OGL Questions - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

OGL Questions

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
TheRealOrion
Dec 23, 2009 3:59:26 I'm trying to figure out exactly what I can and can't put into Phoenix with regard to character creation. I've created my own point-buy system, and as such I can include it, but as I understand it, I can't include any explicit instructions on die-rolling. Is that right? If it isn't, what is right? Is there a plain-English explanation of these things somewhere? Is it somewhere obvious, and I'm just a doofus for not having found it yet? I have a lot of questions.
#2
stormwrath
Dec 23, 2009 14:31:28 I'll look at my Modern books tonight. From memory Modern as a whole is NOT OGL material. In your case since the point system is entirely different from Modern character generation I would not worry about WOTC. You've created new intellectual property that grafts on Modern so your «safe». Dice rolling is part of (almost) every RPG creation system. No worries there again.The only thing you must NOT do is include «copy» from the Modern books into your document.

If you are not planning to making profit from your expension I would not worry about OGL issues at all.
If you are written legal advice is in order.

Storm
#3
TheRealOrion
Dec 23, 2009 16:47:43 I hadn't noticed that, but you're right. That's what it says in my copy, too. However, the Legal Information doc that comes with the MSRDs indicates that it is OGC, within specific limits.

As you say, I don't have any real fears of being sued over a game that they've abandoned and that I distribute for free. I just like to stay within the spirit of the OGL as much as possible. As much as it was always a very calculated move to essentially own the RPG market, I'm still grateful that they let us play with their toys.
#4
trappedslider
Dec 23, 2009 18:24:17 From my understanding,which is limited,anything that isn't in the SRDs isn't OGL.
[Back to the Top]
stormwrath
Dec 23, 2009 19:29:39
Found the below at: www.earth1066.com/D20FAQ.htm

A.14 Legally, what is the effect of releasing my copyright gaming content under OGL?

There are two related effects. The first is that you are allowing other people to print and sell your work, provided they give you proper credit. This is attractive from a financial standpoint for one and only one reason - by creating a “stripped down” version of your core product and releasing it as OGL, you can encourage others to create works based on that system, while still holding on to the most valuable parts. This will tend to broaden your market because more people will be writing and playing in your gaming system, and therefore more people will be likely to purchase your products. This is exactly what WotC did with the D20 STL and D20 SRD.

The second legal effect of releasing your copyright gaming content under OGL is that you are effectively authorizing the creation of derivative works based on the document that you release as OGL. This means that (by definition) you are giving up the right to claim ownership(*) of those derived works. This can be a strong motivator for others to write in your system, because they can now do so and still retain the copyrights to their own work. These copyright rules are clearly outlined at:

www.loc.gov/copyright/circs/circ14.pdf

(*) More precisely, from a strict legal definition, you are giving up the right to DENY ownership of the "new" parts of a derivative work to the author. [Back to the Top]
#6
TheRealOrion
Dec 23, 2009 20:36:12 That's a great resource. Thank you! I apologise retroactively for not having the Google-fu to have found it myself. You are very generous to have linked to it for me.

Here's the relevant bit of text:
Again, not really relevant because the D20 license no longer exists. Many variants on “D&D 3.5” are now available around the web that incorporate both character creation and character advancement. The general public will not know the exact answer to this question until the D20 System Reference Document is released in August 2000. Mr. Dancey has stated, "The rule for character creation is ‘pick a race and class.’ ” A general statement has also been made to the effect that you cannot say "You roll four 6-sided dice and drop the lowest, adding them together to get an ability score." The essence of this is that your work should require the D&D Players Handbook for its explanation of character generation - IF you want to use the "D20 System Trademark.

I totally misunderstood that. Only if I wanted to use the trademark would I have to worry about this. I think I knew that once upon a time, but I had (obviously) forgotten. Thank you, again!

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 TheRealOrion Dec 23, 2009 3:59:26	I'm trying to figure out exactly what I can and can't put into Phoenix with regard to character creation. I've created my own point-buy system, and as such I can include it, but as I understand it, I can't include any explicit instructions on die-rolling. Is that right? If it isn't, what is right? Is there a plain-English explanation of these things somewhere? Is it somewhere obvious, and I'm just a doofus for not having found it yet? I have a lot of questions.
#2 stormwrath Dec 23, 2009 14:31:28	I'll look at my Modern books tonight. From memory Modern as a whole is NOT OGL material. In your case since the point system is entirely different from Modern character generation I would not worry about WOTC. You've created new intellectual property that grafts on Modern so your «safe». Dice rolling is part of (almost) every RPG creation system. No worries there again.The only thing you must NOT do is include «copy» from the Modern books into your document. If you are not planning to making profit from your expension I would not worry about OGL issues at all. If you are written legal advice is in order. Storm
#3 TheRealOrion Dec 23, 2009 16:47:43	I hadn't noticed that, but you're right. That's what it says in my copy, too. However, the Legal Information doc that comes with the MSRDs indicates that it is OGC, within specific limits. As you say, I don't have any real fears of being sued over a game that they've abandoned and that I distribute for free. I just like to stay within the spirit of the OGL as much as possible. As much as it was always a very calculated move to essentially own the RPG market, I'm still grateful that they let us play with their toys.
#4 trappedslider Dec 23, 2009 18:24:17	From my understanding,which is limited,anything that isn't in the SRDs isn't OGL.
[Back to the Top] stormwrath Dec 23, 2009 19:29:39	Found the below at: www.earth1066.com/D20FAQ.htm A.14 Legally, what is the effect of releasing my copyright gaming content under OGL? There are two related effects. The first is that you are allowing other people to print and sell your work, provided they give you proper credit. This is attractive from a financial standpoint for one and only one reason - by creating a “stripped down” version of your core product and releasing it as OGL, you can encourage others to create works based on that system, while still holding on to the most valuable parts. This will tend to broaden your market because more people will be writing and playing in your gaming system, and therefore more people will be likely to purchase your products. This is exactly what WotC did with the D20 STL and D20 SRD. The second legal effect of releasing your copyright gaming content under OGL is that you are effectively authorizing the creation of derivative works based on the document that you release as OGL. This means that (by definition) you are giving up the right to claim ownership() of those derived works. This can be a strong motivator for others to write in your system, because they can now do so and still retain the copyrights to their own work. These copyright rules are clearly outlined at: www.loc.gov/copyright/circs/circ14.pdf () More precisely, from a strict legal definition, you are giving up the right to DENY ownership of the "new" parts of a derivative work to the author. [Back to the Top]
#6 TheRealOrion Dec 23, 2009 20:36:12	That's a great resource. Thank you! I apologise retroactively for not having the Google-fu to have found it myself. You are very generous to have linked to it for me. Here's the relevant bit of text: Again, not really relevant because the D20 license no longer exists. Many variants on “D&D 3.5” are now available around the web that incorporate both character creation and character advancement. The general public will not know the exact answer to this question until the D20 System Reference Document is released in August 2000. Mr. Dancey has stated, "The rule for character creation is ‘pick a race and class.’ ” A general statement has also been made to the effect that you cannot say "You roll four 6-sided dice and drop the lowest, adding them together to get an ability score." The essence of this is that your work should require the D&D Players Handbook for its explanation of character generation - IF you want to use the "D20 System Trademark. I totally misunderstood that. Only if I wanted to use the trademark would I have to worry about this. I think I knew that once upon a time, but I had (obviously) forgotten. Thank you, again!