A new site Idea The OGC exchange

[Saba Taru]

No one has mentioned...

I find it interesting that no one has mentioned the OGExchange in this thread yet. They currently have an Open Gaming Content Directory that is similar to what Ace was originally proposing, but I'm sure there are major differences in the ideas as well. Also, I'm sure the folks over at the Free Gaming Association could always use some help if people are interested in getting more Open Content out there.

Just figured I'd mention it.

 

[smetzger]

Re: No one has mentioned...

I find it interesting that no one has mentioned the OGExchange in this thread yet. They currently have an Open Gaming Content Directory that is similar to what Ace was originally proposing, but I'm sure there are major differences in the ideas as well. Also, I'm sure the folks over at the Free Gaming Association could always use some help if people are interested in getting more Open Content out there.

Just figured I'd mention it.

Actually someone did mention it. They didn't name it an didn't provide a link but they did say that someone was making an index of all the OGC material available so that if you wanted something on frgs you could look it up in the index and find what products had OGC on frogs.

Its just an index of the OGC. I would like to see the actuall OGC.

Does anyone forsee a day when the typical DM says "I allow any OGC/OGL stuff in my game."? Instead of what we usually hear "I allow any WOTC stuff in my game."

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

Re: Re: No one has mentioned...

Does anyone forsee a day when the typical DM says "I allow any OGC/OGL stuff in my game."?

Oh, God no. There's so much bad, broken, ill-conceived OGC stuff out there.

And that's just counting print stuff-- not even counting the bad PDF's or all the truly horrible bad fan content.


Wulf

 

[kingpaul]

Still gotta get Company X's permission even for open content.

I'm pretty sure that's wrong. Should you out of decency's sake? I believe so, yes. Do you have to to re-publish OGC? No, the license grants you permission as long as you update your S. 15 accordingly.

 

[kingpaul]

Re: Re: Agreed...

Thank god your interpretation of who's in compliance is meaningless. I wouldn't trust a six year old to be able to highlight his *own name* everywhere it appeared.

However true that is, I believe that Sigil's comments hold some basis. The OGL requires that OGC be clearly marked. The phrase of "all material derived from the SRD" is open to all kinds of interpretation...just go over to the OGF list when this dead horse rears its head again.

 

[SamSpectre]

Open Gaming Database

Has anyone produced a website similar to the Netbooks where submitted data could be stored in a database format? Data could be entered from published sources (that are permitted) or from people's home campaigns. There could be a monster, magic item, spell, etc. database that would be searchable.

I'm not sure how quality control would work, but that wouldn't be too hard to implement I wouldn't think. Just toggle everything as un-reviewed that is submitted (by various forms) until it IS reviewed and graded. When searching the databases you could specify whether you'd like to search across everything, just un-reviewed stuff, or just reviewed stuff. Crap could be deleted by adminstrators.

Each entry would include a reference to the material it is from (if it is from published material) and everything should be tied to the submitter in case people submit things that they shouldn't, the adminstrators would know who they are (theoretically); or at least be able to give the sleighted companies info on the person so that they could do something.

But all of this is administrative, planning-type-stuff. Do people think a database site would be useful, or just a waste of coding.

Would this be useful? (Has this already been proposed?)

Sam

 

[The Sigil]

Re: Open Gaming Database

Has anyone produced a website similar to the Netbooks where submitted data could be stored in a database format? Data could be entered from published sources (that are permitted) or from people's home campaigns. There could be a monster, magic item, spell, etc. database that would be searchable.

But all of this is administrative, planning-type-stuff. Do people think a database site would be useful, or just a waste of coding.

Would this be useful? (Has this already been proposed?)

Sam

I am still trying to work out the bugs in a Form to Submit stuff to the database at the Netbook of Creatures (I am not an ASP developer), but were you thinking of something like this?

http://www.cooleys.org/nbocr/indices.asp

The database currently has "checking for quality control" built in - stuff can be submitted (well, only in theory at this point - as yet as I haven't gotten the form working right) - but nothing shows up on the webpage itself until it gets the "okay" from me (i.e., I check it for quality). IOW, it gets into the database when somebody submits it but doesn't get out until I give it the thumbs up.

If I can work out the bugs in the submission form - or if someone else who knows what they're doing with forms is willing to do it for me (nudge, nudge, wink, wink) - I think we should be good to go - I'll happily release the ASP code and the database to anyone who wants to ape it for whatever prupose they desire... spells, magic items, etc.

Also note that this has been coded sufficiently to (1) automatically "sew together" the Open Game License Section 15 based upon what is displayed on the screen and (2) allow for proper "crediting" of conversions of WotC/TSR materials.

--The Sigil

 

[Morrus]

I've considered an atomated database in the past, but in the end I rejected the idea because of the s15 requirements, amongst others.

Whoever hosts the databse is, in effect, the publisher, and would be responsible for the content in that databse. That means that you're trusting every fan to upload perfectly legitimate OGC (no mistakes, no including the odd PI word in error) and to update s15 correctly for each item. I don't feel that that is possible in practice, and, even worse, could leave the "publisher" open for malicious, deliberately-erroneous materials.

I'm sure that if such material apeared, the original publisher would probably be prefectly reasonable about it and merely politely ask that it be removed. But it's still a risk; and even more - I don't think it would be right to do that.

 

[The Sigil]

Point taken...

It's a point well taken, Morrus...

However, I would point out that there are two other things for a "publisher" to consider...

1.) If you only accept original content directly from the copyright holder (e.g., only Green Ronin can submit stuff from Green Ronin books), that helps cut down errors a lot.

2.) The OGL provides you a 30-day window to "fix" any breach of the terms (e.g., publishing PI). Now, I think it's possible that someone who obviously and maliciously posts PI again and again probably won't be safe from a lawsuit, unless I am mistaken, someone who makes an honest, good-faith mistake has 30 days to take it out once he's notified. In my case, that just means "uncheck the okay box" in the database. Not too bad, all things considered.

There are a LOT of issues to be considered, but I really think that with a dose of common sense and a little forethought, such a project really is easily within the scope of reality.

--The Sigil

 

[kingpaul]

Re: Open Gaming Database

Has anyone produced a website similar to the Netbooks where submitted data could be stored in a database format?

Well, as Sigil mentioned, he has a database for Creatures. I know that Dennis over at Spells and Magic is working on an online db for his book. Sig at Feats has his stuff in a database. I have my stuff in a database. Can't speak for the other TLs.