Have your seen an TTRPG license that is open for modules?

[cavetroll]

When I say open for modules, I mean that you want to retain rights to the TTRPG Core rulebooks, cause that is your baby.

But you want anyone to be able to run with using your world, free license to create content whether that is Modules or Settings books etc.

Have you seen that kind of license?

thanks!

 

[Maggan]

The licenses I am somewhat familiar with are:

Open Gaming License - make anything you want using open game content

Open Game License - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Mörk Borg - make anything

MÖRK BORG — MÖRK BORG LICENSE

MÖRK BORG is a pitch-black apocalyptic RPG by Ockult Örtmästare Games and Stockholm Kartell. It's published by Free League Publishing and available in English and Swedish.

morkborg.com

Then there's the Free League workshop license

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docs.google.com

 

[Morrus]

The Open Gaming License is pretty much the industry standard. Many games (including D&D) use it to allow fans and third make and sell compatible products.

 

[Loren the GM]

As regards D&D specifically, if you publish exclusively through the DM's Guild the license is less restrictive that the OGL, allowing you to use some trademarked setting or book specific items. There are still specific guidelines, but they allow you to actually set your content within existing WotC intellectual property.

 

[Jer]

When I say open for modules, I mean that you want to retain rights to the TTRPG Core rulebooks, cause that is your baby.

But you want anyone to be able to run with using your world, free license to create content whether that is Modules or Settings books etc.

Have you seen that kind of license?

thanks!

Wizards GSL for 4e tried to do that kind of thing.

They provided an "SRD" that was really mostly a list of terms that you could use in your games and instructions on how to cite the rules.

They've taken it down but it's available on the Internet Archive now: https://web.archive.org/web/20081216163900/http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=d20

 

[Umbran]

When I say open for modules, I mean that you want to retain rights to the TTRPG Core rulebooks, cause that is your baby.

But you want anyone to be able to run with using your world, free license to create content whether that is Modules or Settings books etc.

It seems relevant to note that in RPGs, there's not a lot of specific verbiage to denote the kind of content being created. There is no solid definition of what a core rulebook is, vs a rules supplement, a setting, or an adventure module, so tying a license to content type doesn't seem to be a strategy used in the RPG industry. Licenses are more targeted at what content you can use, than what you use it for.

 

[cavetroll]

As regards D&D specifically, if you publish exclusively through the DM's Guild the license is less restrictive that the OGL, allowing you to use some trademarked setting or book specific items. There are still specific guidelines, but they allow you to actually set your content within existing WotC intellectual property.

Right, but thats pretty restrictive if you write an adventure, forcing you to share profits, I would prefer to let anyone keep all their profits in order to encourage them to make content. Obviously you wouldn't want to use a creative commons license since then you are giving up the rights to your core rule books.

 

[Morrus]

Right, but thats pretty restrictive if you write an adventure, forcing you to share profits, I would prefer to let anyone keep all their profits in order to encourage them to make content. Obviously you wouldn't want to use a creative commons license since then you are giving up the rights to your core rule books.

So open gaming license is your best option then. That’s exactly what it’s designed for.

 

[cavetroll]

Wizards GSL for 4e tried to do that kind of thing.

They provided an "SRD" that was really mostly a list of terms that you could use in your games and instructions on how to cite the rules.

They've taken it down but it's available on the Internet Archive now: https://web.archive.org/web/20081216163900/http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=d20

I see, so a SRD is the way to go. That makes sense, thanks!

 

[dragoner]

Mothership is the hot property in the sfrpg realm these days, most of their stuff is 3pp also. For fantasy, I don't know, though it looks like the community content programs for both D&D and Pathfinder are pretty strong.