D20 license questions

[ogre]

I have read through a lot of the D20 licensing FAQ and rules but I have a few questions that I'm still unsure of.
I'm desinging a game that will use the D20 Modern rules, it's a post-apoclyptic setting.

In the D20 license section it mentions that you can't mention things about character creation and class leveling. So, I am wondering if I can do the following and still be able to make a D20 game.
I have races and classes. The classes are 1-20th level and it is very much like creating a D&D character. It doesn't have a place for the basic classes (strong, fast etc). Is this in violation of the license? Do I have to use the basic classes and only have advanced classes?

I have added a new element to the game that characters gain points in every level. The players basically choose to spend these points on one of two things. These are character level benefits and are separate from class benefits. Is it ok to add an entirely new system and still call it D20?

I want to change Defense by making it just a 'you are hit' concept, then armor provides damage reduction. I will change the name of course, but amor will work differently.

Can I pick and choose talent tree abilities from the basic classes and put them into my classes as gained abilitites, much like a D&D class? Do I have to rename them and give a different description? Must I change the name and rework the gained abilitites slightly? The reason I ask is because some of the classes I have made have abilitites that are similiar to some of the basic classes. Not all, just a few. What I mean is, for the most part the basic classes don't really fit, but some of the abilities do.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[HellHound]

You can include any number of base classes. That has nothing to do with character creation, it merely provides character options. You can even state that the base classes from the core rules set are not allowed.

New systems are added all the time to the d20 system. Look at the Action Points in Spycraft, insanity rules in UA, ritual spellcasting in Relics & Rituals, and entirely new magic item creation rules in the Artificer's Handbook.

Modern Dispatch included rules for armor as DR instead of AC, and it is a d20 product.

You can use any material from the SRD, and change it as you please such as turning some talent trees into inate abilities ro special abilities, etc.

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

You can use any material from the SRD, and change it as you please such as turning some talent trees into inate abilities ro special abilities, etc.

True with an important exception: You can't redefine any of the 'defined terms' listed in the d20 STL.

With regards to character creation, the two biggies that are off-limits are:

1) Describing the process for generating and assigning ability scores

2) Describing the process for "levelling up"

Most d20 products assume that d20 players already know how to perform both of these important steps, so it's not a big deal not to include them.

 

[ogre]

Great! Thanks for the quick replys.
Wulf, where it says "Defining the process for leveling up" that doesn't include adding things to what a PC gets when they level up correct? Meaning, I can have a system where, when a PC levels up they get 3 points to spend on what I call IP (improvement Points) which can be spent on 2 different things in my new system. I am assuming this is ok to do by your response, I just want to make sure.

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

Wulf, where it says "Defining the process for leveling up" that doesn't include adding things to what a PC gets when they level up correct?

This is not legal advice, and I am not a lawyer.

"Defining the process for levelling up" I have always found to be a bit vague. It doesn't include providing an XP chart-- you can do that. It doesn't include providing a class description, or a class chart, showing when certain benefits are gained-- you can do that, too, and many have.

And I think as long as you let "experienced" players figure these things out for themselves, you'll be ok.

When you start describing how to compare a PCs experience points against the table, how to roll new hit points, how to assign skill points, how to choose feats, and yes, perhaps, even how to apply Improvement Points, you might very well be crossing into the area of "defining the process." I think any kind of step-by-step delineation of how to advance from one level to the next would run afoul of the restriction.

Wulf

 

[bubbalin]

Great! Thanks for the quick replys.
Wulf, where it says "Defining the process for leveling up" that doesn't include adding things to what a PC gets when they level up correct? Meaning, I can have a system where, when a PC levels up they get 3 points to spend on what I call IP (improvement Points) which can be spent on 2 different things in my new system. I am assuming this is ok to do by your response, I just want to make sure.

I believe this refers to the table that says you need X amount of xp to achieve Y level, and at levels a, b and c you gain bonus feats, while at levels s, t and u you gain increases to an ability score....

 

[ogre]

This is what I was thinking may be the problem.
Are there any 3rd party examples where there are character level benefit additions? (In addition to the feat every 3rd level, attribute every 4th etc.)
I wouldn't be changing them, just adding to them. Of course, I coukld easily get around this by simply providing the new stuff to each character class, but that seems rather clumsy.

When you start describing how to compare a PCs experience points against the table, how to roll new hit points, how to assign skill points, how to choose feats, and yes, perhaps, even how to apply Improvement Points, you might very well be crossing into the area of "defining the process." I think any kind of step-by-step delineation of how to advance from one level to the next would run afoul of the restriction.

Wulf

 

[ogre]

I believe this refers to the table that says you need X amount of xp to achieve Y level, and at levels a, b and c you gain bonus feats, while at levels s, t and u you gain increases to an ability score....

I think so too. Will adding to it cause a problem?

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

I believe this refers to the table that says you need X amount of xp to achieve Y level, and at levels a, b and c you gain bonus feats, while at levels s, t and u you gain increases to an ability score....

No, it specifically doesn't mean this.

 

[ogre]

Alright, I feel more sure. Thanks for the help folks!