and publishers utilize integrated tools for content uploads, sales management, and , with revenue models that include direct sales and licensing fees. This infrastructure has positioned DriveThruRPG as the dominant third-party storefront for RPG digital goods, facilitating distribution for major entities alongside independent developers. Specialized sub-platforms extend the ecosystem to licensed fan content. The Dungeon Masters Guild (DMsGuild) permits community submissions for under a revenue-sharing arrangement with , encompassing adventures, supplements, and artwork compatible with official rulesets. Similarly, the Storytellers Vault hosts creator content for and Chronicles of Darkness games, including supplements, fiction, and RPG media like audio files and graphic novels. These vaults enforce content guidelines aligned with intellectual property holders to ensure compatibility and quality. Post-2022 merger with , marketplace integrations allow seamless transfer of purchased PDFs into virtual tabletop environments, supporting in-session reading, dynamic lighting imports, and token creation without redundant storage. Hybrid bundles combining digital files with pre-configured VTT modules reduce preparation time for game masters. Wolves of Freeport also curates RPG-adjacent media through categories like RPG Media on DriveThruRPG, featuring podcasts, soundtracks, and visual aids, alongside dedicated sites such as DriveThruFiction for novels and DriveThruComics for graphic stories. These offerings broaden accessibility to immersive elements beyond core rule systems.

Virtual Tabletop and Integrated Tools

, the virtual tabletop platform owned by Wolves of Freeport following its 2022 merger with OneBookShelf, enables browser-based online game sessions without requiring software downloads. The platform supports real-time collaboration for players and game masters (GMs), featuring a dynamic grid system for maps, token manipulation for characters and monsters, and tools for measuring distances, tracking initiative via a turn order interface, and applying to reveal areas progressively. Dynamic lighting simulates visibility based on light sources attached to , enhancing immersion by restricting player views to illuminated zones, while multi-level token support allows vertical positioning for complex environments like dungeons. Integrated drawing and text tools permit GMs to annotate maps in real-time, including freehand sketching, shapes, polygons for area effects, and text boxes for notes, all accessible via a dedicated toolbar that toggles between foreground and background layers to separate interactive elements from static scenery. Character sheets automate dice rolls, attribute calculations, and ability checks for supported systems like , with drag-and-drop functionality from integrated compendiums containing rules, spells, items, and monsters from open-license sources. Built-in voice and video chat facilitates communication, with troubleshooting options for device compatibility and browser-specific issues to ensure stable sessions. Marketplace integrations link directly to Wolves of Freeport's digital storefronts, such as DriveThruRPG and DMsGuild, allowing users to purchase modules, add-ons, and art packs that import seamlessly into campaigns as pre-configured maps, tokens, and journals. For instance, content from licensing partners like can be unlocked and activated within Roll20, syncing digital assets with physical rulebooks for hybrid play. Additional tools include cross-listing for creators to sell Roll20-compatible items via DriveThruRPG, providing UUID codes for product integration. Recent enhancements incorporate third-party tools like Dungeon Scrawl, acquired in 2023, which syncs procedurally generated maps directly to the Roll20 tabletop for zero-preparation map creation during sessions. Compendium drag-and-drop fills sheet fields automatically from verified entries, while account linking with platforms like Demiplane enables content syncing and shared subscriptions across services. These features, updated as of August 2025, emphasize quality-of-life improvements such as refined token actions and expanded API scripting for custom automations.

Partnerships and Community Programs

Licensing Agreements with Major Publishers

Wolves of Freeport operates community content platforms through formal licensing agreements with major publishers, enabling the sale of official supplements alongside creator-generated materials that incorporate licensed . These arrangements typically involve revenue-sharing models, content guidelines to protect trademarks, and restrictions on commercial use beyond the platform, fostering growth while retaining publisher oversight. A key agreement exists with for the Dungeon Masters Guild, established in January 2016, which permits third-party creators to produce and sell Fifth Edition-compatible content on DMsGuild.com. Creators enter a Community Content Agreement with OneBookShelf (Wolves of Freeport's predecessor), granting limited use of Wizards' trademarks and lore in exchange for a 50% royalty rate to creators and the remainder split with Wizards and the platform. This excludes the , requiring adherence to specific formatting, no AI-generated core content without disclosure, and prohibiting standalone commercial exploitation. Similarly, Inc. licenses Pathfinder Infinite and Starfinder Infinite to , LLC, under Wolves of Freeport, for community content using Paizo's systems. Launched in , these platforms allow creators to publish adventures, supplements, and tools via a Community Content Agreement with , with providing templates, stock assets, and approval processes to ensure compatibility. Royalties follow a comparable structure, emphasizing non-exclusive and barring physical products or unlicensed IP extensions. maintains veto rights over content violating guidelines, such as explicit or deceptive mechanics. Additional agreements include the Storytellers Vault with (via Onyx Path), operational since August 2017, covering Chronicles of Darkness lines like Vampire: The Masquerade. This permits fan supplements under controlled IP use, hosted on a dedicated platform with 50% creator royalties and access to official art packs, while prohibiting core rule rewrites or contradictory lore. Other partnerships, such as Chaosium's Explorer's Society for Call of Cthulhu and ' Genesys Foundry, extend similar licensing for system-specific community works, integrating with DriveThruRPG's infrastructure for distribution. These deals, numbering over a dozen active programs as of 2023, support indie creators while channeling revenue back to publishers through platform fees.

