What exactly does that mean? I know what open source means, but does this mean that the copyright of 4E prevents other companies from make games that use 4E mechanics/characters/monsters/etc?

I do love "Settlers." As long as we're talking Eurogames - I am totally charmed by Agricola. (Stress the second syllable - aGRICola - to avoid it sounding like a new soft drink.) Here, you get to be a peasant farmer - build fences, raise cows and sheep, have a family, etc. The sheep and cows are little wooden cubes. It makes me giggle every time I see it.

Has anyone else here ever played "The Farming Game"?

For those who love Settlers, you might also like Candimir. :)

It adds a bit of adventure and discovery aspects to it, in addition to resource gathering and building.

yes that is what it means. Traditionally each game company uses its own system exclusively though there are some similarities across systems. That is, white wolf uses a D10 system, GURPs uses a point buy system and so on. D&D 3.0 allowed any body to use and adapt its system to any setting so, for example, White Wolf stated a division to write D&D worlds and moduals as did many others.

4E does not allow that, all add-ons will come from Wizards of the Coasts and some updates, rules, and advancement for character classes will only ever be available on-line. (for a monthly fee)

Got another game tonight that I'm looking forward to. :D

I guess the DM really can make a huge difference in the game.

The DM last night ran things...I'll just say, less entertaining. I'll cut him some slack though because everybody has a different personality and runs things differently. We also had a full table with some new players (even newer than me) who needed a lot of coaching. So we ended up being really short on time and I think that stressed him a bit.

Now that I'm getting more proficient at understanding the mechanics I'm going to make a better effort at role playing my character to try to pick up the slack from (and maybe help encourage) boring DMs.

Yeah, a good DM really makes a game soar, and a bad DM can create confusion, tedium and aggravation. I recall a game from my distant past in which the players essentially mutinied the hapless (and inexperienced) DM and appointed a new one.