Questions about OGL...

[Celtavian]

I would prefer answers from someone with experience publishing products using the OGL. I am not a lawyer, and I would like some simple yes and no answers to see if I comprehend the OGL correctly.


1. WOTC is allowing other non-WOTC RPG publishers the use of the d20 SRD and the d20 system logo royalty free just to promote the use of the d20 system?


2. We are allowed to reference the core books using abbreviations such as MM, PHB, DMG or core rulebooks, but not to directly quote from those books.


For example, the following would be ok:

4 orcs (see MM for Stats): hps: 8, 6, 4, 4


But the following would not be ok:

4 orcs (See Monster Manual page 26 for stats): hps 8,6,4,4.


3. We can create our own monsters, classes, prestige classes, spells, feats, and items using the standard format found in the core books, but we still cannot directly quote from the core books?

For example, we could create a class called a ranger in our own world book. We could design it differently than the Player's Handbook ranger, but we could not list experience tables, character creation method, or directly reference the ranger in the Player's Handbook. Is this correct?


I am trying to get a feel for the OGL. I want to attempt to publish some generic adventures useable in any campaign world, but I cannot imagine creating an adventure without being able to use monsters from the Monster Manual.

From what I have read, it seems you are still able to use monsters from the Monster Manual, as long as you don't quote the Monster Manual itself. You can list stat blocks, but not give complete descriptions of monsters. Is this a correct assumption?


Any further clarifications or confirmations of whether my interpretation of the OGL is correct or not would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[Staffan]

1. WOTC is allowing other non-WOTC RPG publishers the use of the d20 SRD and the d20 system logo royalty free just to promote the use of the d20 system?

Disclaimer: I am neither a lawyer nor a publisher. I have however been following various discussions on d20/OGL, so I like to think I have some understanding of it.

As for your question, WOTC allows other publishers to make stuff for D&D/D20 because they make most of their money on the sales of the PHB primarily and other core books to a lesser extent. Ryan Dancey once described the rest of the D&D product line as advertising for the PHB that pretty much pays for itself - people are more willing to buy the core books for a system with lots of support. However, since that support is less profitable for WOTC, they're happy to let others do it for them.

2. We are allowed to reference the core books using abbreviations such as MM, PHB, DMG or core rulebooks, but not to directly quote from those books.

You're not allowed to quite from the rule books, that's right. However, you are allowed to quote material from the System Reference Document (at http://www.wizards.com/D20/article.asp?x=srd and http://www.opengamingfoundation.org/srd.html - the one at the WOTC site is official and at ogf.org preliminary). The SRD has pretty much all the rules-based materials from the three corebooks as well as the Psionics Handbook.

Note that in some cases, the SRD and the core books differ. In those cases you have to rely on the SRD since that's what's been released under the OGL.

For example, the following would be ok:

4 orcs (see MM for Stats): hps: 8, 6, 4, 4


But the following would not be ok:

4 orcs (See Monster Manual page 26 for stats): hps 8,6,4,4.

The only problem with the second is that you refer to the Monster Manual by name, since they've trademarked that name and the various licenses don't give you the right to use that trademark. However, you would be allowed to use:

4 orcs (see MM, page 26 for stats): hps: 8, 6, 4, 4.
IIRC, one of the documents advices that you don't use page references since those might change in future printings but I don't think there's a rule against it.

For that matter, you could include the whole orc stat block, since it's in the SRD.

3. We can create our own monsters, classes, prestige classes, spells, feats, and items using the standard format found in the core books, but we still cannot directly quote from the core books?

For example, we could create a class called a ranger in our own world book. We could design it differently than the Player's Handbook ranger, but we could not list experience tables, character creation method, or directly reference the ranger in the Player's Handbook. Is this correct?

You could reference the ranger in the PHB if you wanted to. You wouldn't be able to quote the flavor text or anything else that's not in the SRD, but the rules from the SRD are perfectly OK to quote. If you wanted to save space, and your ranger is just a minor variation on the standard ranger, you could even include a passage like:

Spells: The ranger can cast divine spells, just like the ranger described in the PHB.

Note that there are some terms you can *not* change the definition of if you want to use the d20 logo (there's no such limitation on the general OGL though). For example, you can't create a d20 game with a rule that defines "Armor Class: The amount by which you reduce the damage from any physical attack that hits you," because Armor Class is one of those "protected terms" listed in one of the d20 documents. However, if all you want to do is publish some adventures that shouldn't present any difficulty.

