NWN Conversions of existing modules - big "No-No"

[Grazzt]

Which is why you will see folks release OGL/OGC content that is not a NWN module that can be imported into one.

-Len

But- the only thing they can release under the OGL/OGC is stat blocks, traps, etc. No "fluff" text, no maps, no descriptions, etc. Take a look at the module conversions on this site (and on mine)...that is all you can release because all the other stuff is IP of WotC.

 

[Bagpuss]

Erm just out of curiousity...

But don't all the 3E D&D Monsters in the Monster Manual (and any in NWN), fall under OGC? Released under the OGL?

Therefore if you produced ANY NWN module that contains existing Monsters from the Monster Manual, it would breach the OGL, and be exploiting the IP of WotC. Or is that where NWN's EULA comes in?

Confused of Birkenhead

 

[smetzger]

You can't make a NWN module without using the NWN EULA. Thus you can't use OGC to make a NWN module.

I wasn't aware of the NWN EULA. That sucks. I wonder why they decided to include the EULA for any module and not just stuff they make available.

There is a way around it. You could make a database that contains the module and then a program that converts that database to a NWN module format. But, thats alot of work to get around a technicality.

This is like the No Trespassing signs for the high power line throughways. It just makes people with no mal intent into law breakers.

 

[smetzger]

But- the only thing they can release under the OGL/OGC is stat blocks, traps, etc. No "fluff" text, no maps, no descriptions, etc. Take a look at the module conversions on this site (and on mine)...that is all you can release because all the other stuff is IP of WotC.

Unless the actual fluff stuff is OGL/OGC like the Green Ronin modules.

 

[Grazzt]

Unless the actual fluff stuff is OGL/OGC like the Green Ronin modules.

Yeppers- true enough. But- I was referring to the fluff text from the classic D&D modules.

 

[2WS-Steve]

What you'll likely have to do is ignore all those books sitting on your shelves and just make your modules as derivative of whatever stuff NWN ships with.

That should still give you a lot of freedom though and I imagine the EULA will grant you permission to use any monsters in the NWN base set and any orginal monsters you come up with using the rules as codified in the software. Essentially, the OGL and the core D&D books should have nothing to do with what you'll work on in NWN, just the software and game engine itself.

That still gives you a lot of freedom to make up your own material. But if you try taking stuff from open content sources or from D&D books that isn't included in the NWN module you'll have to worry about all the normal copyright issues surrounding doing that.

 

[kaliban]

But- the only thing they can release under the OGL/OGC is stat blocks, traps, etc. No "fluff" text, no maps, no descriptions, etc. Take a look at the module conversions on this site (and on mine)...that is all you can release because all the other stuff is IP of WotC.

Well, I am looking for a way to release OGC content. So, lets say I find a nifty magic item that is released as OGC, by splitting the scripts from the maps then I just put the magic item in the script(I believe you can script a magic item, not 100% sure) and release the script. Seperately I would release the module minus the script with the OGC content and allow the end user to integrate the script into the module.

I'm not looking for ways to subvert people's copyrighted material in a malicious way. I'm looking for ways to release OGC content for use in a NWN module. Right now, as the OGL is phrased you cannot include OGC content into NWN modules even with the permission of the OGC creator and thats a damn shame.

-Len

 

[Agamon]

Frankly, I'm afraid of making something "original". What does that mean? I have't read everything out there, how do I know I'm not creating an adventure very similar (or, apparently, even slightly similar) to something from, say, Dungeon #6 (which I've never read)? How many thousands of adventures have been copyrighted over the last 30 years? And you can't make an adventure that's even slightly similar to any of them. Come to think of it, how are all those adventures completely dissimilar to each other?

It's a shame people are scaring the NWN community before it even does anything, striking a blow to the game. Maybe it's intentional, I dunno.

 

[Grazzt]

Well, I am looking for a way to release OGC content. So, lets say I find a nifty magic item that is released as OGC, by splitting the scripts from the maps then I just put the magic item in the script(I believe you can script a magic item, not 100% sure) and release the script. Seperately I would release the module minus the script with the OGC content and allow the end user to integrate the script into the module.
-Len

Not sure how new the EULA for NWN is, but here is a portion of it. I believe the scripts would be considered software and therefore cannot be released as OGL/OGC.

""Software" shall mean the game, toolkit, and all other software contained on this disc or cartridge, all updates and/or patches thereto, any accompanying documentation, all on-line components, restricted-access NEVERWINTER NIGHTS community websites, and other BioWare or Infogrames game-related services (including all CD-authentication components)."


Here is the link to the new EULA:

http://nwn.bioware.com/forums/viewtopic.html?topic=45334&forum=7

 

[smetzger]

Not sure how new the EULA for NWN is, but here is a portion of it. I believe the scripts would be considered software and therefore cannot be released as OGL/OGC.

""Software" shall mean the game, toolkit, and all other software contained on this disc or cartridge, all updates and/or patches thereto, any accompanying documentation, all on-line components, restricted-access NEVERWINTER NIGHTS community websites, and other BioWare or Infogrames game-related services (including all CD-authentication components)."

Well the scripts a private person would distribute would NOT be "..on this disc or cartridge..." so I would say the scripts are safe. However, the phrase "all on-line components" is very open ended. It seems to be refering to on-line offerings by Bioware, but it could be construed more broadly as anything online. I guess you could snail mail it to people.

From reading the EULA I see why they want it to apply to a module. Basically they don't want others making money off any modules.