Nebular Cross in possible breach of new d20 stl 5.0

[midknight12]

Due to the new revisions in the D20 System Trademark License 5.0, the product, Nebular Cross Campaign Setting, is in breach of the Quality Standards section that says, “A Covered Product can not endorse or promote any specific religion or religious practice.” Since the product actively promotes Christian values and the Christian church, the product does favor the real world religion, Christianity. This is an integral part of the product and was purposely designed to promote Christianity. While Wizards of the Coast has not officially declared the product in breach of the D20 System Trademark License 5.0, Crown of Thorns Studio, the publisher and owner of this product, feels that the product may be in breach. Since Crown of Thorns Studio agreed to abide by the D20 System Trademark License, we will be removing the product from sale and distribution until Wizards of the Coast approves the product. Crown of Thorns Studio will be contacting Wizards of the Coast on this matter very quickly.

To the fans and supporters of Nebular Cross Campaign Setting, Crown of Thorns Studio wishes to thank everyone for their enthusiasm and interest in the product. Due to the amount of time before a resolution comes to this matter, Crown of Thorns Studio will be releasing a revised version of the product. As of this time, the company does not know if they will stay with the OGL, use a different trademark or use an originally designed system. Whatever may happen, the product will be improved further and everyone who had already bought a copy will receive a free complimentary copy.

Nebular Cross Campaign Setting was originally designed for use under the D20 System Trademark License 4.0. It is a science fiction game setting that uses D20 Modern and was distributed as an electronic pdf file. The setting was based on Christianity, the Christian church, the human condition, and many other themes.

Crown of Thorns Studio has been in business for almost a year publishing Celestius Ex, Ex Inhereditare and Nebular Cross Campaign Setting. Nebular Cross Campaign Setting was Crown of Thorns Studio’s first and only d20 product.

In Christ,
Robert Taylor
Crown of Thorns Studio

 

[trancejeremy]

You can just remove the d20 logo, you know.

 

[Ranger REG]

They can, but they'll need to make it a standalone game product, that means they have to add in stuff like character creation and character advancement, and other things that they just simply refer to the PHB. So, it's not a simple matter of removing the trademarked logo, but making it a viable standalone game product as well.

 

[DanMcS]

They can, but they'll need to make it a standalone game product, that means they have to add in stuff like character creation and character advancement, and other things that they just simply refer to the PHB. So, it's not a simple matter of removing the trademarked logo, but making it a viable standalone game product as well.

No they wouldn't. Just because it's OGL doesn't mean you have to have your own rules for characters. The opposite is true, though, if you want to have rules on creating or advancing characters, it has to be OGL.

To make it OGL, all they'd have to include is the appropriate license sheet, and not put the d20 logo on it.

 

[kingpaul]

No they wouldn't. Just because it's OGL doesn't mean you have to have your own rules for characters. The opposite is true, though, if you want to have rules on creating or advancing characters, it has to be OGL.

I agree with REG on this. Without the d20 logo and lacking chargen is a bad thing, because anyone picking up the product would wonder where it links. The d20, but the license, links it to D&D; the mandatory license phrases have to be on/in the product. Just OGL, and you can't mention WotC or any of their products. If you have a savvy consumer, then that might not be a problem. However, the Christian audience is, IMO, rather untapped for RPGs. Because of this, the un-savvy consumer would pick up the RPG book and not know how they were to create a character.

 

[MythosaAkira]

However, the Christian audience is, IMO, rather untapped for RPGs. Because of this, the un-savvy consumer would pick up the RPG book and not know how they were to create a character.

I would almost think that for an untapped audience, going OGL and not d20 would be better, since an RPG could be stand-alone and not require another book. Particularly if the target audience might be turned off by the idea of having to buy a book containing elements of magic.

 

[Mouseferatu]

I agree with REG on this. Without the d20 logo and lacking chargen is a bad thing, because anyone picking up the product would wonder where it links. The d20, but the license, links it to D&D; the mandatory license phrases have to be on/in the product. Just OGL, and you can't mention WotC or any of their products. If you have a savvy consumer, then that might not be a problem. However, the Christian audience is, IMO, rather untapped for RPGs. Because of this, the un-savvy consumer would pick up the RPG book and not know how they were to create a character.

Try something like this:

"The product requires the core rules for 3.5 Edition Fantasy Roleplaying for use."

No trademarks used, no provisions violated.

(The usual disclaimer: I am so not a lawyer that I'm actually filled with negatively-charged anti-law particles. This is based on a pure lay-person's understanding of the licenses, and you should check with a real lawyer before taking this advice.)

 

[twistnack]

I don't think WotC will have any problems with the book despite what the new STL says. Any talk of switching over to just the OGL should waite until Crown of Thorns Studio has heard back from WotC.

Try something like this:

"The product requires the core rules for 3.5 Edition Fantasy Roleplaying for use."

I not a lawyer either, but something about that strikes me as being a bad idea. Anyway Nebular Cross is a setting for d20 Modern not D&D. It uses a slightly different book, and there is a bigger chance of confusion.

I hope the product goes back online soon I haven't had a chance to buy it yet. I downloaded the sample and it was pretty good. Though some of the advanced classes don't have bonus feats at 3rd, 6th and 9th. Not a big thing, but it makes me want to change them.

 

[kingpaul]

I would almost think that for an untapped audience, going OGL and not d20 would be better, since an RPG could be stand-alone and not require another book. Particularly if the target audience might be turned off by the idea of having to buy a book containing elements of magic.

But the point of my post was that going OGL w/o chargen would be bad. Mr. Taylor said that their book was originally slated to be under the d20 license. With the new changes to the STL and SG, he feels that he might be out of bounds. One suggestion was to remove the d20 and go pure OGL. Doing it this way would requrie needing chargen because the unsavvy consumer wouldn't know where to go.

 

[Voadam]

Contacting wizards is a wise course of action, they might simply grant permission for the product or the line of products, and it would be best to clear up their position on it with something in writing. It still could be a legal d20 logo carrying product if they give permission.

If that doesn't work out there is always the OGL only option, a simple fix for a pdf product. If it stays in the d20 section on rpgnow I don't think many customers will be confused.