Publisher Opinions of FFE Events?

[JoeGKushner]

http://www.gamingreport.com/article.php?sid=8019&mode=thread&order=0

and on the cover page of EN World, indicate that WoTC came down pretty hard here.

What's the general opinion of the masses?

I've never been too crazy about FFE products due to quality and I know it's been mentioned a few times that they weren't following the SRD or OGL material properly. Heck, I thought, just as a normal gamer, that the owner Jim Ward, had some ties to WoTC that keept him safe from taht stuff. Interesting to see what happens.

Anyone have any opinions about whose next or what happens now?

 

[Mark]

I'm sure they'll be more careful in the future in regard to the licenses. I don't think it's a matter of "Who's next?" That would presume that WotC has a list of people they are currently planning on persuing, and I do not believe that is true. I think that WotC gets wind of periodic violations of the license and deals with them on a case by case basis in a timely fashion. There is no "What happens now?" except to say that WotC will continue to deal with violations as they surface and as they become aware of them, IMO of course.

 

[Mr. Patient]

First post for me after a year of lurking...

Anyway, the irony is that FFE was forced to take this action in part because they used the name Drawmij in Rings of Power. Drawmij is Jim Ward's own character, but I guess he does not have the rights to it.

 

[Ghostwind]

Anyway, the irony is that FFE was forced to take this action in part because they used the name Drawmij in Rings of Power. Drawmij is Jim Ward's own character, but I guess he does not have the rights to it.

It is a very common thing that while you are in the employ of a company, any concepts, thoughts, idea, creations, etc. that you develop become the proprietary property of that company. You have no rights to use them outside of or when you leave the company. Such is probably the case here.

 

[trancejeremy]

I've never understood how a company full of long time game designers, could be so clueless when it comes to the d20 STL, OGL, and the d20 system in general.

And they had been warned by fans (and reviewers) of some of their problems, but rather than listen, they'd just get angry at the messenger.

It should have happened a long time ago. My guess is, when FFE got away with this in some of their early products (there are more that violate the OGL/d20 STL than those 4) , they kept getting more and more careless.

Mr. Ward is actually a pretty nice guy. But if you criticize any of his companies' products, even constructively, he'd well, spaz out.

So, I'm sorry it came to this. But they brought it on themselves. I just hope they haven't been hurt too much financially.

 

[trancejeremy]

Anyway, the irony is that FFE was forced to take this action in part because they used the name Drawmij in Rings of Power. Drawmij is Jim Ward's own character, but I guess he does not have the rights to it.

Well, the same goes for Gary Gygax. Many of the named characters were either his characters, or his family members. (Not to mention it was his campaign world). And the lead guy from CCR, got sued by his old record company because his solo stuff sounded too much like CCR (though not nearly as good, unfortunately).

On the plus side, I do believe that WOTC actually just gave Metamorphasis Alpha back to Mr. Ward.

 

[jgbrowning]

I think it was just the sheer numbers that were the problem. Its not unreasonable to make an error here and there, but if you're constantly making mistakes you're practically forcing WoTC to act. They have to protect their stuff.

Sorry to hear about it though, i don't like bad news about any d20 company.

joe b.

 

[Erik Mona]

I was surprised to see that the Encyclopedia of Demons and Devils was not listed in that press release, as I quite clearly remember a handful of "Drawmij" references in that book, too. I'm actually surprised WotC considers that product identity, since all "Drawmij" is is Jim Ward's name spelled backwards. Sort of figured they'd let him get away with that as a courtesty.

Perhaps it wasn't mentioned because no one at WotC noticed or because the Encyclopedia of Demons & Devils is sold out or something.

--Erik

 

[Mouseferatu]

Meaning no disrespect to anyone at FFE, I find it very difficult to feel any sympathy for them at all.

People make mistakes. That's to be expected. I've made 'em, the companies I've worked for have made 'em.

What FFE did with these books isn't a "mistake." It shows a complete lack of undestanding of some very basic precepts and concepts of the OGL and the SRD. For as long as they've been doing this, and for as many people have pointed out earlier, less glaring errors, the only conclusion I can come from is that they never even made the effort to understand the licenses.

I don't mean to sound harsh. If someone can provide another reasonable explanation, I'd love to hear it. But this goes beyond mere carelessness.

Frankly, I'm amazed (and impressed) WotC went as easy on them as they did.

 

[Shoon]

Frankly, I'm amazed (and impressed) WotC went as easy on them as they did.

Maybe Ed Stark should hunt down Jim Ward and break his legs, to teach him a lesson