So This Just Arrived...

Just now, a heavy package arrived at my door. Inside is Sasquatch Game Studios Primeval Thule campaign setting for D&D 5th Edition. It's a full-colour hardcover, about 270 pages. I haven't had chance to delve into it yet, but I can report that it certainly smells of book. Sasquatch, as you may know, produced Princes of the Apocalypse for WotC. Thule's a little different to that - it's a setting inspired by the likes of Conan, featuring Great Old Ones and dark magic. It's barbaric, savage, and mysterious. Oh, and primeval. Below I've posted a few photos of the book, since I literally just got it and haven't been able to read it yet!

 

[Yaarel]

Not really. The OGL makes it easier and provides a safe harbour. You don't need it to provide compatible products, though, as long as you know what you're doing.

For example, suppose you are publishing a near-future setting for 5e. It becomes desirable to rewrite the Wizard class, to reflavor each feature and each spell with appropriate setting assumptions and flavorful explanations.

Such a thuro rewrite requires OGL.

 

[Yaarel]

Heh the truth is, I am strongly considering writing a 5e clone myself, using the OGL, and taking notes from Thule.

I will go to extraordinary lengths to be able to consult gaming books that dont mention gods or assume their existence.

I would probably prefer the core four classes: Bard, Wizard, Rogue, Fighter.

The only reason I havent published a clone yet, is the temptation to want to ‘fix’ certain aspects of 5e (such as making the six abilities more equal in value, perhaps reducing them to four abilities).

 

[Morrus]

For example, suppose you are publishing a near-future setting for 5e. It becomes desirable to rewrite the Wizard class, to reflavor each feature and each spell with appropriate setting assumptions and flavorful explanations.

Such a thuro rewrite requires OGL.

No, that just makes it easier. It's a useful tool, but you can do it without. You just have to know what you're doing.

 

[Yaarel]

No, that just makes it easier. It's a useful tool, but you can do it without. You just have to know what you're doing.

Can you give an example?

What general considerations would you have in mind to rewrite the Wizard class, including each spell in the spell list, as a stand-alone product, which the players of the given setting would normally consult and apply?

 

[Morrus]

Can you give an example?

What general considerations would you have in mind to rewrite the Wizard class, including each spell in the spell list, as a stand-alone product that the players of the given setting would normally consult and apply?

Yikes! This has gone from me mentioning that the OGL is not required for DMs to produce compatible materials with anything to a request for a fully fledged seminar on writing an entire supplement!

I won't mention the ever expanding goalposts.

 

[Yaarel]

As far as I can tell, an OGL for 5e is necessary. And is an eventuality.

Someone would need to *explain* to me, assertions to the contrary.

: )

 

[Morrus]

As far as I can tell, an OGL for 5e is necessary. And is an eventuality.

I know you do. You said.

Someone would need to *explain* to me, assertions to the contrary.

I don't mind if you don't believe it. It's too much to explain right now though. The short version is you'd be doing nothing different to the maker of a phone case who says it's compatible with an iPhone. The law allows you to do a lot as long as you know what not to do.

People did this sort of thing long before the OGL was even a glimmer in Ryan Dancey's eye. The OGL just makes it really easy.

 

[Uchawi]

Heh the truth is, I am strongly considering writing a 5e clone myself, using the OGL, and taking notes from Thule.

I will go to extraordinary lengths to be able to consult gaming books that dont mention gods or assume their existence.

I would probably prefer the core four classes: Bard, Wizard, Rogue, Fighter.

The only reason I havent published a clone yet, is the temptation to want to ‘fix’ certain aspects of 5e (such as making the six abilities more equal in value, perhaps reducing them to four abilities).

I wish Thule did more to flesh out martial classes with maneuvers, versus just "kits" that fit over any class. I will take a look, but will probably wait for a campaign or setting that brings martial classes into the same playing field as casters with spells.

 

[Staffan]

As far as I can tell, an OGL for 5e is necessary. And is an eventuality.

Someone would need to *explain* to me, assertions to the contrary.

: )

Basically: game mechanics are not covered by copyright. The expression of those mechanics is. There's also something called "character copyright", when an author can have copyright to fictional concepts beyond their expression - for example, you're not allowed to write your own Lord of the Rings story, because that world and those characters is under copyright belonging to Tolkien and (now) his heirs.

As for exactly where that line deciding what is OK and what isn't is drawn... that's what copyright lawyers are for. And due to the nature of civil lawsuits, the richer party has an enormous advantage when it comes to grey areas, because they can drag things out and file motions and countermotions and whatever until the other party can't afford any more legal action (that's basically what happened to GDW when they were sued by TSR over Mythus, which wasn't even close to D&D - they gave up and settled and sold the rights and the stock to TSR). The OGL and the SRD serve a useful purpose in this regard, because they say "These are things we don't have any problems with you doing, and you can even copy the exact text used." If you want to rely on fair use and the rest of copyright law, you really should run things by a lawyer.

 

[Yaarel]

Basically: game mechanics are not covered by copyright. The expression of those mechanics is.

But that is my point.

In order to have a rules product that is compatible with D&D 5e, it is necessary to also use the same technical terms - which are covered by copyright.

Fortunately, the 3e OGL already grants permission to use (and redefine) most of the technical terms that D&D players are familiar with.

Only a few 5e terms remain unavailable, and require workarounds, such as substituting the term ‘tactical advantage’ in place of ‘advantage’.