Publisher Opinions of FFE Events?

[Shoon]

Jim Ward, a nice fellow? Sangrolu/Psion said on FFE's message boards...

So, Jim, here is an honest question for you. If more creatures is what you would like to add to future FFE products, then have you ever considered using OGC material from the Tome of Horrors by Necromancer Games.

And his answer was...

You bring up an excellent question and I have a very unusual answer. Fast Forward is going to do an amazing book of spells. It is our intention to use every spell available to us.

Being an "way cool" and unusually ethical company we asked other companies for permission to use their spell material, knowing full well that we could actually do what we wanted whatever the companies said. Several companies said sure, Bastion Press (that wonderful and kind Jim Butler) even gave us a disk so we wouldn't have to scan product. Some companies however and I won't mention names, even the colorful ones, said they couldn't stop us, but whined they didn't want us to. Not liking that attitude we could have ignored them, but we decided that we could make a wonderful product without their "green with envy" spells.

I imagine the same would go for use of other's monsters. Besides as you know the creatures created by Wizards are the ones people are most interested in until our DEADLY CREATURES TOME comes out later in the year.

"Do you like oranges"? "Yes, I love my family!"

So he's now making an incredible book of spells- and we should buy it, because they're "way cool" (they really treat their reviewers well) and "unusually ethical"- yes, it is unusual for a company to ignore the SRD for so long. And it is obvious that FFE is great- since some publishers are "green with envy".

And of course, we all know WotC's books are more valued than the d20 companies' ones, but THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE! With the wonderful DEADLY CREATURES TOME!

I myself can't wait for that product!

 

[kingpaul]

Jim Ward, a nice fellow? Sangrolu/Psion said on FFE's message boards...

For those looking for the exact location of the quotes in question, you can find them right here.

 

[Alzrius]

"Do you like oranges"? "Yes, I love my family!"

Now now, let's be fair...he did say it was going to be a "very unusual answer" and it certainly way!

 

[TheAuldGrump]

Seems like the thing to do is not post on FF's boards. Very bad reaction to critiques, but also some baiting of the Powers What Is by some of the boardies. (And some out and out trolls as well.) Thogh Jim Ward's 'There is no way in the world that designers and editors can be expected to do their job and keep track of the thousands of legal details the ogl dectates. ' really is a bit of a cop out.

On the other hand I do wish that WotC would open up the MMII for the OGL, so I can sort of understand being a bit quick off the draw. However, checking the SRD should be the first thing done, not the last. (Heck use it instead of the core books when your writing, it avoids trouble later on.)

I don't know about others, but the first thing I do before buying a WotC product is find out if it is in (or going to be in) the SRD, when it isn't I don't buy it. Which means my WotC collection consists of the PH, the DMG, and the MM, as well as the splat books, which I purchased before instituting this policy.

As for the 'Are you going to use Tome of Horrors', 'Why yes, we are doing a book of spells' aspect I suspect that Jim Ward edited his post and lost his train of thought in the process. (I've done that way too many times, only to go back and try reposting a more coherent version.) 'Course he also seems a little egocentric with his 'As I was playing Drawmij clearly before you were born' , something I noticed a long time ago with some of the 'old TSR hands', esp. E.G.G. himself... When you're the first it's rather easy to become just a bit full of yourself.

The Auld Grump, who is not the oldest gamer on these boards... But still damn old.

 

[kingpaul]

I don't know about others, but the first thing I do before buying a WotC product is find out if it is in (or going to be in) the SRD, when it isn't I don't buy it. Which means my WotC collection consists of the PH, the DMG, and the MM, as well as the splat books, which I purchased before instituting this policy.

Well, per OGF-L discussions, ELH and Deities and Demigods are on the short list of material to be OGC'd.

The Auld Grump, who is not the oldest gamer on these boards... But still damn old.

I started when I was 6, which was back in 1980.

 

[TheAuldGrump]

Heh, started in '76, when I was 14... My how the Tempus Fidgets....

The Auld Grump, signing off before this becomes a 'back in my day' thread.

 

[ColonelHardisson]

"Do you like oranges"? "Yes, I love my family!"

It struck me that he probably was unaware that Necromancer had made the entire Tome of Horrors OGC, and was actively encouraging use of the critters therein by other companies.

 

[smetzger]

Only WOTC could enforce the license.. since it is their license. All anyone else could do officially and legally, is sue for a copyright violation on their products. Although I think I'd personally want to sue and get money, then just cost another company money to destroy products and never see any of it. This coming from a personal perspective and not a company line.

No, the d20 is WOTCs license. However, if you release something under the OGL, you have every right to enforce that license in resepect to the material that you release under the license.

 

[tensen]

No, the d20 is WOTCs license. However, if you release something under the OGL, you have every right to enforce that license in resepect to the material that you release under the license.

Sorry.. I'm not a lawyer. But a quick read over the d20 license, shows everything specifically between you and Wizards of the Coast. As a publisher, I see nothing in there that my lawyer could use to enforce a violation against another company, without bringing in WOTC. And the OGL License doesn't designate what to do in the case of a breach of failure to cure.

 

[Mark Chance]

Sorry.. I'm not a lawyer.

First time I've ever seen those particular words include the word "not."

Rimshot, anyone?