WotC 2024 D&D Core Rules Will Be Added To SRD In 2025

The 2024 version of the D&D core rules will be included in an expanded version of the System Reference Document, and available to third parties via Creative Commons (though there is no mention of thr Open Gaming License). The new SRD 5.2 will be available early 2025 after the new Monster Manual has been released.

The new SRD will be localized in the languages which WotC supports.

Regarding the long-awaited SRDs for previous editions, WotC says that they will start reviewing those documents once the 2024 rulebooks are out.

 

[mamba]

But almost as important...Ryan Fancey and the lawyer he worked with thought it was viral, based on a mistaken understanding.

interesting since IANAL and a plain reading already tells me that it is not / has loopholes

 

[Reynard]

they can verbatim use the updated spells, creatures, etc.

No one does that anyway. When was the last time you saw it in a product?

 

[mamba]

No one does that anyway. When was the last time you saw it in a product?

the question was what can they do that they otherwise cannot... monsters I could probably dig up a few cases....

 

[Reynard]

the question was what can they do that they otherwise cannot... monsters I could probably dig up a few cases....

But they do not have to. The point is no changes made in 2024 D&D need to be presented in the SRD to be valid for folks to reference. Derivative works be derivative.

 

[Blue]

Since everything will eventually go to creative commons, this seems to be just a temporary problem. Now we are good. And after SRD 5.2 gets out, most probably it won't take that long until older SRDs are released under CC.

All of the wonderful things released under the OGL by non-WotC publishers are all going to also be released under CC? Even the publishers that have gone out of business? Or no longer have the license for the IP so aren't allowed to republish? All of the fan-made content released under the OGL will be under CC?

Sadly, many won't. Some will, but much has been put out by people who aren't WotC that was only allowed under the OGL at the time and will never be republished under CC.

 

[mamba]

But they do not have to. The point is no changes made in 2024 D&D need to be presented in the SRD to be valid for folks to reference. Derivative works be derivative.

you probably could use neither the old nor the new SRD and release a lot of stuff for D&D anyway, but why risk it...

 

[Reynard]

All of the wonderful things released under the OGL by non-WotC publishers are all going to also be released under CC? Even the publishers that have gone out of business? Or no longer have the license for the IP so aren't allowed to republish? All of the fan-made content released under the OGL will be under CC?

Sadly, many won't. Some will, but much has been put out by people who aren't WotC that was only allowed under the OGL at the time and will never be republished under CC.

As I understand it, if the 3.0 or 3.5 SRDs are not released under CC, the derivative works based on the OGL cannot legally be released under CC. So if no legacy SRDs are released under CC, all that work is forever stuck in OGL hell.

However, i don't know how retro-cloning might inform this. Could the same legal logic that allowed for the OSR be used to release 3.x material under CC because of the 5E SRD?

 

[Alzrius]

except that it does not...

"(d)"Open Game Content" means the game mechanic and includes the methods, procedures, processes and routines to the extent such content does not embody the Product Identity and is an enhancement over the prior art and any additional content clearly identified as Open Game Content by the Contributor, and means any work covered by this License, including translations and derivative works under copyright law, but specifically excludes Product Identity. (e) "Product Identity" means product and product line names, logos and identifying marks including trade dress; artifacts; creatures characters; stories, storylines, plots, thematic elements, dialogue, incidents, language, artwork, symbols, designs, depictions, likenesses, formats, poses, concepts, themes and graphic, photographic and other visual or audio representations; names and descriptions of characters, spells, enchantments, personalities, teams, personas, likenesses and special abilities; places, locations, environments, creatures, equipment, magical or supernatural abilities or effects, logos, symbols, or graphic designs; and any other trademark or registered trademark clearly identified as Product identity by the owner of the Product Identity, and which specifically excludes the Open Game Content;"

Except that it does:

"(d)"Open Game Content" means the game mechanic and includes the methods, procedures, processes and routines to the extent such content does not embody the Product Identity and is an enhancement over the prior art and any additional content clearly identified as Open Game Content by the Contributor, and means any work covered by this License, including translations and derivative works under copyright law, but specifically excludes Product Identity. (e) "Product Identity" means product and product line names, logos and identifying marks including trade dress; artifacts; creatures characters; stories, storylines, plots, thematic elements, dialogue, incidents, language, artwork, symbols, designs, depictions, likenesses, formats, poses, concepts, themes and graphic, photographic and other visual or audio representations; names and descriptions of characters, spells, enchantments, personalities, teams, personas, likenesses and special abilities; places, locations, environments, creatures, equipment, magical or supernatural abilities or effects, logos, symbols, or graphic designs; and any other trademark or registered trademark clearly identified as Product identity by the owner of the Product Identity, and which specifically excludes the Open Game Content;"

Open Game Content, in other words, cannot be closed just because someone declares it to be Product Identity. Likewise, it only includes the "names and descriptions" of creatures; so you can exclude the name and flavor text (as I said before), but you can't exclude the stat block and special abilities.

 

[Blue]

The viral aspect of "Open Gaming" never really took off, to be honest.

There's an ongoing joke in the MCU between Black Widow and Hawkeye about remembering Budapest.

All I can say is that you remember the d20 Era a lot different than I do.

 

[mamba]

As I understand it, if the 3.0 or 3.5 SRDs are not released under CC, the dericative works based on the OGL cannot legally be released under CC. So if no legacy SRDs are released under CC, all that work is forever stuck in OGL hell.

3.x seems more a matter of time before it becomes CC

However, i don't know how retrocloning might inform this. Could the same legal logic that allowed for the OSR be used to release 3.x material under CC because of the 5E SRD?

yes, Basic Fantasy moved from OGL to CC in its 4th edition. Someone could retroclone 3e out of 5e, but why bother when in a year or so we have the SRD in CC. At a minimum I would wait until then to see what parts get left behind in the OGL