How to...

[Margaiaman]

I'm sure these are old questions indeed, asked by many an aspiring world builder.

How do I go about the process of protecting my material?

Is it a difficult process?

Is it necessary?

Where do I go if I want to publish the work?

Or could I publish it myself?

Where do artists come from and how can I find them?

I've long been sitting on my world, designed since the seventh grade and continually being refined. I figure now is as good a time as any to look into all of the important legal mumbo jumbo, just in case I ever do anything with it beyond just mulling it in my head or occasionally running a game within its confines.

 

[Viking Games]

I'm sure these are old questions indeed, asked by many an aspiring world builder.

How do I go about the process of protecting my material?

If it is just your ideas, no open content or rules stuff, place it in a fixed format, add a copyright notice and then register your material with the Library of Congress. (Or so reads my handout from a print house.)

Is it a difficult process?
Is it necessary?

Not as difficult as some might make it out to be, but it can be tasking. As to necessary--well, that depends on what you're wanting to do with it. If you're material is to become a setting for fiction, than I would say yes. Ditto for publishing internet works, and possibly a game setting.

I will say that if you're using a licensing agreement to "fill in the gaps," (coughD20STLcough) I'd keep track of what you've created personally, and keep it far away from the licensed material. (D20STL, OGL, etc. Keep your non-game content closed as much as you want.)

Where do I go if I want to publish the work?
Or could I publish it myself?

A print house, an internet website, RPG.net Mall, RPGnow.com, Kinkos... the list is limited by what you are seeking to do.

Where do artists come from and how can I find them?

Seattle, WA. Spanaway, WA. Arkon, OH. Atlanta, GA. and elsewheres...

Find them by looking at pen-paper.net's artist galleries, or searching them out by name on internet search engines.

Most are willing to at least say something, and some even seek you out (if you claim to be looking for art, or just have a website)...

I've long been sitting on my world, designed since the seventh grade and continually being refined. I figure now is as good a time as any to look into all of the important legal mumbo jumbo, just in case I ever do anything with it beyond just mulling it in my head or occasionally running a game within its confines.

I would say use that WotC contest form to focus your content further, and see what you want to do with it. The form forces one to consider what needs to be in a world, not just "Hey, it's my game world I created for 2e back in the day..." (Okay, that's me...)

Remember: I'm a publisher, not a lawyer...

 

[Orcus]

Actually one of the best resources for new companies is right here on our very own ENworld. Here is the link:

http://www.d20reviews.com/Eric/d20guide/d20intro.htm

Scroll down to see lots of stuff about company start up issues.

You will most likely also want to go to the open gaming foundation and join their d20 and OGL mailing lists. Though not as active as they once were, their archive alone is invaluable.

Good luck.

Clark

 

[MEG Hal]

As far as artists---
1) Elfwood
2) Epilogue
3) Find products that have art you like and e-mail the publisher, I know I like my guys to work, so if I am not using them, I encourage them to keep going in the industry.

As for printers etc....again e-mail a publisher you like the look or feel and ask them, most are not shy. And join the GPA, it is not expensive and you get a flurry of advice from a lot of the people listed here and more. Join GAMA if and when you can. But the GPA mailing list is quickly answered and almost everyone has only good intentions for you. Print sizes, prices etc....been posted many a time at the GPA.

OK, enough from me.