A question of ignorance

[AverageCitizen]

I don't know how any of this stuff works, so I'll just throw it out there.

I've had a d20 modern / saga edition hybrid kicking around in my head (and I'm sure I'm not the only one), and I was wondering if I'm allowed to compile it and put it on my sig.

thanks.

 

[Orcus]

I don't know how any of this stuff works, so I'll just throw it out there.

I've had a d20 modern / saga edition hybrid kicking around in my head (and I'm sure I'm not the only one), and I was wondering if I'm allowed to compile it and put it on my sig.

thanks.

I have no idea what this means, what you are asking, or what you want to do. Not trying to be dense Explain and we'll be happy to discuss.

 

[Bacris]

If you mean a fansite style release, WotC has been pretty lenient on it, but it would probably be tricky to not violate copyright or trademark laws.

If you mean publishing it, SAGA is not open content and has not been released under any public license (OGL or otherwise), so you could not make a "SAGA-based" game system.

 

[Alzrius]

While I haven't seen it myself, I don't believe that any of the mechanics from Star Wars Saga Edition are OGC, so the most technical answer is no.

A slightly more involved answer would be that it depends on exactly what mechanics you're using from what products - and that so long as you aren't using any strict intellectual property from the Saga Edition book, and aren't using any protected terms (mostly proper nouns and new terms they invented) then you in theory could put out such a hybrid product under the OGL, though you could be subject to a legal challenge by WotC/Hasbro (though that seems extremely unlikely).

And the most realistic answer is that if you're just throwing stuff together and putting it for download in your sig file, and making it free, then probably nobody will care.

 

[AverageCitizen]

And the most realistic answer is that if you're just throwing stuff together and putting it for download in your sig file, and making it free, then probably nobody will care.

There ya go. Sorry if I wasn't clear.

Just to clarify, Saga edition is very much the logical progression of d20 modern. With a facelift and a few tweaks here and there it makes for a very fine modern RPG, much better than d20 modern, imo. Anyway, we've been winging a modern/saga system for a modern alternative to DnD every now and then, and I've been considering actually writing down the rules we've been using, cause, well, somebody might find them useful. I'm no publisher, so I get the feeling that no one would really care.

Edit: I need to proofread.

 

[dmccoy1693]

Heavily Editted
If you make up your own homesystem using a Saga-ish variant of the d20 system as base and give it to your friends, no will probably care. Beyond that, I wouldn't try anything.

 

[Orcus]

If you give it away for free on a website, be very careful to never make a penny from it. Remember, just because you feel that Saga rules are a "logical progression" of the d20 modern system does not mean there isn't a lawyer over at wizards that can't argue that its their own intellectual property.

Putting a properly referenced OGL in the back of the thing couldn't hurt either.

Ack!

This is the worst advice I have ever heard. (OK, that is perhaps exaggerating a bit Its not the worst advice I have ever heard, but its not good advice. How about that.)

1. Making money or not is not relevant to copyright violations.
2. Slapping an OGL on it wont fix anything if you are taking content that isnt open source, all it will mean is that you are in violation of the OGL in addition to in violation of copyright.

SAGA is NOT Open Content.

Clark

 

[Lizard]

At the risk of the Wrath Of Orcus, try to look for OGL material released BEFORE SAGA which has "SAGA-like" features. For example, Unearthed Arcana had fixed skill progression, and it's Open Content. If you can find the features you like in Saga as "Prior art" in games which are open, slight modifications to those rules to bring them closer to the goal ought to be safe. Do not, under any circumstances, copy or even slightly paraphrase text from the Saga book -- or from D20 Modern, for that matter -- stick to the modern SRD. Many games have used the simplified/compressed skills in the Saga style -- changing the skill list is very unlikely to draw attention. The biggest mechanical change in Saga is the +1/2 level to skills. I'm not sure there's a precedent for that.

Be sure to stick to material released as Open Game Content, either from WOTC or other publishers.

 

[Oldtimer]

I recommend that you take a look at Fantasy Concepts for some OGC mechanics you can re-use. They are very Saga-like with talents, level-based skills, etc.

 

[Orcus]

I agree with Lizard and OldTimer.