OGC Settings Revisited

[jdrakeh]

This topic frequently comes up. Specifically, what settings exist that open 90% or more of their actual content under the terms of the OGL? The reason that it's coming up again, now, is that I've never seen the Northern Crown Gazeteer on the list. . . yet having just read its OGC designation, I have discovered that the entire text, save for specific single-word instances (e.g., names), is Open Game Content.

How the hell did I miss that?!? How did all of you folks miss that?!? This gave me pause to think "Hey, what if there are other hugely OGC settings out there that we've overlooked because we didn't take the time to read the OGC declarations?" -- I'm guessing that the NCG isn't alone (I'd check Nyambe, too, if I owned it). This being the case, I'm raising the question again:

What settings exist that open 90% or more of their actual content under the terms of the OGL?

 

[Yair]

The reason that it's coming up again, now, is that I've never seen the Northern Crown Gazeteer on the list. . . yet having just read its OGC designation, I have discovered that the entire text, save for specific single-word instances (e.g., names), is Open Game Content.

The reason I missed that is that I don't recall ever hearing about the NCG.

However, names are a CRUCIAL part of being able to use another's OGC setting. I'm not sure what the designation is, but if it takes out things like place's names, god's names, or so on then I wouldn't call it an OGC setting.

 

[jdrakeh]

The reason I missed that is that I don't recall ever hearing about the NCG.

However, names are a CRUCIAL part of being able to use another's OGC setting. I'm not sure what the designation is, but if it takes out things like place's names, god's names, or so on then I wouldn't call it an OGC setting.

Well, as far as place or character names interferring with the adaptation of the setting, your assessment would be true. . . if the Northern Crown Gazetteer didn't depict a fantasy version of Colonial North America. As it stands, substituting PI place or iconic character names with non-copyrighted real place or person names (or variations thereof) is extremely easy and 100% legal. Place and character names are a total non-issue with Northern Crown.

Monster names do not appear to be designated as Product Identity. . . nor do the spell names, class names, etc found in the companion volume (I dug a little bit more). I assume that the gods are exempt because, well, I'm 99% certain that you can't claim the Christian God or clear references to real world religions as Product Identity. At any rate, they aren't claimed as PI, though they don't play a big part in the Gazetteer, either (they're discussed in the equally open companion book -- where combat stats are wisely not provided ).

At any rate huge swaths of both volumes (NC Gazetteer and NC : New World Adventures) are designated Open Content. Only certain place names, organization names, and character names seem to be exmpt from this status (and, again, substituting real counterparts or variations thereof seems to be a non-issue). Easily more than 95% of each volume appears to be OGC with little or no impediment posed to use by PI designations.

If you have never heard of Northern Crown, I wholeheartedly suggest that you snag a copy. . . the reviews were positive across the board and it has been mentioned here dozens of times on 'best of' threads (which, incidentally, is why I was surprised to find that it had escaped mention on the 'OGC settings' threads).

 

[Yair]

If you have never heard of Northern Crown, I wholeheartedly suggest that you snag a copy. . . the reviews were positive across the board and it has been mentioned here dozens of times on 'best of' threads (which, incidentally, is why I was surprised to find that it had escaped mention on the 'OGC settings' threads).

I actually heard of it, but didn't delve into it at the time and it slipped my mind. I'm afraid I'm not attracted enough by the premise to spend my (little) free time on it, although it does sound impressive and original.

 

[I'm A Banana]

Actually, the "everything is open except the names" is pretty standard. I don't have any settings in front of me right now, but I'd be a little surprised if they weren't ALL that open, or close to it.

 

[Psion]

As I recall, Second World Sourcebook is all OGC.

 

[kensanata]

I'd check Nyambe, too, if I owned it

"We hereby identify all of the text on pages 24 - 251 inclusive as Open Game Content, and designate the following as product identity: [...]" followed by a long list of names.

Not included are the first two chapters (introduction, mythology, history), OGL, and index.

 

[jdrakeh]

Actually, the "everything is open except the names" is pretty standard.

Not for settings, really. In many settings that I'm aware of, the descriptive text is almost always off limits, with OGC being limited to rules and stat blocks only. And most third-party monster books (the Scarred Lands Creature Collections, for example) designate creature names and descriptive text as Product Identity, only opening up the raw stats. Northern Crown seems to open up everything, save for about twenty or so proper names.

 

[Voadam]

Not for settings, really. In many settings that I'm aware of, the descriptive text is almost always off limits, with OGC being limited to rules and stat blocks only. And most third-party monster books (the Scarred Lands Creature Collections, for example) designate creature names and descriptive text as Product Identity, only opening up the raw stats. Northern Crown seems to open up everything, save for about twenty or so proper names.

The monster books vary a lot.

White Wolf/Sword Sorcery Studios/Arthaus were very restrictive on their monster books in not even including names.

Penumbra Fantasy Bestiary kept the flavor descriptions PI but allowed in names and I think phsyical descriptions.

Complete Minions was 100% OGC except the art.

I remember that Freeport as incarnated in the original trilogy was said to be a 100% OGC setting.

 

[jdrakeh]

Complete Minions was 100% OGC except the art.

I've found that to be very rare for monster books.

I remember that Freeport as incarnated in the original trilogy was said to be a 100% OGC setting.

Well, the Freepor modules were not 100% OGC (as far as I can recall) but the first Freeport hardcover was (largely, anyhow). So was Murchad's Legacy.