Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 mnemonicsv Aug 03, 2008 2:32:32	Let's create a purely hypothetical situation here: Let's say I was going to release a book under the GSL. In this book there may be references to specific rules in the PHB. In this hypothetical book, there also contains a paragraph which states: "Throughout this book you will find page number references in parentheses. These numbers refer specificly to relevant information in netbook X" Now, lets say that I also release a web-only netbook X that happens to have precisely... oh, say... 315 pages. On each of these pages there is a little funny story or artwork pertaining to the text from the main book to be published under the GSL (nothing copyright infringing, in fact it could be completely irrelevant). Wherever a statement directs you to a rule which exists in the PHB, there is a page number in parentheses referring you to a page in netbook X. OK now, lets say that these page numbers just happen to also, coincidentally, match the page numbers where the actual pertinent rules in the PHB may be found. Hypothetically speaking, would this be violating the terms of the GSL? ;)
#2 evilref Aug 03, 2008 13:33:42	Firstly I think your method would be overly complicated and unlikely to appeal to most people using it. Secondly you could just have a 1 page sheet of a list of numbers, e.g. 1, phb 1, 2, phb 2, 3, MM 3 etc. etc. So no, it doesn't violate the letter, it does go against the spirit, however, and that's actually even easier for WotC to enforce, assuming they actually cared about whatever it was you released.
#3 adderworks Aug 03, 2008 16:13:16	Let's create a purely hypothetical situation here: Let's say I was going to release a book under the GSL. In this book there may be references to specific rules in the PHB. In this hypothetical book, there also contains a paragraph which states: "Throughout this book you will find page number references in parentheses. These numbers refer specificly to relevant information in netbook X" Now, lets say that I also release a web-only netbook X that happens to have precisely... oh, say... 315 pages. On each of these pages there is a little funny story or artwork pertaining to the text from the main book to be published under the GSL (nothing copyright infringing, in fact it could be completely irrelevant). Wherever a statement directs you to a rule which exists in the PHB, there is a page number in parentheses referring you to a page in netbook X. OK now, lets say that these page numbers just happen to also, coincidentally, match the page numbers where the actual pertinent rules in the PHB may be found. Hypothetically speaking, would this be violating the terms of the GSL? ;) Ever read Bored of the Rings? I could see a spiffy parody come out of this idea without violation of the GSL. Assuming somebody takes the time to make an extremely long parody book...
#4 master-of-puppets Aug 03, 2008 18:43:01	what would you gain doing this? the GSLdoes not let you reference a page number simply because thay might repage the books... (I own 2 different 3.0 books with different pages) and if that was to happen, you would have lost time and paper... space/work...
#5 mnemonicsv Aug 03, 2008 22:05:35	True, however odds are it will be years before that occurs, and even then, with no 4.5e in the works, most gamers will still resort to the first printing. Such an action will cost you absolutely no time/space/paper/work at all in the event of a reprinting of the PHB. Even on a reprint of the PHB, all you've lost in your book is the time and the ink to print out (pg. ###) a few times. In other words, no loss. In the short term: Gain (you've added a convenience for gamers who own the first printing of the PHB). In the long term: No significant loss (The page numbers are irrelevant now, but how's that any worse that not having any page references at all?). The actual book you're selling will reference the rules in the PHB in any event via textual referral... having a page reference that coincides with that of the PHB is just gravy. Netbook X would, of course, be released free for download (not that it matters, since the content of netbook X is irrelevant to the actual book you've produced for sale), so no loss there either. If you put actual relevant (but unrequired) material in the free netbook, all the better. After all, there's nothing in the GSL that says you can't reference a page number in your book to a free netbook you are releasing at the same time (not yet anyway). Just so we're clear, I'm not actually planning on releasing anything personally... this is a purely hypothetical situation for me. But I can see someone else doing it easily enough.
#6 mnemonicsv Aug 03, 2008 22:09:32	Assuming somebody takes the time to make an extremely long parody book... Just make the font big. Really big. :D