Questions from a non-lawyer - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Questions from a non-lawyer

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
pariahsilver
Jun 20, 2008 5:45:42 Hello folks, I'm looking for the expertise of anyone more knowledgeable about the GSL than I am.

I am a prospective game designer hoping to publish a campaign setting using the 4th edition mechanics. I've been designing this setting for some time, and now I'm working on applying the new mechanics (with which I have to say I'm very pleased) to the flavor of my setting. As an example, warlocks in the realm I envision draw their power from very specific sources, and so their power would have a slightly different feel even if they used the same mechanics.

Now that the GSL has been released, I've been reading it and the SRD to get an idea of what I can do to publish my campaign setting without getting sued. I'm just an individual and am in no position to survive a lawsuit by Wizards. For that matter I'm fairly certain a cease and decist order, requiring me to recall anything I may have published by that point, would for all intents and purposes be just as financially destructive.

So in the interests of maintaining my livelihood and--most importantly--making sure my work gets out there for people to see, I have a number of questions. I can generally interpret things well enough, but I am not a lawyer and so I want to be absolutely certain about particular issues within the GSL. I am tempted to take the GSL to a lawyer and have them help me analyze things, but the two primary problems with that idea are that I don't know any lawyers and couldn't afford to pay one, and secondly I'm not sure that someone who isn't familiar with gaming in general or D&D in particular would have the necessary knowledge to correctly advise me.

Be any of that as it may, my questions are as follows.

1] I cannot alter the existing rules mechanics, but can I replace portions of them? Specifically:

1.1] Could I provide a list of powers that have different flavor in my particular campaign setting? Examples:

1.1.1] A unique power called perhaps "Terrible Ray" or some such thing, with its own flavor text and a line saying something like "This power uses the mechanics of the warlock's 'eldritch blast' power."

1.1.2] Perhaps a unique weapon called "segmented armor" that would be described as "This armor functions in all ways like scale armor, except that it has no speed penalty."

1.2] Would I be able to invent a new feature to be used in place of an existing feature? Examples:

1.2.1] Say I invented a class feature called "Arcane Tradition" that used different wizard implements--the tome, the robe, and the circlet--and, after fully detailing it, specified "This class feature replaces the wizard's 'Arcane Implement Mastery' class feature."

1.2.2] Perhaps a different version of an elf would have a racial ability called "Elven Agility" that let them use a power of the same name once per encounter, and I specified "this racial feature replaces the elf's 'Elven Accuracy' racial feature."

1.3] If I wanted to use an existing race but call it by a different name, would I be able to? If so, how would I be required (or allowed) to designate that?

1.4] Are the playable race rules for monsters in the back of the Monster Manual subject to the same allowances and restrictions as the player races of the Player's Handbook? Could I, for example, use the orc entry as one of the primary playable races of my setting?

1.4.1] For that matter, is it permissable to reprint the racial stat block entries in their entirety? I doubt it, but it doesn't hurt to pose the question.

1.4.2] If I am able to use such races, would I be able to replace racial features of said race the same way I asked about in question 1.2.2?

2] Would replacing particular flavor text--the text in no way included in the SRD--be permissable? I'm fairly certain it would, but I want to be absolutely positive. Example:

2.1] Would I be able to invent a wholly new "physical description" and "playing a [insert race]" entry for each of the existing races?
#2
Webster
Jun 20, 2008 5:51:47 If you're serious about publishing, you have to go to a lawyer. There's no two ways about it, and there's no cheap quick and easy fix.

Asking for general opinions on the boards and staking your livelihood to it is very dangerous. If someone here says "Yeah, go ahead", and down the road WotC says "Uh, No." YOU are responsible, not the person that gave you the idea it was okay.
#3
pariahsilver
Jun 20, 2008 6:00:09 You're absolutely right there, I couldn't agree more, and I've no intention of staking everything on this. Once I have things pretty much near printable format I'm going to have a lawyer help me go over everything, but I don't think that will be useful until I have a good amount of work there to actually go over. Right now all I'm looking for is some input on how to choose the direction I take on some of this stuff.
#4
Polaris
Jun 20, 2008 6:37:37 PariahSilver,

INAL but it is my clear understanding reading the GSL in it's most technical way that you can not alter content referred to in the SRD in any way. That would include almost all of what you are asking about. Apparently you can add to that content, but not in a way that signifantly alters the SRD content itself (i.e. new classes are OK but new powers in existing classes are not).

