Is the Unearthed Arcana SRD online?

[Lonely Tylenol]

I bought the Draconomicon mostly for the artwork...

 

[nikolai]

I really hope those trying to make a AU SRD will not be discouraged by the misguided complaints that have reared their heads. I think they're doing a really valuable service to the community. The big tragedy of OGC is that there are no large well designed, edited and organised online rules (except the main SRD). There's material that is explicitly released with permission to distribute it; but is it not being made widely available.

Andy Collins seems to be of the opinion that it is fine for WotC to release OGC of their own free will, thereby adding to the value of their product, but somehow wishes for them to be able to do this without the rules of the OGL applying to them.

 

[barsoomcore]

I bought the Draconomicon mostly for the artwork...

Yeah, you know, everyone SAYS they "read the articles" but we all know we're buying it for the pictures.

 

[Cergorach]

Hey Cergorach, that looks really good. Do you distribute that 3.5 SRD? Because it's a hell of a lot nicer than the rtf version. If you do distribute it, is there a website? I look forward to seeing your Unearthed Arcana SRD as well.

I will, i have currently a number of projects running parralel, so the different chapters of the SRD v.3.5 are in varying stages of completion. I'll take a look tomorrow at what's ready for 'beta' release ;-)

Keep an eye out here: http://www.thehelix.nl/modules.php?name=Downloads

I'm hard at work converting Green Ronin's Holy Warrior to v.3.5, expect to see that soon as well. As well as a god section for the SRD also based on Green Ronin's work.

Some other projects are also in the works, all OGC, everything pdf, everything free:
- An introduction to roleplaying, a 64 page booklet that will give new players everything they need to start a D20 fantasy game. Four basic Character classes (Fighter, Priest, Rogue, Wizard) from levels 1-4, hoping for some professional illustrations in there.
- A classic fantasy setting with high quality maps, backgrounds for races, towns, cities, countries, a continent of OGL material.
[/blabla]

Oops, sorry got a bit carried away ;-)

 

[Darkness]

Andy Collins seems to be of the opinion that it is fine for WotC to release OGC of their own free will, thereby adding to the value of their product, but somehow wishes for them to be able to do this without the rules of the OGL applying to them.

No offense but try to look at this from Andy's perspective as well.

It's a very cool move on WotC's part to make things in UA OGC. IMO, shooting WotC a nice e-mail explaining what you're thinking of might be a better start for this project than saying "ok, let's chop this book up and put it on the web."

Seriously, it's not just about what you can do; it's also about how you're doing it. *shrug* A little politeness can never hurt, can it?

Just my 2 cents.

 

[jeffh]

I believe they went beyond the scope of what the three 3.5e core rulebooks have presented and added those from Epic-Level Handbook.

And refresh my memory but I never considered the Psionic's Handbook the fourth core rulebook. But it's there so Bruce Cordell could write the If Thoughts Could Kill book (published by Malhavoc Press). OBTW, in a month or so, expect the copyrighted material from the Expanded Psionic's Handbook to update the old material in the SRD ... at least according to the guy-in-charge of WotC's SRD, Andy Smith.

P.S. Still waiting for him to add Oriental Adventures material.

It's possible it does go beyond the core books into the ELH-only stuff; you're the second person to say so since I asked. I said that would surprise me, and it does, but at this point I'll take your word for it.

And no, I don't really consider psionics core, or at least any more core than, say, Complete Warrior. Thus the phrase "besides psionics".

Was Oriental Adventures ever supposed to be in the SRD? I know the Deities & Demigods stuff was, but I don't know of anyone saying OA would be. Note, though, that much of that material, or at least stuff very similar to it (and in some cases superior IMO) is open content anyway due to AEG's Rokugan and its various supplements.

 

[Cergorach]

Note, though, that much of that material, or at least stuff very similar to it (and in some cases superior IMO) is open content anyway due to AEG's Rokugan and its various supplements.

I would agree except:

Designation of product identity: <snip> any and all material adapted from Oriental Adventures, except material noted in that work as Open Game Content <snip>

The samurai and Shugenja are stated as being adapted from Oriental Adventures.

That's why i'm still hoping on content from OA to be made OGC...

 

[Kesh]

Yes, OA was supposed to get into the SRD. And when it does, I hope they incorporate the 3.5 update from Dragon magazine.

 

[nikolai]

No offense but try to look at this from Andy's perspective as well.

It's a very cool move on WotC's part to make things in UA OGC. IMO, shooting WotC a nice e-mail explaining what you're thinking of might be a better start for this project than saying "ok, let's chop this book up and put it on the web."

Seriously, it's not just about what you can do; it's also about how you're doing it. *shrug* A little politeness can never hurt, can it?

I really think Andy has really done everyone a disservice. Loads of the stuff that really helps my game is provided on the web by fans who do it for free and entirely out of the kindness of their hearts. I'm very grateful for this. The UA SRD would be a fantastic resourse, WotC has explicitly given everyone permission to do this, and a group of people got together to make it happen.

At this point Andy, speaking entirely in a personal capacity, said that they were petty, going against the spirit of open gaming, abusing the generosity of others, and doing something that wasn't appreciated. Others have suggested, in the last couple of pages, that what he said was clueless. But, in spite of this, this appears to have killed the project. Some of those involved have - totally unjustifiably - posted to say they're ashamed and feel like jerks, when they're not.

Darkness; I agree with what you say. It is cool for WotC to make things OGC. (Though they had to make some of it OGC, as the book used OGC). I'm all for politeness. It would be cool to send WotC an email, saying what you're doing, and thanking them, even though (or especially since), WotC have said that chunks of UA are Open Game Content and people are free to distribute it. But - as far as I can see - none of that was Andy's point. Andy's point was it is a bad thing for people to make a UA SRD, he's wrong, but even so has still managed to sabotage the project, and make a bunch of people who were trying to do a really neat thing for others feel unreasonably bad about themselves.

 

[Cergorach]

Is it me or is this detoriating into an Andy is 'evil' thread? Can't a game designer have an opinion that goes against the general concensus without having his head bitten off? Although i don't agree with his point of view, it still is his point of view, gotta have to respect that...