Creator Support and Community Initiatives

Wolves of Freeport supports creators primarily through its DriveThruRPG platform, which enables independent publishers and individual designers to upload, distribute, and monetize digital RPG products such as PDFs, with options for print-on-demand services to expand reach without upfront manufacturing costs. This model allows creators to retain control over pricing and content while benefiting from global visibility and integrated sales tools, including revenue tracking and customer reviews. A key initiative is the facilitation of Community Content Programs (CCPs), collaborative arrangements with major publishers that permit third-party creators to produce supplemental materials—like adventures, monsters, character options, and archetypes—using licensed from established game systems. Launched as a means to unite fans, creators, and official content, these programs require adherence to publisher-specific guidelines and a signed community content agreement before publication on DriveThruRPG and affiliated sites. Examples include the Dungeon Masters Guild, introduced in early 2016 in partnership with for content, and the Cypher System Creator Program for Games' systems. Through CCPs, creators earn royalties from sales, with earnings accessible via platform dashboards, and receive indirect support such as promotional advice on covers, , and to enhance discoverability. These efforts foster a self-sustaining for indie RPG development, enabling fan-driven expansion of game worlds while ensuring IP compliance, though participation often involves exclusivity clauses limiting distribution elsewhere.

Business Model and Industry Impact

Revenue Generation and Operations

Wolves of Freeport generates revenue through a commission-based model on digital sales across its marketplaces, such as DriveThruRPG and related sites, where publishers receive 65% to 70% of customer payments for non-exclusive or exclusive listings, respectively, with the company retaining the remainder after transaction costs. This applies to electronic formats including PDFs, EPUBs, and print-on-demand options for role-playing games, fiction, and comics. Prior to the 2023 merger with Roll20, OneBookShelf reported annual revenues estimated between $4.7 million and $6 million, reflecting sales volume from thousands of indie and major publisher titles. The integration of Roll20 expanded revenue streams to include tiered subscriptions for virtual tabletop services: a free base tier, Plus at $5.99 per month or $59.99 annually, and Pro at $10.99 per month or $109.99 annually, unlocking features like , expanded storage, and access. also earns commissions from in-app marketplace sales of game modules, character sheets, and assets, similar to DriveThruRPG's structure. Payment processing incurs minimal fees, with creators facing a $1 withdrawal charge per payout via or similar, enabling monthly disbursements net of commissions. Operations center on platform maintenance, content hosting, and creator support from headquarters at 2657 Windmill Parkway Suite 630, . The company facilitates publisher uploads, automates digital fulfillment, and handles print-on-demand logistics through third-party printers, while integrating tools for virtual sessions on . Post-merger, unified systems support over 10 million users for real-time gaming, alongside marketplace analytics and customer service via email and help centers. Daily functions emphasize scalability for high-volume traffic, with policies ensuring compliance in content distribution and .

