Anger of Angels by Sean Reynolds

[The Sigil]

*gives monte a big hug*

That's the way you do it!

Not for me it's not. Yes, the designation is more or less clear. But... and this is in my mind a HUGE "but"...

From the Product Identity designation:
capitalized names and original names of places, artifacts, characters, races, countries, creatures, geographic locations,
gods, historic events, magic items, organizations, spells, feats, and abilities (emphasis mine)

You know what that little section means, boys and girls?

It means if the game contains some cool spell like "Wrath of the Righteous" or a cool creature like a "Hellan Seraphim" you can use that in your own stuff... but you have to find a new name for the stuff, thus decreasing anyone's ability to recognize the original in A of A.

This is "crippled OGC." Which means I will likely be steering clear of this one.

I really, truly, cannot fathom why publishers want to PI the names of all their spells and creatures and such. A few truly unique ones, sure (e.g., Scarred Lands' Karnival Krewe and Mithril Golem), but the all of them (is a "blood boar" or a "shattered nymph" really all that unique and a signature of your setting)? Please, someone enlighten me as to why PIing a more or less generic spell name like "holy blast" (don't know if that's in the book or not) is a good idea when re-use of your OGC is, in effect, free advertising. I don't get it at all. I understand PIing plots. I understand PIing major NPCs. I understand PIing "Bob" in "Bob's Super Fire Blast" but I don't understand PIing "Super Fire Blast."

--The Sigil

 

[jmucchiello]

*gives monte a big hug*

That's the way you do it!

I respectfully disagree. Spell names should be OGC. Otherwise there's no easy reuse. At least any new spells are properly done. Also, aren't most Angel names public domain? They are PId here if any unique angels appear in the product. But it's a fine OGC declaration otherwise.

 

[The Sigil]

I respectfully disagree. Spell names should be OGC. Otherwise there's no easy reuse. At least any new spells are properly done. Also, aren't most Angel names public domain? They are PId here if any unique angels appear in the product. But it's a fine OGC declaration otherwise.

Look again at the PI designation. New spells are NOT "properly done" with OGC names.

The difference between new spells in this volume and re-printed spells from BoHM is simply that the "description" portion of the new spells is open, while the "description" portion of the re-prints is not. In both cases, names are PI. (See my rant/post above).

--The Sigil

 

[Pramas]

Basically, he probably releases the PDF when it's finished and sends it to the printers at around the same time. The three-ish month lag is the time it takes for the printer to print, bind, and ship to distributors and the distributors to ship to retailers.

I doubt White Wolf sends Monte's stuff to print the same time it releases as a PDF. For one thing, they probably at least look at the PDF sales numbers before deciding how many to print. More importantly, it does not take three months to print a project like this. Depending on the printer, you can go from files to on the shelves in 4-6 weeks.

 

[The Sigil]

I doubt White Wolf sends Monte's stuff to print the same time it releases as a PDF. For one thing, they probably at least look at the PDF sales numbers before deciding how many to print. More imporantly, it does not take three months to print a project like this. Depending on the printer, you can go from files to on the shelves in 4-6 weeks.

Good points, Chris.

Though I still contend that my main point - that there is a lag between the release of PDF and print versions of Monte's products - is quite easily explicable in that "once a product is finished on Monte's end, the time it takes to go from 'finished' to on sale as PDF and opening up the revenue stream is considerably smaller than time to go from 'finished' to print and opening up the revenue stream."

In other words, there is a reason that there is significant time lag, but you're absolutely right that I missed by a factor of 2 or 3 on the smallest possible lag.

But your reasoning is solid as to why there is that factor of 2 or 3 between "smallest possible" and "actual" lag. Thanks for the insight.

--The Sigil

 

[Cergorach]

Sigil, we complained about OGC not being clear with Monte's products, and what does he do? The next product he releases he fixes that problem, that's what i find kewl! Tha man listens.

As for PIing Spell names, creature names, etc. He is within his rights to do so, from what i've heard from other publishers Monte is pretty easy to deal with when you want to use a couple of spell names in your product.

 

[jmucchiello]

Sigil, we complained about OGC not being clear with Monte's products, and what does he do? The next product he releases he fixes that problem, that's what i find kewl! Tha man listens.

As for PIing Spell names, creature names, etc. He is within his rights to do so, from what i've heard from other publishers Monte is pretty easy to deal with when you want to use a couple of spell names in your product.

I'm sure your right. Working with him may be great and all but having to get in touch with him in order to use a spell or two is contrary to the spirit of the OGL. Everything else about the spell is open. He can't stop me from putting a new name on the spell and using it. Why complicate the reuse of a spell? Doesn't he get enough email as it is?

Anyway, hopefully he finds the email argument compelling.

 

[JoeGKushner]

Sigil, we complained about OGC not being clear with Monte's products, and what does he do? The next product he releases he fixes that problem, that's what i find kewl! Tha man listens.

As for PIing Spell names, creature names, etc. He is within his rights to do so, from what i've heard from other publishers Monte is pretty easy to deal with when you want to use a couple of spell names in your product.

I don't think it's Monte being cool, but Sean being cool, as his previous works have all tended to be 100% open content including his two pdf books of NPCs.

 

[Cergorach]

I don't think it's Monte being cool, but Sean being cool, as his previous works have all tended to be 100% open content including his two pdf books of NPCs.

That could be true, but then again, that's negative thinking. Best avoided ;-)

 

[jaerdaph]

What exactly is a "specific" monster or creature? For example, does this mean that Bobo the Gilla Monster is PI, but Gilla Monster is OGC, or is Gilla Monster PI?