From what I have read, it seems you are still able to use monsters from the Monster Manual, as long as you don't quote the Monster Manual itself. You can list stat blocks, but not give complete descriptions of monsters. Is this a correct assumption?

You can give complete descriptions, as long as you don't use the actual text from the MM.

 

[cthuluftaghn]

As for the page reference issue... you can refer to chapter, section, and subsection, right down to the heading... but, you may not reference specific pages for exactly the reason mentioned above. The pagination may not be the same in future editions.

You may use the terms "Player's Handbook", PHB, DMG, or MM. You may not mention the DMG or MM by their full titles.

You may directly quote, change, twist, tweak, or otherwise alter anything in the SRD. To be safe, stick with the SRD, and only refer to the core books by chapter and section... not quotes.

You may include advancement tables for characters you create, as long as you leave out the XP. ie: You can put in tables for spells by level, saving throws, base attack bonuses, special abilities gained at certain levels, etc. You also may not describe the process of character creation or any variant of character creation. And, you may not describe the process of level advancement, or any variant of it. Refer your readers back to the PHB for this.

Also, there is a list of specific terms that you may not alter definitions of in the d20 System Trademark Logo Guide. When I had all these questions, I was referred
here, and I found the answers to almost everything in fairly straightforward english.

Good luck!

 

[Arnix]

They may also be referenced by "Core Rulebook" I - III. Inside the OGL there is a list of acceptable references for the core books.

Btw, is the Core being expanded with teh PsiHB, ELH, or MMII?

 

[HellHound]

1. WOTC is allowing other non-WOTC RPG publishers the use of the d20 SRD and the d20 system logo royalty free just to promote the use of the d20 system?

Not exactly. It is to promote those three books that are the CORE of the "d20 system", being the PHB, MM & DMG. The objec tis to promote Dungeons and Dragons, not the d20 system.

2. We are allowed to reference the core books using abbreviations such as MM, PHB, DMG or core rulebooks

Yes

but not to directly quote from those books.

Yes.
With the caveat that you CAN quote directly from the System Reference Document.

For example, the following would be ok:

4 orcs (see MM for Stats): hps: 8, 6, 4, 4

That's right. Although you COULD just as easily include the stats right there instead of the reference, as orcs are detailed in the System Reference Document.

But the following would not be ok:

4 orcs (See Monster Manual page 26 for stats): hps 8,6,4,4.

Right. Because you named the book and page number.

3. We can create our own monsters, classes, prestige classes, spells, feats, and items using the standard format found in the core books, but we still cannot directly quote from the core books?

Right. But again, you can quote from the SRD. Additionally, the format in question that you would be using would be the format from the SRD, not the core books.

 

[Staffan]

Btw, is the Core being expanded with teh PsiHB, ELH, or MMII?

Psionics have already been added to the preliminary SRD, and quite a few d20 accessories/adventures have been written that make use of them. I think Anthony Valterra has said that at least the ELH is on the "short list" of stuff to add. I bet they want to finalize the "core" SRD first before adding more stuff though.

 

[Arnix]

So anything in the SRD is considered a Core Rulebook? Which is Core Rulebook IV, V, VI?

 

[Maraxle]

deleted by me

 

[der_kluge]

You can quote anything from the SRD. And thus, you could print the SRD Ranger verbatim if you want to, and there is nothing wrong with that.

The bottom line is, if it's not in the SRD, let it be.

The caveat is, you can use other people's OGC as well. So, you could reference a PrC from other D20 publishers as long as it is OGC (it should be, since it's derivative of the SRD).

Anything that is derivative of the SRD has to be OGC.

Typically, unless you want your customers to hate you, you shouldn't reference anything from any core rulebook. I'd prefer to see it right there. So, instead of saying "go look in the MM", include the stats in your product; make it easier for me. Make sure the stuff that you're including is in the SRD.

To be safe; throw away your books, and write from the SRD - ONLY.

 

[HellHound]

I fully agree with Die Kluge.

Include the full stats for something instead of just referencing it. Makes it easier.

I have a full printout of the SRD that I keep beside my writing station along with all the OGL books that I have. All my WotC products are kept out of reach so I won't refer to them while writing.