Suggestions for d20 publishers to link their products

[Krug]

As I was reading the Fiend Folio review from d20 magazine rack, came across this:

One thing that I was very happy to note in the Fiend Folio is the occasional sidebar that ties the product in with other Wizards of the Coast products. For example, under the Blood Golem of Hextor entry, a sidebar provides information on how the Sacrifice rules from the Book of Vile Darkness alter the creation process. I like the idea of tying products together in this manner and hope to see this trend continue in future releases.

Perhaps d20 publishers could use the same strategy to link to other products from other companies. Just a suggestion.

 

[jmucchiello]

Perhaps d20 publishers could use the same strategy to link to other products from other companies. Just a suggestion.

That requires all sorts of passing around of permissions to use other companies trademarks (company name, product name, etc) which the OGL prohibits without that permission.

Of course, the d20 publishers are mostly friendly to one another so getting this permission is usually easy. I'm just curious which you would prefer: That the publisher reuse other OGC material in their products or that they just reference the original material in someone else's product. (There's some material I'd like to reuse without changing too much but it's like 6 pages long. Far better to just say "go look at XYZ in ABC by publisher DEF". But I'm not sure how well that would be taken by readers. Nor do I know if buyers of both products would appreciate me reprinting 6 pages of something they already own. A dilemna.)

 

[Crothian]

Frankly Wizards is about two years too late on starting something like this. It's nice to see they are sort of doing it now, but they need to do it more and they needed to do it sooner. Each book as been like an island unto its self.

 

[Krug]

It's definitely the "far better to just say 'go look at XYZ in ABC by publisher DEF'" option. The sidebars provide optional information to link together certain products. Yes, you'd need to get permission, but at worst they can say no and you don't use it. It might be as simple as say, linking a product such as the Ley Lines in Heroes of High Favor: Elves to a Scarred Lands or Gothos setting.

I'm definitely NOT talking about extracting "6 pages" from another publisher and plonking it into your product.

 

[HellHound]

This is the direction we are taking with Librum Equitis volume 3 (and hopefully with Necromancer's Legacy 2). We have already sought and obtained permission to use IP from both Bluffside and Oathbound in the product, crafting prestige classes that are aimed at those settings, but also so we can link the other classes in the volume into those settings.

I was talking with Henry @ Paradigm Concepts and they are currently working through Necromancer's Legacy to indicate what portions they are making into official Arcanis material (and thus useable in the Living Arcanis campaign). I'm hoping to do this ahead of time with Necromancer's Legacy 2, to make it compatable (at least in part) with the Living Arcanis setting in the core book itself.

 

[Starman]

Frankly Wizards is about two years too late on starting something like this. It's nice to see they are sort of doing it now, but they need to do it more and they needed to do it sooner. Each book as been like an island unto its self.

I know I was shocked to see the Elven High Mage in Races of Faerun require the Epic Level Handbook. I was glad to see this and hope it continues. I know they said they were going to avoid doing this because it smacked of 2nd edition, but as long as they don't go overboard it shouldn't be a problem. I hope we continue to see more of it.

Starman

 

[Donatello]

"Broadsides!" was adopted as the official nautical rules of Living Arcanis, and LI is currently working with many other companies about some cross-polenation of rituals (from "Spellbound") into their campaign settings. The products produced would be a joint venture of Living Imagination and the other company. The rituals would be designed for use in the target setting, but using the system put forth in "Spellbound".

We plan on making a similar effort when our "Agents of Faith" divine supplement comes out in May/June.

 

[Ranger REG]

I know I was shocked to see the Elven High Mage in Races of Faerun require the Epic Level Handbook. I was glad to see this and hope it continues.

So, in addition to purchasing Races of Faerun, which I was planning to, I have to buy ELH to get the full understanding of that particular prestige class and many others?

That ain't right.

 

[Starman]

So, in addition to purchasing Races of Faerun, which I was planning to, I have to buy ELH to get the full understanding of that particular prestige class and many others?

If you noticed, I also said that I would like it as long as they did not go overboard. The Elven High Mage is the only Prestige Class in the book (that I remember) that requires any other book.

Really, what is the point of WotC putting out these cool books if they never reference them again. If half the book required the use of other non-core books, that would be too much. I don't mind a few Prestige Classes or rules, though, that require another book.

Starman

 

[Ranger REG]

Really, what is the point of WotC putting out these cool books if they never reference them again. If half the book required the use of other non-core books, that would be too much. I don't mind a few Prestige Classes or rules, though, that require another book.

Is there an alternative rules for that particular prestige class in RoF, for those of us who do not wish to buy ELH yet? After all, prior to ELH, I was perfectly fine with the L20+ rules presented in FRCS.