Legality of using Monster Statblocks in Homebrew Campaign PDF - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Legality of using Monster Statblocks in Homebrew Campaign PDF

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
frostden
May 10, 2009 20:59:12 I've just started a new campaign with my players, and for the first time I'm going to move from using a premade one to entirely generating my own. It's a decent amount of work, so I figure I may as well do it properly and save the maps/enounters as a pdf so that other people can use them. As a DM, it's so much easier to have the statblocks for the monsters on the two page spread of the encounter.
Does anyone know Wizards position on people including stat blocks from the monster manual in their own campaigns? Does that count as fair use?
#2
brambuldon
May 10, 2009 21:03:56 If its for personal use (ie. Not going on the internet), then its fine under the fair use copy right laws.
#3
frostden
May 10, 2009 21:20:09 And if it is going on the internet? I'm not concerned about personal use, as obviously you're allowed to use the content you payed for. I'm just wondering if anyone knows the wizards position on people releasing their own campaigns with statblocks in them.
If it were not allowed, it would be easy enough to just list the enemies in the encounter, just not as snazzy looking or functional.
#4
ansob
May 11, 2009 2:28:32 Your best bet would be to email WotC's legal department, who will know the exact details of the licence that WotC publishes under. As a general rule of thumb, a noncommercial use should be fine, but you'll want to check.
#5
brambuldon
May 11, 2009 3:15:14 Wizards suggests if your going to be including monsters in an adventure on the internet, reference the monsters manual or change the monster slightly and give it a new name. For example, I personally really like the Dark Ones and I plan of featuring them in my campaign. If I want to publish an adventure with a statblock, I'd changed the Dark Creeper in the monsters manual to a Dark Wanderer and, say, change is weapons to a dagger and staff, and maybe a single sorcerer power. I'd also increase it's level since I not only changed its weapons, but gave it an addition power. Around level 6-8.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 frostden May 10, 2009 20:59:12	I've just started a new campaign with my players, and for the first time I'm going to move from using a premade one to entirely generating my own. It's a decent amount of work, so I figure I may as well do it properly and save the maps/enounters as a pdf so that other people can use them. As a DM, it's so much easier to have the statblocks for the monsters on the two page spread of the encounter. Does anyone know Wizards position on people including stat blocks from the monster manual in their own campaigns? Does that count as fair use?
#2 brambuldon May 10, 2009 21:03:56	If its for personal use (ie. Not going on the internet), then its fine under the fair use copy right laws.
#3 frostden May 10, 2009 21:20:09	And if it is going on the internet? I'm not concerned about personal use, as obviously you're allowed to use the content you payed for. I'm just wondering if anyone knows the wizards position on people releasing their own campaigns with statblocks in them. If it were not allowed, it would be easy enough to just list the enemies in the encounter, just not as snazzy looking or functional.
#4 ansob May 11, 2009 2:28:32	Your best bet would be to email WotC's legal department, who will know the exact details of the licence that WotC publishes under. As a general rule of thumb, a noncommercial use should be fine, but you'll want to check.
#5 brambuldon May 11, 2009 3:15:14	Wizards suggests if your going to be including monsters in an adventure on the internet, reference the monsters manual or change the monster slightly and give it a new name. For example, I personally really like the Dark Ones and I plan of featuring them in my campaign. If I want to publish an adventure with a statblock, I'd changed the Dark Creeper in the monsters manual to a Dark Wanderer and, say, change is weapons to a dagger and staff, and maybe a single sorcerer power. I'd also increase it's level since I not only changed its weapons, but gave it an addition power. Around level 6-8.