Ema's RPG Sheet Website down...

[darjr]

I've been to Ema's a few times as well.

Never used the pay services, just downloaded and browsed character sheets.

I don't blame WotC for a C&D if Ema's used their property, and I don't blame Ema for taking his ball and going home after getting one from WotC.

Really, these sites are not free, in the end somebody pays. If the C&D killed Ema's big seller, I understand the decision to punk all the stuff, stuff covered by the C&D and not.

 

[thecasualoblivion]

I do not know Ema's site but what you are saying does not really square based on what has been said on this thread. Ema could have simply canceled service of 4e copyrighted material and remain on OGL material. Especially if some people could have donated money for this. But I understand there could be technical complications.

I used the 4E section of Ema's site, which for all intents and purposes was an online version of the Character Builder, with fully texted Power Cards and even D&D logos on the character sheets. I also paid for the privilege.

I'm not an expert on copyright stuff, but I have a feeling that it wasn't really practical for there to being exceptions in this sort of C&D letter.

 

[Timeboxer]

...huh. I just realized that this is probably what Scott Rouse was talking about a couple of weeks ago when he was listing the things that were distracting him from OGL completion.

 

[Greylock]

I think i've been to ema's a few times in the past. I normally just print out the free, plain jane, black and white 3.5 character sheets that i'm pretty sure I got from the wotc site; they were the exact same thing as the sheet in the PHB.

They were not the same as WotC's. They were made by Ema, or collected by Ema. Most were made by Ema and had a certain style that was definitely his own. I only ever used the character sheets and don't recall there being any I.P. material there at all. At least nothing that wasn't already in the SRD. Maybe things changed? I stopped using his sheets at about the same time [go figger] I started playing Castles & Crusades. My group is back into 3.x for the time being, but I'm using HeroForge again and the rest of the group is either using PCGen or pen & paper.

Man, I wonder what HeroForge is up to...

 

[Mark]

I used the 4E section of Ema's site, (. . .)

I also paid for the privilege.

I'm not an expert on copyright stuff (. . .)

Understood.

...huh. I just realized that this is probably what Scott Rouse was talking about a couple of weeks ago when he was listing the things that were distracting him from OGL completion.

I believe he posted that he was actually out of the country dealing with a different issue, though he may well have had to deal with this, as well.

 

[chriton227]

I believe he posted that he was actually out of the country dealing with a different issue, though he may well have had to deal with this, as well.

This may have been why he was out of the country. Ema's was based out of Italy.

 

[thecasualoblivion]

They were not the same as WotC's. They were made by Ema, or collected by Ema. Most were made by Ema and had a certain style that was definitely his own. I only ever used the character sheets and don't recall there being any I.P. material there at all. At least nothing that wasn't already in the SRD. Maybe things changed? I stopped using his sheets at about the same time [go figger] I started playing Castles & Crusades. My group is back into 3.x for the time being, but I'm using HeroForge again and the rest of the group is either using PCGen or pen & paper.

Man, I wonder what HeroForge is up to...

The paid character manager could print out 4E power cards that were pretty much verbatim right out of the 4E books(though no maths), and the 4E is very much not part of the OGL/SRD. In addition, looking at a 4E character sheet I printed out using the character manager, in the upper left hand corner is the 4E D&D logo, just as it appears on the 4E books.

 

[Mark]

This may have been why he was out of the country. Ema's was based out of Italy.

Sorry, my bad. Here's the post describing what he was up to, and it seems like it is different from what was dealt with in regard to Ema.

http://www.enworld.org/forum/genera...d-4e-gaming-system-license-2.html#post4639669

 

[xechnao]

A stupid question. The GSL is incompatible with the service Ema was offering right? Can anyone explain?

 

[Mark]

A stupid question. The GSL is incompatible with the service Ema was offering right? Can anyone explain?

http://www.wizards.com/d20/files/GSL_20080617.pdf

http://www.wizards.com/d20/files/4EGSLFAQ061708.pdf

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/4news/20080811

Wizards of the Coast announces a forthcoming revision to the Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition Game System License (GSL) and System Reference Document (SRD).

“We recognize the important role third party publishing support plays in the success of the 4th Edition of Dungeons & Dragons. We have listened to the community and our valued colleagues and have taken their concerns and recommendations to heart. Our commitment to the health of the industry and hobby gaming lifestyle is reflected in the revisions to the Game System License.”
--Linae Foster D&D Licensing Manager

While the delivery date is not yet firmly established, the revised documents will be available in the very near future.

The new fan site policy, to be made public at a later date, will be posted upon completion.

No fansite policy as of yet and no revised GSL. In less than a week, it will be six months since the quoted statement though it is of note that the person who made the statement is no longer with the company and the fansite policy statement comes after, and is not part of the quote.