Contributions to Indie Gaming and Digital Preservation

Wolves of Freeport operates DriveThruRPG, the largest dedicated to games (RPGs) and related materials, which has enabled independent creators to distribute digital and print-on-demand products since the platform's inception in 2004. By offering tools for uploading PDFs, managing sales, and providing revenue shares without requiring upfront inventory costs, the company has lowered entry barriers for indie publishers, allowing thousands of small-scale developers to reach global audiences. This model has supported the proliferation of niche genres like old-school revival (OSR) RPGs and innovative systems, with community content programs—such as those for via DMs Guild—permitting fan-created works under licensed , fostering creativity while generating royalties for both creators and rights holders. The platform's impact is evident in the commercial viability it has conferred on indie titles; for instance, , a Forged in the Dark system RPG, achieved bestseller status on DriveThruRPG, winning the 2016 Indie RPG Award for Game of the Year and demonstrating how the marketplace can propel independent designs to industry recognition. Similarly, self-published works like Moonbase Blues have topped budget bestseller lists, illustrating accessible pathways for solo creators to achieve financial milestones through digital sales. DriveThruRPG's integration with print-on-demand services further extends support, enabling physical production for titles that might otherwise remain digital-only due to cost constraints. Regarding , DriveThruRPG maintains a vast repository of vintage RPG products in electronic formats, including scans of out-of-print modules, rulebooks, and supplements from decades past, which safeguards them against physical degradation or market unavailability. This archival function has preserved materials from early editions and defunct publishers, making rare content like OSR recreations and historical adventures perpetually accessible without reliance on fragile print copies. By hosting over decades' worth of digitized RPG history—spanning core systems to obscure supplements—the platform effectively functions as a centralized digital , mitigating risks of loss in an industry where physical media often deteriorates or becomes unobtainable.

Controversies

Content Moderation and Policy Changes

In 2015, OneBookShelf, Inc. (predecessor to Wolves of Freeport) implemented an offensive content policy for its platforms, including DriveThruRPG, prohibiting the sale of material deemed excessively violent, sexually explicit, or promoting , following public backlash over specific titles like Red and Pleasant Land which contained graphic content. This policy shift was justified by company executives as a response to reputational risks and legal liabilities associated with hosting controversial material, though critics argued it introduced subjective without clear prior guidelines. By June 2022, OneBookShelf updated its publisher conduct guidelines to include prohibitions on "hostile marketing" and broad anti-disparagement clauses, which penalized publishers for publicly accusing the platform of or impropriety regarding content removals. These changes explicitly barred publishers from directing "public accusations of impropriety or " toward OneBookShelf, with violations potentially leading to account termination, a move defended by the company as protecting business operations but decried in RPG communities as stifling dissent and enabling unchecked moderation decisions. The guidelines also reinforced requirements for content to avoid libel, , or overt political agendas in community programs, aiming to align with partner publishers' standards like those of . In July 2023, shortly after rebranding to Wolves of Freeport, the company banned the submission of content "primarily" generated by AI language models or image generators for commercial sale on DriveThruRPG and , effective July 31, citing concerns over quality, authenticity, and potential issues. This policy allowed limited AI use for supplementary elements but prohibited core writing or art, prompting debates among creators about innovation versus platform control. By November 2024, Wolves of Freeport introduced user-facing filters on DriveThruRPG to toggle visibility of AI-involved content, providing shoppers with curation options amid ongoing industry discussions on generative tools. Additional refinements in 2023 extended nondiscrimination policies to community content programs, incorporating prohibitions on "" alongside existing bans on , , and other biases, as requested by select publishers and integrated into templates for licensed content. These evolutions reflect a pattern of tightening moderation to mitigate external pressures from payment processors, partners, and , though they have drawn for prioritizing over unfettered creator expression, with some outlets attributing the shifts to broader cultural sensitivities in gaming rather than purely operational needs.

Specific Incidents Involving Publisher Bans and Removals

In February 2019, OneBookShelf, operating DriveThruRPG under Wolves of Freeport, announced a ban on all future titles involving contributor , citing multiple allegations of and abuse leveled against him by former partners, which had been detailed in public accusations including posts and reports. The decision, articulated by OneBookShelf's leadership, aimed to distance the platform from individuals associated with such claims, though existing titles by Smith remained available pending further review. Smith, a known RPG designer and artist, disputed the allegations, framing them as part of broader industry disputes, but the ban effectively barred his involvement in new publications on the site. In December 2019, DriveThruRPG banned sales from publisher Transfelinism following the release of their RPG Police the Police, which satirized through mechanics involving cat-people critiquing police actions. Platform moderators cited violations of content guidelines prohibiting , interpreting elements of the game as targeted disparagement of police as an "oppressed minority," though critics of the ban argued it reflected overreach into . The publisher's account was removed, halting distribution of their titles, with the incident highlighting tensions between the site's apolitical stance claims and enforcement of anti-disparagement policies. In early 2023, publisher Postmortem Studios reported the removal of their The Red Room anthology from DriveThruRPG, attributing it to "hostile marketing" under updated publisher conduct guidelines implemented in 2022, which included a one-warning leading to permanent account suspension for repeated infractions like disparaging the platform publicly. The publisher contended the delisting stemmed from criticisms of OneBookShelf's practices rather than the anthology's horror-themed content itself, which featured but no direct violations claimed by the company. OneBookShelf maintained the action enforced standards against external attacks on their business, without specifying details of the warnings issued. This case fueled discussions on whether platform rules prioritized self-protection over creator expression. On June 23, 2025, DriveThruRPG delisted Rebel Scum, a sci-fi RPG by 9th Level Games focused on revolutionary themes including for combating fascist elements like "spacenazis," citing breaches of guidelines against "hateful" or political content targeting real-world groups. The publisher argued the removal misinterpreted in-game as promoting real hate, emphasizing the title's anti-fascist as standard tropes, and subsequently re-released an updated edition independently while accusing the platform of inconsistent enforcement favoring certain ideologies. OneBookShelf's response clarified that content endorsing violence against real-world analogues violated their offensive content policy, though they affirmed no place for hate on the site; the incident drew for blurring lines between fictional and prohibited advocacy.

