Looking for a publisher

[blackshirt5]

Hello, my name is Andrew Smith.

I've been working on a setting for quite a while now, and an accompanying three books; the main setting book, a large monster manual for it, and a Player's Guide. I'm trying to find a publisher who would be willing to work with me in getting these three books published under the Open Gaming License.

The world is a world of First Age wonder; magic is common, the mortal races are young, and it is a time of epic tales and legendary heroes and monsters.

I would prefer for the books to be OGL rather than D20, as I did not write it to use most of the D20 standard classes, but rather the Arcana Unearthed classes with a few more included.

I would like to be able to deal with art and that myself, if possible; I know a wonderful young artist named Chris Villanueva whose sketches not only fit my vision of this world, but also helped influence and shape it.

Any interested parties, or if you need more details of the world please contact me through either this post or at my email address: blackshirt5@hotmail.com

Thank you.

Andrew Smith

 

[Napftor]

Andrew,

Have you investigated Mystic Eye's "Cover to Cover" services?

http://www.mysticeyegames.com/showsection.php?section=15&PHPSESSID=ef2b7ea0b00cff5cf5e1df8e85f62216

 

[blackshirt5]

You're the second person to refer me to that; I'm looking at it now. I'm gonna look back at it after I get a bit more of the monster book done.

 

[Orcus]

Andrew, if you wrote this to incorporate the AU classes as you say then you cant be very far along, since AU just came out. Generally publishers are interested in completed products. We have been pitched hundreds of times by people who have ideas. Ideas arent printable. Finished manuscripts are. 98% of everyone who emails me with something they are working on never winds up finishing it. So your first step is to actually get a manuscript.

You most likely have another problem--you will need to license content from Monte Cook. AU is very restricted in its OGC. I know Monte has a license that he grants to products that he approves of. I know because I drafted the license for him. So your second step, if you use AU content, is to make sure you are doing it right and contact Monte to try to get a license to use the restricted content.

So before you do any more, you better contact Monte or be real careful about how you use the content from that book.

Clark

 

[Ceresco]

The cover page has two paragraphs identifying PI and OGL. It seems that all the core classes, racial classes and races are OGL.

ALL of the AU unique feats, abilities or spells are PI.

And after that it says Malhavoc Press may allow a free limited liscense if you inquire.

Respectfully,

ed-

Thanks for pointing that out Clark. I did do my homework and then wrote the exact opposite of what I meant to say. DOH!

 

[Orcus]

Ed-

I think someone needs to read the PI designation again.

All the races, for example, are PI, including race names.

Also PI are all original names of creatures, monsters, all capitalized names, gods, spells, feats, abilities, etc.

In fact, all the things you said are OGC are NOT OGC. Do your homework, dude.

All you need to do is read the PI designation.

If you dont know what you are doing, you shouldnt be writing opinions. People might rely on your mistaken statements to their detriment. Please do your homework and be correct before you say something is OGC when it has instead been specifically marked by Monte as PI. This is a serious business and if you have any concerns you need to consult a lawyer.

Andrew, if there is one thing you should learn as a person wanting to publish under the licenses is not to take someone's word that something is OGC. You need to know the license inside and out and you may need a lawyer if you have concerns. This is a serious undertaking, particularly when you are about to use someone's PI without permission. You cant say "well Ed on ENWorld said it is OGC and that none of the spells and feats are PI." Ed is dead wrong and that is no defense.

I'm not trying to be harsh or to scare you off. Anyone who is a regular here knows I am a huge supporter of the OGL and have helped numerous people get started and understand the license. I just want you to understand this is a serious matter and one that in the end you and you alone will be responsible for.

Clark

 

[jmucchiello]

All the races, for example, are PI, including race names.

No, the race names are PI, the descriptions may or may not be PI but are not OGC (depending on how you view the term history in the PI designation but let's not debate that here).

The OGC designation lists the racial traits and the racial class tables as OGC. Meaning the game mechanics of the Litorians is OGC but you can't call them Litorians or refer to their cat-like appearance without permission to use the PI.

Thus someone who is making a setting could rename the races and use them as written. (With new names and descriptions.)

Andrew, most of this problem is avoided by requesting Monte's PI license. See his website for details.

 

[blackshirt5]

Thanks for the advice guys; Clark, I'm not discouraged by your words, I'm encouraged by them; it's good to know some of the more technical details while I'm working on it, as it gives me something to remember about the work I'm doing.

And as for the incorporating AU classes thing and how long I've been working on it, I've been working on it for a few months, but that was mainly conceptualizing it; I read about the AU classes on Monte's website and came to realize how much better they fit my vision of this world, so I decided to wait until it was out to really start throwing myself into this world.

Thanks for the info though Clark, Joe; if you can think of anything else, definitely let me know.

 

[Orcus]

Correct, the traits and tables are OGC but without the names, descriptors, accompanying art, etc, it is close to useless. Strip that stuff from the race and I'm not sure you can even say they are lion creatures for example. It gets muddy. But the real point is that the poster who said the races or OGC is totally on crack and that people shouldnt offer those opinions when they have no freaking clue what they are talking about.

[edit: I noticed ed posted above that he had made a boo boo which is of course understandable. but highlights the similar point that you should never trust a post on the internet about what is or is not OGC]

Clark

 

[blackshirt5]

Agreed; if you're not helping, you're potentially harming.

I contacted Malhavoc about the license; just waiting to hear back from them.

So, has anybody tried that Cover to Cover service from MEG? How is it, how much does it cost?