D&D 5E What is the difference between D&D 5e and the SRD 5.1?

[Slit518]

What is the SRD 5.1 and what makes it different than D&D 5e?

Any improvements?

 

[Charlaquin]

The SRD is the system reference document for 5e. Basically, it’s the stuff you’re allowed to include in a product you publish that uses 5e’s system. Version 5.1 is just the most up-to-date version of the document, with the latest errata and such.

 

[jasper]

The 2018 one is 11,267. The 2016 is 4,744 kb.

 

[Voadam]

The system reference document (SRD) is a license to use specified D&D rules in publishing. The original 5e SRD was limited and did not include things like warlock's eldritch blast. The 5.1 expanded the stuff included in the 5e SRD.

WotC's explanation of changes from 5.0 to 5.1

 

[Morrus]

WotC's explanation of changes from 5.0 to 5.1

Oh, my.

"A few text corrections have been made (such as a few references to "DM" instead of "GM," some typographical errors from importing the text from its original source, and incorporating errata from the Player's Handbook, Dungeon Master's Guide, and Monster Manual)."\

They accidentally released "DM" as Open Gaming Content under the non-revocable Open Gaming License?

 

[Umbran]

The system reference document (SRD) is a license to use specified D&D rules in publishing.

Not quite. The SRD is a reference document of what has been released under the Open Gaming License. The reference document and the license are not the same thing.

 

[Umbran]

They accidentally released "DM" as Open Gaming Content under the non-revocable Open Gaming License?

If they released "DM" but not "Dungeon Master", they can probably argue that as a typographical error, not an actual intended release of content.

 

[Voadam]

Oh, my.

"A few text corrections have been made (such as a few references to "DM" instead of "GM," some typographical errors from importing the text from its original source, and incorporating errata from the Player's Handbook, Dungeon Master's Guide, and Monster Manual)."\

They accidentally released "DM" as Open Gaming Content under the non-revocable Open Gaming License?

The 3.0 SRD has Red and Blue Slaad in the Summon Monster lists.

 

[Slit518]

Okay, so SRD 5.1 is just a patched version of the usual SRD. For some reason I thought it may of been a fan thing with some customs snuck in. Glad you all cleared that up, thanks!

 

[glass]

If they released "DM" but not "Dungeon Master", they can probably argue that as a typographical error, not an actual intended release of content.

I think if they were going to try to asert that "DM" was not Open Content due to error, they probably had a fairly limite window to announce that, a window that I would say is definitely now closed given that they have updated the SRD and not made such an assertion. IANAL, so I could be talking nonsense.

That said, being able to use DM (but not specify what it stands for) has sufficiently limited utility that it is not worth poking the bear IMO. Even if I am right, being right is not sufficient if the opposition can afford more and better lawyers than you (which would be the case here for most values of "you").

Again, IANAL. TI very definately NLA.

The 3.0 SRD has Red and Blue Slaad in the Summon Monster lists.

Interesting. I always thought that slaad were declared PI like illithids and displacer beasts, but after a bit of searching that does not appear to be the case. Although I did find an FAQ that claimed it was!

_
glass.