Changing the Wording of OGC

[Samothdm]

Hopefully a quick question:

I'm working on some stuff that would involve re-distributing some Open Game Content from a few other companies, but I wanted to change some of the wording so that it "fits" better with my campaign world. I have two specific questions:

1) Is it okay to change the "flavor" text of stuff, such as a feat, to be more specific to my world? That is, the flavor text for a feat may read something like "You are good at being stealthy" or something like that. Can I change that to be more specific to my world but still use the rest of the feat from the source, or do I have to copy it directly?

2) Can I alter a small part of a feat or PrC to make it more specific for my world and still credit the original source?
Example: One feat I wanted to use had a pre-requisite of "Comprehend Languages" which I want to remove. I plan to use the rest of the feat "as is". I want to credit the original source because I didn't make up the feat myself. Is that okay, or, again, do I have to use it exactly as originally written?

3) If I change something on a feat, can I say something like, "This feat was inspired by XXX feat in YYY Sourcebook"?

 

[The Sigil]

Hopefully a quick question:

I'm working on some stuff that would involve re-distributing some Open Game Content from a few other companies, but I wanted to change some of the wording so that it "fits" better with my campaign world. I have two specific questions:

1) Is it okay to change the "flavor" text of stuff, such as a feat, to be more specific to my world? That is, the flavor text for a feat may read something like "You are good at being stealthy" or something like that. Can I change that to be more specific to my world but still use the rest of the feat from the source, or do I have to copy it directly?

Yes. You can copy OGC, change OGC, twist OGC, fold, spindle and mutilate OGC. Treat OGC as if it were your own material - you can do whatever you want with it.

You are required only to enter the Section 15 entry in that source into your own Section 15 with the OGL copy you include with your work.

2) Can I alter a small part of a feat or PrC to make it more specific for my world and still credit the original source?
Example: One feat I wanted to use had a pre-requisite of "Comprehend Languages" which I want to remove. I plan to use the rest of the feat "as is". I want to credit the original source because I didn't make up the feat myself. Is that okay, or, again, do I have to use it exactly as originally written?

You can tweak it (see above)... but you may not be able to credit the original (outside of the requisite Section 15 copying) if doing so requires you to use their Product Identity (such as their product name or company name) - using others' PI without their express written permission is forbidden by Section 7 of the OGL.

3) If I change something on a feat, can I say something like, "This feat was inspired by XXX feat in YYY Sourcebook"?

No. See above. If "XXX feat" (the name of the Feat) is OGC and YYY Sourcebook is PI, you can say this feat was inspired by XXX feat and that XXX Feat may be found in the sourcebook that is the fourth entry in Section 15 of the OGL (or whatever nth entry it is).

If "XXX feat" (the name itself) is PI, you're out of luck. You can say, "this feat was inspired by a feat in the sourcebook that is the fourth entry in Section 15 of the OGL, but you can't call the XXX feat out by name.

--The Sigil

 

[Samothdm]

Hey, thanks! I appreciate your quick answer.

It does seem a little weird, though - I feel kinda strange using someone else's feats, PrCs, etc. and not pointing out where I got it from so if someone sees it in my work and likes it, they can check out the original source. But, I guess that's just the way it works.

Thanks again.

 

[The Sigil]

*shrugs*

You could always e-mail them for permission to credit them.

And yes, it is one of the "weirdnesses" associated with the OGL.

--The Sigil

 

[The Sigil]

*shrugs*

You could always e-mail them for permission to credit them. If you have their permission, it's okay to use their Product Identity (I myself have done this in a couple of my works) - just make sure you identify the Product Identity as THEIRS.

And yes, at the end of the day, the inability to give direct credit without permission (outside of Section 15) is one of the "weirdnesses" associated with the OGL.

--The Sigil