Monsters and SRD

[rpgwriter]

Could someone explain the "gentlemen's agreement" that exists for using monsters under the SRD?

It is my understanding that they can currently be used even though they haven't been released to the SRD. Is that correct?

Is there any limitation to the sources they can be used from? (I know any publisher's content recognized as "open" can be used if properly identified, etc, but what about the core manuals like MM and MMII?)

Thanks.
-J

 

[MEG Hal]

You are confused you can ONLY use what is in the SRD, so there is no MM and MMII. Only what is available in the SRD, go and take a gander and that is what is available. Remember Core books etc. do not exist, if you write d20 stuff only what is open and therfore only SRD, so no descriptions etc...why because only stats listed in the SRD. Hope that helps.

 

[kingpaul]

Could someone explain the "gentlemen's agreement" that exists for using monsters under the SRD?

Basically, it allows you to use anything in the draft SRD in your OGC compliant work, with the expectation that you will make changes to your product as soon as the draft portions become official.

It is my understanding that they can currently be used even though they haven't been released to the SRD. Is that correct?

See above.

Is there any limitation to the sources they can be used from? (I know any publisher's content recognized as "open" can be used if properly identified, etc, but what about the core manuals like MM and MMII?)

Of the WotC material, you can only use that which has been declared OGC, either in the official or draft SRD. Although I don't own MM2, it is my understanding that 2 of those monsters (originally from CC2, IIRC) are OGC.

Hope that helps.

 

[rpgwriter]

follow-up

Thanks guys.

I understand you can't use anything but the SRD, but since the approved SRD contains no monsters, I ran into a wall.

What I am understanding now is that any monster in the DRAFT SRD can be used, provided that information will be updated in your product when the draft sections become official.

-J

 

[MEG Hal]

Re: follow-up

What I am understanding now is that any monster in the DRAFT SRD can be used, provided that information will be updated in your product when the draft sections become official.

-J

Exactly.

Why I stated that was because you mentioned the MMII.

 

[jmucchiello]

Re: follow-up

I understand you can't use anything but the SRD, but since the approved SRD contains no monsters, I ran into a wall.

What I am understanding now is that any monster in the DRAFT SRD can be used, provided that information will be updated in your product when the draft sections become official.

Since no one has been explicit: The draft SRD is found at http://www.opengamingfoundation.org/srd. If you don't find it there, it isn't in the draft SRD.

 

[Y.O.Morales]

Before we began the Encyclopedia of Monsters Vol.1, we contacted Anthony Valterra to make sure about the terms for using the SRD drafts. Like everyone else said, you can use the drafts as long as you update your work when they become official. He also replied to us that you can modify the material taken from the drafts as you want, provided that you update it later.

 

[kingpaul]

Re: Re: follow-up

Since no one has been explicit:

Including the link wasn't being explicit?

 

[Nightfall]

Re: Re: Monsters and SRD

Of the WotC material, you can only use that which has been declared OGC, either in the official or draft SRD. Although I don't own MM2, it is my understanding that 2 of those monsters (originally from CC2, IIRC) are OGC.

Hope that helps.

Actually it's CC1. And it's the stats that are OGC, not the names or the "flavor text" descriptions.

 

[Ranger REG]

IMPORTANT NOTICE: See my disclaimer below

Could someone explain the "gentlemen's agreement" that exists for using monsters under the SRD?

The informal agreement is that you can use any content from the DRAFT sections of the SRD (posted on the Open Gaming Foundation web site) as long as you promise to immediately update said content when they are legally approved and formally RELEASED.

www.OpenGamingFoundation.org

It is my understanding that they can currently be used even though they haven't been released to the SRD. Is that correct?

As I said above, the DRAFT section of the SRD.

Is there any limitation to the sources they can be used from? (I know any publisher's content recognized as "open" can be used if properly identified, etc, but what about the core manuals like MM and MMII?)

Stay away from Wizards' copyrighted material. Period.

Use what is in the SRD. Apply the Gentleperson's Agreement if you wish to use the DRAFT sections of the SRD.

The Gentleperson's Agreement was put there during the debut of the d20/Open Gaming system. It is only a temporary policy to allow third-party publishers to get onboard the d20 bandwagon start publishing d20 products, while the SRD is not yet formalized.

Once the DRAFT sections of the SRD is formalized, the Gentleperson's Agreement will become moot as Wizards plan to release APPROVED sections to the public from now on (no DRAFTS).