Again INAL. See one before putting your money on the line.

-Polaris

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 pariahsilver Jun 20, 2008 5:45:42	Hello folks, I'm looking for the expertise of anyone more knowledgeable about the GSL than I am. I am a prospective game designer hoping to publish a campaign setting using the 4th edition mechanics. I've been designing this setting for some time, and now I'm working on applying the new mechanics (with which I have to say I'm very pleased) to the flavor of my setting. As an example, warlocks in the realm I envision draw their power from very specific sources, and so their power would have a slightly different feel even if they used the same mechanics. Now that the GSL has been released, I've been reading it and the SRD to get an idea of what I can do to publish my campaign setting without getting sued. I'm just an individual and am in no position to survive a lawsuit by Wizards. For that matter I'm fairly certain a cease and decist order, requiring me to recall anything I may have published by that point, would for all intents and purposes be just as financially destructive. So in the interests of maintaining my livelihood and--most importantly--making sure my work gets out there for people to see, I have a number of questions. I can generally interpret things well enough, but I am not a lawyer and so I want to be absolutely certain about particular issues within the GSL. I am tempted to take the GSL to a lawyer and have them help me analyze things, but the two primary problems with that idea are that I don't know any lawyers and couldn't afford to pay one, and secondly I'm not sure that someone who isn't familiar with gaming in general or D&D in particular would have the necessary knowledge to correctly advise me. Be any of that as it may, my questions are as follows. 1] I cannot alter the existing rules mechanics, but can I replace portions of them? Specifically: 1.1] Could I provide a list of powers that have different flavor in my particular campaign setting? Examples: 1.1.1] A unique power called perhaps "Terrible Ray" or some such thing, with its own flavor text and a line saying something like "This power uses the mechanics of the warlock's 'eldritch blast' power." 1.1.2] Perhaps a unique weapon called "segmented armor" that would be described as "This armor functions in all ways like scale armor, except that it has no speed penalty." 1.2] Would I be able to invent a new feature to be used in place of an existing feature? Examples: 1.2.1] Say I invented a class feature called "Arcane Tradition" that used different wizard implements--the tome, the robe, and the circlet--and, after fully detailing it, specified "This class feature replaces the wizard's 'Arcane Implement Mastery' class feature." 1.2.2] Perhaps a different version of an elf would have a racial ability called "Elven Agility" that let them use a power of the same name once per encounter, and I specified "this racial feature replaces the elf's 'Elven Accuracy' racial feature." 1.3] If I wanted to use an existing race but call it by a different name, would I be able to? If so, how would I be required (or allowed) to designate that? 1.4] Are the playable race rules for monsters in the back of the Monster Manual subject to the same allowances and restrictions as the player races of the Player's Handbook? Could I, for example, use the orc entry as one of the primary playable races of my setting? 1.4.1] For that matter, is it permissable to reprint the racial stat block entries in their entirety? I doubt it, but it doesn't hurt to pose the question. 1.4.2] If I am able to use such races, would I be able to replace racial features of said race the same way I asked about in question 1.2.2? 2] Would replacing particular flavor text--the text in no way included in the SRD--be permissable? I'm fairly certain it would, but I want to be absolutely positive. Example: 2.1] Would I be able to invent a wholly new "physical description" and "playing a [insert race]" entry for each of the existing races?
#2 Webster Jun 20, 2008 5:51:47	If you're serious about publishing, you have to go to a lawyer. There's no two ways about it, and there's no cheap quick and easy fix. Asking for general opinions on the boards and staking your livelihood to it is very dangerous. If someone here says "Yeah, go ahead", and down the road WotC says "Uh, No." YOU are responsible, not the person that gave you the idea it was okay.
#3 pariahsilver Jun 20, 2008 6:00:09	You're absolutely right there, I couldn't agree more, and I've no intention of staking everything on this. Once I have things pretty much near printable format I'm going to have a lawyer help me go over everything, but I don't think that will be useful until I have a good amount of work there to actually go over. Right now all I'm looking for is some input on how to choose the direction I take on some of this stuff.
#4 Polaris Jun 20, 2008 6:37:37	PariahSilver, INAL but it is my clear understanding reading the GSL in it's most technical way that you can not alter content referred to in the SRD in any way. That would include almost all of what you are asking about. Apparently you can add to that content, but not in a way that signifantly alters the SRD content itself (i.e. new classes are OK but new powers in existing classes are not). Again INAL. See one before putting your money on the line. -Polaris