Does the SRD from 3.X...

[papastebu]

Still exist as a public-use body of information? Can anybody use it to extrapolate? The version I have is 1.0a, and I was wondering if I was stepping into a bear trap by trying to base anything I was writing on the information in it. I can change it to the point where it's unrecognizable as source material, but that is a lot of work if I don't have to do it. Also, it has a ton of stuff that I've seen in very diverse works, from Deities and Demigods, to The Expanded Psionics Handbook (I think). Anyway, please somebody let me know if this is a going concern, or if I'm about to get myself into trouble, or what.

 

[Marius Delphus]

The OGL still permits you to use the SRD as long as you comply with its terms.

 

[Scurvy_Platypus]

Errrr.... I'm not quite sure what you're asking and I'm not a lawyer...

But if you're asking "Can I still use the WotC SRD?" or "Can I still use the WotC SRD for a project and publish it?" then the answer would be, "Yes, provided you follow the provisions of the Open Game License."

The OGL as a license hasn't been revoked and my understanding is that it can't be. The SRD (both 3.0 and 3.5) have been released using the OGL and therefore are completely useable as long as you adhere to the terms of it.

On a pedantic note, the term "SRD" simply means "System Reference Document"; while many people mean "the SRD released by WotC", there are others out there. For example, there's an SRD for a game called "Spirit of the Century" which is a completely non-d20 based ruleset. I also note this because you say "3.x SRD" as if there's some sort of version that covers both versions of the rules or something. To my knowledge, there isn't; 3.0 and 3.5 rules are rather different in a number of respects.

For some more versions of SRD documents you can look here:
System Reference Documents

 

[pawsplay]

It is perpetually available, by the terms of the license, and actually Google-able.

 

[malcolm_n]

I always use The Hypertext d20 SRD (v3.5 d20 System Reference Document) :: d20srd.org for my 3.x browsing purposes.

 

[Aus_Snow]

Texts (including books) that utilise the Open Gaming License must state clearly which portions/sections/terms are to be considered Open Gaming Content, and - sometimes by omission - which are to be considered "closed IP". Likewise, if a text makes use of any pre-existing OGC, the source (and publisher, etc.) of said OGC must be listed in section 15 of the (mandatory!) copy of the OGL included in the text in question.

Basically, make sure that everything you want to "use" is OGC, and be clear as to whether any/all of your own work is OGC as well. For example, names of NPCs or places might be designated as closed IP, quite often. But there's no hard and fast rule regarding what you must declare as open or otherwise.

That's the best of my understanding, at this time. Hope it helps.

Oh, and yes, I'm pretty darn sure the site d20srd.org (like d20pfsrd.org) contains purely OGC rules material. Other things, such as images, or exact presentation (on the sites) and the like, mightn't be open in the same way. That goes for books too, incidentally - even ones declared (in terms of rules) "completely open". Worth remembering, though you probably knew this already.

 

[Papa-DRB]

Here is the link to the WotC 3.5 SRD documents:

Revised (v.3.5)System Reference Document

-- david
Papa.DRB