Lawyers: OLG, SRD, and Homebrew Web-Pages

[Remathilis]

Ok, this is a long and technical question, but I have no intention or running afowl with WotC...

I want to make a website dedicated to my homebrew setting. It wouldn't be for profit, but for sites like this and players in my game to have a place to look up info on my setting and rules. I have no intentions of publishing this, just having it available on the web. (A Fan Site.)

What of the following can I use and not get sued...

* References to Races not in the SRD, like Goliaths or Warforged. (Such as Goliaths live in the hills of Mortar, near the southern coast...)
* References to Spells/Magic/Prestige Classes in various sources (PCs can choose from the following Prcs: Acolyte of Skin...)
* References to WotC Deities (Dwarves on the north worship Moradin, the soulforger)
* Assigning custom deities WotC Domains (Lendinor: LG, Domains: Good, Law, Glory, Community, Sun FW: Mace)
* Giving NPC stat blocks with WotC classes or PrCS (Thomas Restenford, Human Cleric6/Radiant Servant of Pelor 2, NG. AC 21...)
* Referencing New Rules not presented in the Core/UA (Baron Semdi is a Deathless Lich...)
* Referencing PI or other Monsters by name (Underdark Encounter table. % Roll: 01-10: Mindflayer. 11-20....)
* Using WotC artwork from the Online Gallery with appropriate Links/Citation
* Linking Back to Material presented on WotCs site as preview (like the Goliath or Uldra stats in the what's in the Works columns)
* Referencing WotC sub races (The High, or Moon Elves of Enderia live on the western coast...)

These are very specific, but I'm sure I missed some. It all boils down to this question...

* How much WotC fluff and reference to crunch can a fan site use, or are we bound to the same strict guidelines as a d20 publisher?

 

[Janx]

WotC's comments on fan sites and the OGL in the past has been pretty open.

Generally they differentiate between a fan site and a product. Fan sites are generally left alone.

The main points are:
don't reprint their rules (unless its OGL, perhaps)
Don't reprint their property (almost the same thing)

Generally listing places, and describing NPCs and religions and such should be OK.

Reproducing campaign setting books would not be OK.

Janx

 

[Remathilis]

Ok, thats what I needed to know.

I'm still not reprinting rules or stuff, but just making sure I'm not violating international law or something...

 

[DaveStebbins]

You can list classes, PrCs, places etc. You just can't reprint the rules for those things. It's fine to say you'll be running the campaign in the Forgotten Realms and that Warforged are an acceptable race, etc. But if you start reproducing maps, or the rules for Warforged, then you're stepping over the line.

Lists are fine. If you're putting up material that would mean the reader didn't need to refer to a Wizards of the Coast book, then you've gone too far (except for OGC, but then you need to follow the strictures of the OGL).

 

[Sammael]

The only problematic thing may be stat blocks. Then again, this may fall under "fair use."

 

[dagger]

Just add a password to your website and then you need not worry. Thats the best way to protect yourself and have a very comprehensive tool for for your group.

 

[Janx]

I would disagree on stat blocks. You can put up an entire character sheet if you want. As long as their your characters and not WotC's.

WotC doesn't care if you share your characters. It's their characters they care about. And make sure you label your site as a fan site. WotC's site had some good explanation of all this a while back.

Janx

 

[GlassJaw]

I'm working on a campaign site right now and I asked about this a few weeks ago. The general consensus I found is that as long as you are not just blatantly reprinting non-OGL stull (like PrC's and feats from books), you should be fine.