Reception

Positive Assessments and Achievements

Wolves of Freeport has been praised for its role in expanding access to tabletop role-playing games through platforms like , which reported 8 million registered users by the fourth quarter of 2020, alongside a 5% increase in and 6% rise in hours logged compared to the prior quarter. The company's virtual tabletop service, , demonstrated robust growth during the , with nearly every supported game system experiencing increased usage in the first quarter of 2020, reflecting its utility in enabling remote play for gaming communities worldwide. DriveThruRPG, a core Wolves of Freeport platform, is positioned as the largest digital marketplace for RPG content, offering creators extensive exposure while retaining control over pricing and listings, which has facilitated sales for thousands of titles. The 2022 merger of OneBookShelf (predecessor to Wolves of Freeport) with was highlighted by company leadership as a strategic unification of digital content distribution and virtual tabletop tools, enhancing integrated experiences for publishers and players by streamlining access to licensed materials and online gameplay. User feedback on platform updates, such as the Jumpgate interface, indicates high satisfaction, with over 60% of surveyed users in May 2024 reporting greater contentment compared to legacy features, underscoring ongoing improvements in usability and functionality. Achievements include hosting over 100,000 titles across sites, enabling periodic large-scale promotions that drive widespread engagement and sales in the RPG sector. These developments have positioned Wolves of Freeport as a key enabler of sustained industry growth, particularly for digital and indie content ecosystems.

Criticisms Regarding Policies and Practices

Critics have argued that Wolves of Freeport's content moderation policies, inherited from OneBookShelf's Offensive Content Policy introduced in 2015 and subsequently updated, are overly vague and prone to inconsistent enforcement, potentially stifling creative expression in tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs). The policy prohibits content deemed "hate speech" or promoting harm, but detractors contend it enables subjective judgments that favor certain ideological viewpoints, leading to the removal of material without clear justification. For instance, in 2022, an expansion to include an anti-disparagement clause was criticized for broadly penalizing any content perceived as mocking protected groups, effectively discouraging satirical or provocative works central to genres like horror and old-school revival (OSR) TTRPGs. Specific delistings have fueled accusations of ideological bias in policy application. In June 2025, DriveThruRPG removed Rebel Scum, a game about mechanics, citing "hateful politics" after a customer report, despite the publisher's claims of apolitical intent; critics highlighted this as evidence of suppressing anti-authoritarian themes under a of neutrality. Similarly, in 2019, all future titles linked to designer were banned following allegations of misconduct, a move praised by some for community protection but decried by others as guilt by association that harms unrelated creators. Earlier incidents, such as the 2023 removal of The Red Room—an adult-labeled horror supplement—after an unreviewed report, and the 2019 ban on Transfelinism's catalog over a cop-critical RPG, have been labeled by publishers who argue the platform prioritizes complainant sensitivities over labeled content warnings. The company's July 2023 policy banning primarily AI-generated written content on platforms like DriveThruRPG and has drawn criticism from creators who view it as prematurely restrictive, potentially hindering accessible tools for solo developers amid evolving technology. While aimed at preserving artistic integrity, opponents argue the "primarily" threshold invites arbitrary reviews and ignores hybrid human-AI workflows that could democratize indie production, especially given the platform's role as a near-monopoly for TTRPG distribution. Broader practices, including mergers with and Demiplane, have raised antitrust-like concerns among indie creators, who accuse Wolves of Freeport of fostering "product lock-in" by designing systems that complicate content portability to competitors, thereby entrenching market dominance. These policies, while defended as necessary for a safe , are seen by skeptics as selectively enforced to align with prevailing cultural norms in gaming communities, often at the expense of diverse or dissenting voices.

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