General Questions For A New Book

[Archon42]

Hello friends.
I'm new here, and I am writing a campaign setting using DND 5e 2024 rules that I'd eventually like to publish. I don't want to write too much content if the SRD or OGL will not let me use it. Here are my questions.

Can I reference Gods or devils by name in my book under the rules? Like, can I mention Moradin, Asmodious or Lothe?

Can I reference campaign settings like Eberune or Dark Sun? (pretty sure I can't on this one)

Can I reference Pale elves?

I'll start with these three. Thank you in advance.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I would pull up the 2024 SRD and do a word search for anything you want to reference as a general rule. If you can't find it there, the answer is almost certainly not, unless you're using a generic version of a real-world myth (Tiamat, Orcus, Asmodeus).

But even in that case, do not make the descriptions match WotC's versions -- Tiamat from myth is not a five-headed dragon, for instance. Better to just use the names and be vague, or use the descriptions but use a generic title instead of the name (the King of Hell, the Spider Queen, Queen of Dragons), etc.

 

[Thomas Shey]

I would pull up the 2024 SRD and do a word search for anything you want to reference as a general rule. If you can't find it there, the answer is almost certainly not, unless you're using a generic version of a real-world myth (Tiamat, Orcus, Asmodeus).

But even in that case, do not make the descriptions match WotC's versions -- Tiamat from myth is not a five-headed dragon, for instance. Better to just use the names and be vague, or use the descriptions but use a generic title instead of the name (the King of Hell, the Spider Queen, Queen of Dragons), etc.

That's the take 13th Age did with a couple of powerful entities that are clearly supposed to be Lloth and Vecna (they even make a terrible joke about the first one at one point).

 

[Archon42]

I would pull up the 2024 SRD and do a word search for anything you want to reference as a general rule. If you can't find it there, the answer is almost certainly not, unless you're using a generic version of a real-world myth (Tiamat, Orcus, Asmodeus).

But even in that case, do not make the descriptions match WotC's versions -- Tiamat from myth is not a five-headed dragon, for instance. Better to just use the names and be vague, or use the descriptions but use a generic title instead of the name (the King of Hell, the Spider Queen, Queen of Dragons), etc.

Thank you. One last question. Are you able to make reference to them?

 

[Koloth]

Standard IANAL disclaimer. Names from classic mythology are generally safe. Zeus, Apollo, Jupiter, Hector, etc. Names from older text should also be good. Think Bible era.

I would avoid a direct reference to published settings. Don't call it Dark Sun. Cast it as taking place in a desert after the fall of civilization. With that description, could be a Mad Max world, but with magic. But don't call it a Mad Max world, that is probably copyrighted as well.

As mentioned, download the SRD. Download the license that it is released under. Understand both.

Keep in mind that it isn't just WOTC you have to avoid irritating. The Tolkien estate is still very protective of anything he wrote. As are other authors and estates. Referencing Hobbits will likely get you a rather sternly worded "Cease and Desist" letter.

 

[Archon42]

Last question. Say I want to use Mystra. But I named her something else. But I reference her old domains and what she did. The way I am reading this. There should be no issues with this as long as I don't copy a stat block (she doesn't have one) I should be ok.

Update. I just realized I "last questioned" the last post I did. sorry. But for real this time.