Lack of Support and Copyright (d20 Liscense) [Archive] - Wizards Community

Lack of Support and Copyright (d20 Liscense) [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Charke
08-11-07, 01:56 AM One of the big problems I see with WOTC's new books is new mechanics that only WOTC can support. There are a lot of new abilities out there that are not in the SRD so other d20 companies can not support them.

WOTC might do well to revise their liscense to allow 3rd parties to build new material based on some of these new classes and abilities but not being allowed to quote the classes as well - requiring them to refer to the WOTC book as the source.

I avoid the new mechanics because they aren't supported enough. The Complete Psionic introduced the Erudite. It's mis-printed and full of mistakes and it's a bloody confusing class with NO support. There are some simple problems with the class that could be fixed with a few feats. But no, it was just tagged onto the end of the book - some writer's brilliant idea, lumped in as an afterthought and no one can add to this wonderful class because it's in the SRD.

I'm not asking to break copyright - I'm asking to make the system better!

Mark Charke
chatdemon
08-14-07, 10:23 AM WOTC might do well to revise their liscense to allow 3rd parties to build new material based on some of these new classes and abilities but not being allowed to quote the classes as well - requiring them to refer to the WOTC book as the source.

WotC is publishing D&D, not spoonfeeding D20 companies.

I always find it funny that people refuse to use material because it isn't released as Open Content (and WotC does add stuff to the SRD now and then). Are you actually playing, or just designing products to sell via the D20 license.

Here's the dirty secret. If you really like an idea, don't copy it outright, but be inspired by it, make it your own. Illithids aren't Open Content, but if you're wanting a nasty psionic monster, does it have to be an illithid? Can't you just create something similar?
i_am_some_guy
08-20-07, 12:41 PM ...Illithids aren't Open Content, but if you're wanting a nasty psionic monster, does it have to be an illithid? Can't you just create something similar?

Illithids aren't actually WoTC original... they are based on Cthulu Starspawn.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Charke 08-11-07, 01:56 AM	One of the big problems I see with WOTC's new books is new mechanics that only WOTC can support. There are a lot of new abilities out there that are not in the SRD so other d20 companies can not support them. WOTC might do well to revise their liscense to allow 3rd parties to build new material based on some of these new classes and abilities but not being allowed to quote the classes as well - requiring them to refer to the WOTC book as the source. I avoid the new mechanics because they aren't supported enough. The Complete Psionic introduced the Erudite. It's mis-printed and full of mistakes and it's a bloody confusing class with NO support. There are some simple problems with the class that could be fixed with a few feats. But no, it was just tagged onto the end of the book - some writer's brilliant idea, lumped in as an afterthought and no one can add to this wonderful class because it's in the SRD. I'm not asking to break copyright - I'm asking to make the system better! Mark Charke
chatdemon 08-14-07, 10:23 AM	WOTC might do well to revise their liscense to allow 3rd parties to build new material based on some of these new classes and abilities but not being allowed to quote the classes as well - requiring them to refer to the WOTC book as the source. WotC is publishing D&D, not spoonfeeding D20 companies. I always find it funny that people refuse to use material because it isn't released as Open Content (and WotC does add stuff to the SRD now and then). Are you actually playing, or just designing products to sell via the D20 license. Here's the dirty secret. If you really like an idea, don't copy it outright, but be inspired by it, make it your own. Illithids aren't Open Content, but if you're wanting a nasty psionic monster, does it have to be an illithid? Can't you just create something similar?
i_am_some_guy 08-20-07, 12:41 PM	...Illithids aren't Open Content, but if you're wanting a nasty psionic monster, does it have to be an illithid? Can't you just create something similar? Illithids aren't actually WoTC original... they are based on Cthulu Starspawn.