D&D Fan Site Toolkit

[wedgeski]

Meaning that a fan site where we could freely post D&D adventures without having to sign the GSL and everything that goes with it (and is a bit unclear about online publications) would be preferable.

But that was surely never on the cards, being, as it would have, a massive circumvention of the protections Wizards have written for themselves in the GSL.

Nothing in the policy seems to forbid posting characters, monsters, and all that malarky though. "...games, modules or applications..." is pretty specific, so I should wager (IANAL) that things like the monster and NPC wiki's are golden. Those are the kinds of projects that I personally was concerned about. Otherwise this looks to be standard fare.

 

[mhensley]

Meaning that a fan site where we could freely post D&D adventures without having to sign the GSL and everything that goes with it (and is a bit unclear about online publications) would be preferable.

Yes, this policy firmly establishes fear, uncertainty, and doubt about posting pretty much anything D&D related online. Apparently they just don't get it that the main thing rpg's have going for them is the ability to create your own material for them. All they want is a pool of quiet, obedient consumers.

 

[mhensley]

But that was surely never on the cards, being, as it would have, a massive circumvention of the protections Wizards have written for themselves in the GSL.

Nothing in the policy seems to forbid posting characters, monsters, and all that malarky though. "...games, modules or applications..." is pretty specific, so I should wager (IANAL) that things like the monster and NPC wiki's are golden. Those are the kinds of projects that I personally was concerned about. Otherwise this looks to be standard fare.

the words modules and applications are very broad in meaning and could represent pretty much anything they want

 

[Mercutio01]

I think it's absurd to have to sign the GSL to make a fan-produced adventure for 4E.

 

[Raven Crowking]

"You must spread some Experience Points around before giving it to Mark again."

The same thing happened to me!

 

[Morrus]

Buh? That's not what it says at all. Here, look:

(Emphasis mine) Notice the words right before "or sell"? Any publishing or distribution is off-limits according to this wording, whether you charge for it or not.

You are missing out the next sentence. Publishing and distribution is NOT off-limits; it's merely covered by a different license to this one. This license isn't the "publish adventures" license; the GSL is the "publish adventures" license.

 

[Crothian]

Images on the zipped folder and make you agree to their terms of service. The interesting thing is that you're not allowed to create game material, etc. unless you're under the GSL.

No surprise there. Not a lot of difference between fan created material and published material. With the PDF explosion in the past five years the line blurred heavily.

 

[ExploderWizard]

"You must spread some Experience Points around before giving it to Mark again."

The same thing happened to me!

Covered.

The whole thing is funny. You may not publish adventures on your fansite, use the GSL for that.

GSL- what you produce in accordance with this license cannot appear on a fansite.

Quite amusing indeed.

 

[Crothian]

Covered.

The whole thing is funny. You may not publish adventures on your fansite, use the GSL for that.

GSL- what you produce in accordance with this license cannot appear on a fansite.

Quite amusing indeed.

I feel like Yossarian.

 

[Fifth Element]

You are missing out the next sentence. Publishing and distribution is NOT off-limits; it's merely covered by a different license to this one. This license isn't the "publish adventures" license; the GSL is the "publish adventures" license.

It will be interesting to see where the discussion goes when the inevitable nerdrage dies down. On other boards I've already seen the comparisons to T$R, "they're going to sue everyone!"-type comments which seem ridiculous on the face of them. The GSL does cover adventures, and hopefully we'll get clarification if things like statblocks are okay by themselves on fansites. It seems likely they are.