RPG Legalities: OGF/4eGSL/d20STLDiscussions about the Open Gaming Movement, the Open Gaming License, along with WotC's GSL. This is the new home of the OGF-L and d20-L listserver discussions.
For quite a few years I've been working on a PA game using the d20 Modern ruleset, in hopes of using the d20 modern SRD.
Well, then 4e was announced, and I got discouraged about the fate of that system. Now, a year and a half later, I have revisited the 'book' I wrote and wondered if it's still plausable to release it. Thing is, it seems rather stupid to base a game on a system that requires a book last printed oh like 5 years ago.
Should I use d20 Modern, make my own system, forget the whole thing? It's a pretty unique game, with lots of original rules/content, so making it different but legal from d20 Modern wouldn't be too much work.
Any opinions welcome. I ask because I'm not really up on the current state of 3e, let alone d20 Modern.
Thanks!
__________________ ...the capacity not to think is a very useful thing indeed.
...If thinking leads to pain, and hallucinating leads to fun, I choose hallucinating!
Since you can't use the d20 STL or the d20 logo any more, you don't have to deal with any of the restrictions of "requires the use of blah blah blah" language anywhere in your text. In fact, I'd strongly recommend you not use any trademarks anywhere at all - only reference the d20 SRD in Section 15 and be done with it.
There's nothing stopping you from releasing a wholly self contained game that draws from the d20 SRD.
Legal considerations are one thing, finding an audience is another...
I don't know. I must say I am no longer particularly enthralled with d20 Modern, so I suppose a new system for yor purposes is just as bad as trying to use a system probably barely available...
Thoughts of the Arch Chancellor - My weblog on EN World - containing game related material, like: house rules, design theories, reviews, play reports, adventure ideas
Secret Member of <Think we would just hide our secret with a spoiler tag, eh?>
afstanton
Are you saying the d20 SRD can be used without the OGL lisence now? Sorry if I sound a bit outdated here, haven't been keeping up honestly.
Last I knew I'd have to copy the OGL lisence into the book, not print level-up rules and reference the d20 Modern book for any rules I didn't print.
Can I simply use any SRD rules I want without legal woes?
Mustrum_Ridcully
You're saying it'd be worth making a new system audience-wise, as no one uses d20 Modern anymore? If so, I guess that's kinda good news, other than the extra work. I re-did a lot of stuff already, but new system may be feasable. I mean Rifts and D&D are extremely similar in a bunch of ways, levels, experience, hit points etc. So I'm sure there's a bunch of terms I could use without having to consider legal issues.
fyi My game uses both hit ppoints and armor as damage reduction, new autofire rules, as well as every weapon, vehicle and armor being unique. Plus, 'races' classes etc. are all unique too.
Thanks for the feedback!
__________________ ...the capacity not to think is a very useful thing indeed.
...If thinking leads to pain, and hallucinating leads to fun, I choose hallucinating!
You absolutely still have to use the OGL. You cannot use the d20 System Trademark License (a different beast) and therefore can't use any WotC trademarks, indicate compatibility, etc.
Mustrum_Ridcully
You're saying it'd be worth making a new system audience-wise, as no one uses d20 Modern anymore? If so, I guess that's kinda good news, other than the extra work. I re-did a lot of stuff already, but new system may be feasable. I mean Rifts and D&D are extremely similar in a bunch of ways, levels, experience, hit points etc. So I'm sure there's a bunch of terms I could use without having to consider legal issues.
fyi My game uses both hit ppoints and armor as damage reduction, new autofire rules, as well as every weapon, vehicle and armor being unique. Plus, 'races' classes etc. are all unique too.
Thanks for the feedback!
No one is a strong word.
I think either way might work, but I am just a gamer, not a publisher. Maybe it is not a good idea to create a new system because there are already tons of it. Maybe it is not a good idea to use d20 Modern because the audience is small and splintered among the many different types of campaigns you could play with it.
Thoughts of the Arch Chancellor - My weblog on EN World - containing game related material, like: house rules, design theories, reviews, play reports, adventure ideas
Secret Member of <Think we would just hide our secret with a spoiler tag, eh?>
Thoughts of the Arch Chancellor - My weblog on EN World - containing game related material, like: house rules, design theories, reviews, play reports, adventure ideas
Secret Member of <Think we would just hide our secret with a spoiler tag, eh?>
freyar
ahhh, I see. But then, what is the point of using d20 Modern if you can't state compatability. Do you claim its compatable with the d20 Modern SRD? What about the cardinal no-nos of not publishing 'how a character levels up' for instance? That's not in the SRD, as far as I know.
Vigilance
Thanks for the feedback, it's good to know there's still a market since 4e.
I'll have to check out Modern20 and see what that's all about.
__________________ ...the capacity not to think is a very useful thing indeed.
...If thinking leads to pain, and hallucinating leads to fun, I choose hallucinating!
Isn't Modern20 an alternate core rule system? (And didn't I want to pick that up at some point? Or did I? I'll have to check my PDFs...)
Yes, I have also written Modern20, which is my personal modern OGL variant.
But we left all our d20 Modern books (Blood and Relics, Blood and Guts, Blood and Fists, Blood and Vigilance, Blood and Circuits, Blood and... you get the picture) on sale and they've continued to move pretty well, especially for books that have been 3-4 years in many cases.
freyar
ahhh, I see. But then, what is the point of using d20 Modern if you can't state compatability. Do you claim its compatable with the d20 Modern SRD? What about the cardinal no-nos of not publishing 'how a character levels up' for instance? That's not in the SRD, as far as I know.
Um, because you have to use some rules? There are ways of indicating compatibility without the d20L.
You are only bound by the OGL; you can detail how to level a character if you desire.
IMHO, finish as much of it as you like and release it for free.
afstanton
Are you saying the d20 SRD can be used without the OGL lisence now? Sorry if I sound a bit outdated here, haven't been keeping up honestly.
Last I knew I'd have to copy the OGL lisence into the book, not print level-up rules and reference the d20 Modern book for any rules I didn't print.
Can I simply use any SRD rules I want without legal woes?
freyar is right - you must abide by the OGL, which is why I mentioned Section 15 in my initial post. Also right regarding their trademarks - do not use them.
I didn't say to not use the OGL - I said the d20 STL cannot be used.
Linear Mode
And yet another word from our sponsors
