difference between OGL and d20 products

[johnsemlak]

Can someone outline the specific differences between a d20 product and a OGL product, in particular what advantages and disadvantages they have?

I was wondering how much a non-d20 product would be able to draw upon the d20 core system (i.e. the SRD or whatever).

I was thinking about this particularly regarding Monte Cook's Unearthed Arcana (an OGL product)

Thanks in advance.

 

[diaglo]

check out the guidelines at www.d20zines.com

they review products so they hopefully have a good grasp of what is needed to be OGL compliant.

you could also try www.wizards.com i mean they are the owners.

 

[haiiro]

As I understand it, the main difference is that a d20 product must conform to the d20 STL (as well as the OGL), can display the d20 System logo, and cannot contain character creation rules (except by special agreement, as is the case with Kalamar). I believe d20 books must also state that they require the PHB.

An OGL product need only conform to the OGL, cannot display the d20 System logo, and can include character creation rules; they do not need to make any reference to the PHB, as they can be completely self-contained games (like Mutants & Masterminds and Everquest are, and like UA will be).

Hope that helps.

 

[Tiefling]

You trade some freedoms of the OGL in order to use the d20 logo and some trademarked terms on your product. You cannot include rules for character creation, that is describing the process of picking race and class, rolling for ability scores, etc. However you can indicate that the players should use new races and classes during character creation, and you can define those as well as new feats, skills, etc. You cannot describe the effects of experience on a character. You cannot change the definition of a variety of game terms such as AC, conditions like Nauseated, all the alignments, and other such things. You cannot use "Core Book" or synonyms like "Core Rulebook." You cannot include miniatures with the product. You also have to designate at least 5% of a product's text as Open Content under the OGL, and you have to either include the d20 logo on the product or, if it's a text file, include the words "A d20 System Licensed Product". You must use one of a few specific paragraphs saying that your product requires the PHB, d20 Modern Roleplaying Game, or other WotC product, and you must include a few specific paragraphs that indicate the ownership of various trademarks by WotC and Hasbro.

It's all there in the d20 System License and the d20 System Guide. You can find them on WotC's website.

 

[Ranger REG]

As I understand it, the main difference is that a d20 product must conform to the d20 STL (as well as the OGL), can display the d20 System logo, and cannot contain character creation rules (except by special agreement, as is the case with Kalamar). I believe d20 books must also state that they require the PHB.

That is just one option. Another option is to require "Any Wizards Core Game Book" or (if you're making a d20 Modern product) "d20 Modern Core Game Book."

As the above poster mentioned, one must be well-versed in both the d20 System Trademark License and the d20 System Trademark Usage Guide (as well as the OGL).

For more information, as well as downloading copies of the licenses and guide: www.Wizards.com/d20