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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Dausuul" data-source="post: 6722461" data-attributes="member: 58197">No, you don't need an existing relationship with WotC. What you do need is advice from a lawyer.Contrary to what a lot of folks believe, it has always been legal to publish D&D stuff without using the OGL/GSL, and even to advertise your stuff as "for use with Dungeons & Dragons." My favorite example is "Kingdoms of Kalamar," which was published for 4E outside of the GSL, and Wizards never said boo. The publisher, KenzerCo, is run by a guy whose other job just happens to be "lawyer specializing in copyright law," so he knows what he can and can't do, and it turns out that he can do quite a bit.The drawback to going this route is that you and your lawyer have to be extra super duper careful. You're way outside of the OGL safe harbor, sailing in the open ocean. Dave Kenzer can do this. Unless you have nerves of steel and utmost confidence in your legal advice, you probably don't want to. (Remember, just because you're legally in the right, it doesn't mean you won't get sued.)Because 5E is built on a 3E chassis, there's a somewhat less nerve-wracking option, which is to use the original OGL. This is what Necromancer Games did with their 5E monster books. You still need to consult a lawyer before doing this, but what it boils down to is that as long as you stick to terminology that existed in 3E, you're mostly okay.The last option is to just say to heck with it and publish. Legally, this is a bad, bad idea. Practically speaking, however, if you're not charging money for it and sticking to material from the Basic Rules, Wizards may decide it's not worth going after you and turn a blind eye. I'm not advocating this, rather the contrary, but people are doing it. But if you do, watch your mailbox (physical and electronic), and if you get a C&D, take your stuff down immediately.</blockquote>

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