(DaemonEye) Psionics Handbook Companion

[Alzrius]

Besides, if WW can make the "Ravenloft Dungeon Masters Guide" then I guess anything goes.

Actually, the way that's been talked about, thats more of a working title than an actual title. Given that that product is around a year away, they've just been using that term as a descriptor more than anything else. I'd bet a lot it won't be called that on the final release.

 

[JoeGKushner]

Besides, if WW can make the "Ravenloft Dungeon Masters Guide" then I guess anything goes.

You do know that Ravenloft is OFFICIALLY licensed right? Like Kingdoms of Kalamar and the upcoming Dragonlance?

 

[Alzrius]

Strutinian,

It's probably too late for us to post what we want to see in the book, since you sound like you're almost finished with it, but just in case it isn't, there's one thing about psionics I desperately miss (and don't see in your table of contents): wild talents.

One good thing about psionics in 2E was that a character with a wild talent could have it be any psionic power, from Control Light to Death Field. I liked that a lot, since it was basically a wild card that couldn't be accounted for. In 3E, you just multiclass to represent that, meaning wild talents are always a 0-level power. Please say you'll have an optional rule for including wild talents the "old school" way in your new book.

 

[Strutinan]

I'm splitting the difference. You CAN get one or more Wild Talents, and they can be pretty hefty abilities (especially for 1st-level characters). Such abilities will never be as powerful, or reliable, as they would be for a psion of your level, but that emergency-use only Whitefire can help you REACH second level!

To elaborate: yes there ARE Wild Talents in my book. Yes, you CAN get them without being a psion or psychic warrior. Yes, you CAN get higher than 0-level powers!

There is also a Wild Talent-oriented PrC too, for use as a NPC psionic class, but powerful enough to take as a PC.

 

[Strutinan]

It is DONE! The Psionics Handbook Companion is FINALLY done!

I'm joining RPGNow.com so that anybody who wants to can download it at any time. Hopefully (not bloodly likely) it will be availible later on today! In the mean time, EVERYTHING through chapter one will shortly be availible on my website as a teaser.

 

[jaerdaph]

Besides, if WW can make the "Ravenloft Dungeon Masters Guide" then I guess anything goes.

White Wolf/Sword and Sorcery has a separate license from WotC to produce Ravenloft materials, a license which allows them to use some WotC Product Identity. They are not publishing under the d20 System License. Subsequently, White Wolf's Ravenloft materials contain no Open Game Content.

My advice - don't get your legal advice from us ham bones on a message board and speak with an attorney.

 

[jaerdaph]

Congratulations, and good luck to you

One observation: You've mentioned Malhavoc Press's If Thoughts Could Kill in your teaser. I'm not a lawyer, but I think that would fall under the Product Identity category and would require their permission to use the title. You should probably consider including a copy of the Open Game License in the teaser as well.

Best of luck,

Joe Bardales
Ham Bone

 

[TroyXavier]

Looks interesting. I'm always for more psionic books.

 

[Mongoose_Matt]

Hmm.....thanks for the warning about "Illithid", although as a update of the Monster Manual creature, the name can be used. It violates the d20 licensing agreement to claim it for my own, which I'm obviously NOT doing

Wrong. The term is copyright to WotC. Speaking of which, do you have any artwork for in your companion for these beasties?

As far as "Psionics Handbook Companion" goes, I've been posting the title to the WotC psionics board for months now, and the moderators have let it be. Again, I'm not claiming that this is a "new" PsiHB, just that its an update (and will, if anything, help boost thier sales). THese are the same moderators that dish out public warnings with impunity whenever anybody starts to go over the d20 license line, so I think I'm safe.

Well, I may be wrong here, but I was under the impression that the moderators wre not actually employed by WotC. In any regards, basing your decision on their inaction puts you in a very dodgy position. Ask yourself this - what has a modertaor got to do with licencing?

Also, you mention a very interesting thing here - you are trying to sell this book as an update to the PsiHB. The only thing you have in your favour is that the PsiHB is not actually a trademark of WotC - but it is their copyright. Using a term like this in body text is a world away from using it as a title.

In either case, fair use laws apply. Fair use states that because I am not trying to lay claim to, or reprint, thier material that they cannot do squat about it.

Actually, they can pull your D20 licence. The thing is, you _are_ trying to lay claim to their material - you are trying to suggest your material is directly related to the PsiHB. Which they may not appreciate.

This law also states that references to thier material for substance ARE a iolation of thier copyright, but that is EXACTLY what the d20 license allows people to do. So again, I think I'm safe.

Again, wrong - the D20 licence allows you to use certain copyrights and trademarks _within_ a certain code. It is a case of letter and spirit.

Hey, I may be completely wrong - but it is probably worth getting in touch with WotC to make sure before you go ahead. After all, that cannot do any harm, right?

 

[Strutinan]

The WotC psionics board moderators ARE employees of WotC, thats why thier handles have "WotC_" as the first half.

They make it a practice to warn people on the board when they start to step out of line with the d20 license, and have warned ME about other such things. They have NEVER posted squat about "Psionics Handbook Companion" or "Illithid" in any of my threads about my book, put have posted thier opinions about other things. No comments (with these guys) usually means you are in the safe-zone.

I've emailed WotC_Mark and WotC_Snark telling them about the relese. No reply.

The word "Illithid" is used in the Dragonstar game, another d20 product. So is "Orc", "Dragon", ect. So far, nobody has complained.

Yes, my book is an expansion on the Psionics Handbook. This means that the only way it can be used is if the purchaser HAS the Psionics Handbook (hence: "Companion" in the title). Essentially, each sale means one more Psionics Handbook that WotC is likely to sell. I realize corporations aren't known for thier wisdom, but COME ON! Who is going to fire broad-side on something that BOOSTS thier own sales?

Good point about ITCK, I forgot about putting the d20 license into the teaser. I made a page for it, but forgot to hit "Paste", D'OH!