Help regarding d20 usage

[Warduke]

Well I've read through some of the d20 documents but I haven't found the answer to the most crucial questions and if you know a good site to look, please inform me.

The crucial question? Exactly what must be part of a d20 game?

(If you wish to answer directly, without a link to a site or such, I've already understood that the basic resolution must be in, and that classes, levels, hit dice and armor class does not.)

Thanks.

 

[Tonguez]

a D20 and reference to WoTC is about it...

 

[EricNoah]

I'm not sure I understand your question. Are you asking as a potential publisher? If so you probably want to start here:

http://enworld.cyberstreet.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=10

Specifically, here:

http://enworld.cyberstreet.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=33037

 

[Warduke]

I'm asking as someone who would understand it as well as a potential publisher since I'm currently in an interesting discussion partially about d20 and what you can't and can do with it.

I'll check out those links. Thanks much.

 

[Warduke]

Addition: To clarify, I'm looking for the absolutely minimum of what must be included in a game:

The d20 resolution (d20 + skill vs. difficulty level).

The legalities yadda.

Anything else? Or can you change monster setups, get rid of all the ability scores and so on?

 

[CRGreathouse]

IANAL

Addition: To clarify, I'm looking for the absolutely minimum of what must be included in a game:

The d20 resolution (d20 + skill vs. difficulty level).

The legalities yadda.

Anything else? Or can you change monster setups, get rid of all the ability scores and so on?

You don't even need to include the target number mechanic -- you could drop that, if you'd like. However, since you can't define character creation, you'll have to base the characters on existing PH creation rules (though you can add new atributes if you'd like; you just can't say what to do with them).

 

[MThibault]

As far as I know (I am not a lawyer, etc.) the d20 license requires a minimum of 5% Open Gaming Content, but does not define what that content must be -- it could be material directly from the SRD, or it could be completely new mechanics that don't even use a d20.

The d20 license is more specific on what you *can't* include than what you *must* include. This is sort of necessary if the license is to be, among other things, a tool for encouraging innovation. You can't require that people innovate only in certain ways and still be successful.

Cheers

 

[cybernetic]

IMO (which is not legal advice by any means) I'd say you could make an entire game that technically doesn't really even resemble d20 as long as you follow the d20 license itself (the things like no character creation process, no describing applying experience, declaring at least 5% of the publication as OGC, etc etc..)...

 

[Warduke]

Ok. That clears it up enough for me. Thanks a lot.

 

[MThibault]

IMO (which is not legal advice by any means) I'd say you could make an entire game that technically doesn't really even resemble d20 as long as you follow the d20 license itself (the things like no character creation process, no describing applying experience, declaring at least 5% of the publication as OGC, etc etc..)...

I believe this to be entirely true. In the real world, however, there would be no point in doing so. The reason why you use the d20 license is to at the very least indicate that your book uses rules that are similar to D&D so it won't take long to learn. Usually the d20 logo is used to indicate compatibility with D&D. If you aren't using the logo for one of these purposes, there's probably no reason to worry about the license and just stick with the OGL.

Cheers.