GSL: Necromancer Games SOL?

[Xethreau]

So, I was reading the latest blog thing in regards to the Game System License, and I read something interesting:

The thing I'm really interested to find out is whether the GSL will have a clause that forbids its use with the OGL. I think this is entirely possible. It would the mean that you couldn't take previously released OGC and use it in a book released under the GSL. A book like the already announced Tome of Horrors 4th edition would not be possible under this restriction.

Well... that would really suck for Necromancer games and the ppl who were anticipating the Tome of Horrors and the Advanced Players Guide. x.x

What do you think it will be? What are your thoughts?

 

[Cam Banks]

I dunno. Take all the rules out, dump them, replace them with new rules. Sure, they all look like the same monsters, but there's no real OGL in there if you do that. Right?

Piece of cake.

Cheers,
Cam

 

[Sir Brennen]

Plus, the Advanced Player's Guide is new content for 4E, not rehashed 3E OGL, so no problem with that material.

 

[GMSkarka]

It's all speculation until we publishers get a look at the License, which still hasn't happened.

Plus, when we do, we're under NDA -- so nobody will be able to talk about it.

 

[Flynn]

I can definitely say that if the GSL does not allow a company to release its own previously OGL content under the GSL, then I will have to re-examine my personal decision to purchase the 4E core books, as I can guarantee that I wouldn't want to support that kind of decision.

Honestly, though, I do not think that the GSL will be so limiting, at least in regards to material you yourself have copyrighted. Necromancer Games has a number of excellent monster books, and if they can't publish their old work under 4E (with the proper updates for game mechanics, of course), then I think the GSL will be far too restrictive.

I really don't think Necromancer has anything to worry about. If they did, Orcus never would have posted anything, being highly trained in the law as he is.

However, that's a personal opinion and I'm only one of the very small minority that has an opinion on such things, so I will simply wait for someone to post a clarification one way or the other. (Let's face it, most gamers aren't going to really care one way or the other, so long as they get to play.)

Let's not say the sky is falling just yet, guys. Let's wait for some official clarifications.

Me, I'm more concerned that the delay in getting the 4E developer's kit material to Necromancer is going to cause delays in the release of Tome of Horrors than I am about the GSL/OGL overlap issue.

With Regards,
Flynn

 

[DaveMage]

Section 2 of the OGL also indicates that "Open Game Content may only be Used under and in terms of this License" and "You must affix such a notice to any Open Game Content that you use."

So, it seems that if NG wants to use open content, then they must affix the OGL to the content. The ToH1 declares the names, stats, and descriptions of the creatures as open game content.

However, I'm sure there are lawyers who can get around this, but interesting times, for sure.

 

[Pinotage]

It's all speculation until we publishers get a look at the License, which still hasn't happened.

Plus, when we do, we're under NDA -- so nobody will be able to talk about it.

Does that mean that aside from the publishers that pay the $5000, nobody in the general gets to see the GSL until August? Or do we all get to see a copy of the GSL once it's made available? I'm sure those publishers that aren't planning to pay the $5000 would love to see if just so they can plan according to what the license does and doesn't allow.

Pinotage

 

[MerricB]

I can definitely say that if the GSL does not allow a company to release its own previously OGL content under the GSL, then I will have to re-examine my personal decision to purchase the 4E core books, as I can guarantee that I wouldn't want to support that kind of decision.

There's pretty much nothing that will stop this from happening. The GSL might be able to stop material from simultaneously being covered by the GSL and OGL in the same book (and it almost certainly will), but what you have created *yourself* will always be yours and you can choose to release it under the GSL or OGL as you choose.

What this does mean is that material you derived from someone else's material (under the terms of the OGL) will not be able to be redone under the GSL unless you come to a separate agreement with the original copyright holder.

Tome of Horrors has a problem. The original NG monsters can be redone under the GSL, but the monsters that are the property of Wizards would only be able to be redone if Wizards agrees to it with a new agreement.

Cheers!

 

[Lord Fyre]

It's all speculation until we publishers get a look at the License, which still hasn't happened.

Plus, when we do, we're under NDA -- so nobody will be able to talk about it.

Actually, what is more troubling is that it is February and the 4th Ed SRD (or what ever they are calling it) is not already in the hands of those who have ponied up with the $5,000 already . . .

 

[DaveMage]

Actually, what is more troubling is that it is February and the 4th Ed SRD (or what ever they are calling it) is not already in the hands of those who have ponied up with the $5,000 already . . .

IIRC, you don't have to pay until after you see the new license. So, since no one has seen the new license, it's likely that no one has paid.