SRD Removals

[Mapleaxe]

Can someone explain to me why certain creatures (mind flayers, kuo-toa, beholders, etc.) were removed from the SRD? If it were just WotC protecting its intellectual property, I guess I could understand it, but a lot of other original and non-mythic creatures (aboleths, chokers, chuuls, etc.) are still in there. Just seems sort of arbitrary to me.

 

[jaerdaph]

Monsters like beholders, mind flayers and yaun-ti were never "removed" from the SRD because they were never in there in the first place.

They were in the "gentleperson's agreement" DRAFT version, but use of that draft document was always with the understanding that some creatures might be removed one day.

 

[Mapleaxe]

Ah, thanks.

 

[jaerdaph]

WotC has been pretty cool about it though - they gave a sort of "grandfather's clause" to companies already working on projects based on the draft version when the final version in the SRD came out to allow them to publish anyway. Goodman Games will be releasing The Complete Guide to Beholders under this.

 

[Voadam]

From statements by People at WotC the idea was to protect IP in descriptions and images of some core D&D creatures. The choices were debatable but mostly 1e or basic creatures that were original to the game and have been associated with D&D so they removed mind flayers and beholders.

WotC can then license out permission to use the images or keep some exclusive brand identity in D&D products.

Newer wierd creatures like the chuul or the aboleth (which first appeared in the 1e MMII) are not as linked to core D&D and I would guess are not likely to be that useful as iconic images or names they can be exclusively licensed for profit.

 

[Lazybones]

In that case, I'm glad I downloaded the earlier version, as all those monsters are present. I'm not a publisher, but I often access my copy of the SRD at work when I'm sneaking in some game prep time.