Templates and the OGL

[the Jester]

So say you're making a monster book. You're putting several templates in it, and you also want to have lots of examples of advanced monsters (like in the 3.5 MM). Where does the OGL stand on the following two issues:

1. Putting my new templates on a base creature from the MM.

2. Putting MM templates on a base creature from my book.

Thanks!

 

[CRGreathouse]

1. Putting my new templates on a base creature from the MM.

2. Putting MM templates on a base creature from my book.

Don't use them out of the MM, use them from the SRD. Some monsters aren't in the SRD (like the mind flayer), and those are entirely off-limits.

Once you're using the SRD versions, though, all's fair.

 

[Voadam]

Don't use them out of the MM, use them from the SRD. Some monsters aren't in the SRD (like the mind flayer), and those are entirely off-limits.

Once you're using the SRD versions, though, all's fair.

I concur, all the monsters and templates from the released (not the old draft version) SRD are open game content and can be mixed and matched with ones from your book. There are about a dozen base creatures from the MM that are not in the srd so be sure to make sure what you use is in the srd. I'm not aware of any templates from the MM that were excluded from the srd however.

Be sure not to use monsters or templates from other WotC books like MMII the Fiend Folio or any of their modules or sourcebooks, these are not open game content.

 

[the Jester]

So I can (for example) apply my new half-monkey template to the kobold, since it's in the SRD?

And assuming the half-dragon is in the SRD, I can apply the half-dragon template to my new monster, the stegulon?

But I can't apply the half-monkey to the mind flayer, since it's not in the SRD (afaik); and if the fiendish template isn't in the SRD I can't have a fiendish nematodean.

Right?

(Oh, and I know I can't use anything from the FF or MM2, except the razor boar and scorpionfolk.)

 

[Ranger REG]

Correct on all three counts. BTW, the fiendish creature template is found under "F" and half-dragon template is found under "H" in the Monsters Sections.

 

[DaveStebbins]

BTW, others have written to WotC asking for permission to use creatures held out of the SRD in their OGL and d20 works and received permission. I believe it was mostly for books which were being written when the official SRD (as opposed to the original one used under the Gentlemen's Agreement) was released, but I can recall at least one publisher (and a small one at that) receiving permision since then.

In the end, if you want to use a WotC monster which isn't in the SRD, ask. You might be pleasantly surprised by the result.

If you do receive permission, you will need to indicate VERY CLEARLY that the monster is used by permission only and is NOT released by you or WotC as OGC, but that'sbasically just common sense.

-Dave

 

[the Jester]

BTW, others have written to WotC asking for permission to use creatures held out of the SRD in their OGL and d20 works and received permission. I believe it was mostly for books which were being written when the official SRD (as opposed to the original one used under the Gentlemen's Agreement) was released, but I can recall at least one publisher (and a small one at that) receiving permision since then.

In the end, if you want to use a WotC monster which isn't in the SRD, ask. You might be pleasantly surprised by the result.

-Dave

Very cool, I was under the impression that all the monsters taken out of the OGL were now strictly off-limits to third party publishers, this is good news! Thanks!

(Although, honestly, we don't really need any non-OGL stuff in there- I was just trying to make sure we were doing stuff right, since the new MM has, imho, set a new standard for monster books.)