To James Jacobs: A Growing Problem with Dungeon Magazine

[Cthulhudrew]

Are the various PHB polymorph spells 'core'? Or have they been replaced by the Spell Compendium polymorph subschool? I'm fairly sure (correct me if I'm wrong) that the latter is true for the purposes of Dungeon, but that's already getting us beyond the 'three basic books are all you need' point. I'm aware that polymorph is a special case, but the inherent blurring of the lines of what is 'core' is worth noting.

This shouldn't matter. The PHB spells are currently considered part of the polymorph subschool, yes, but their spell descriptions in the PHB do not change in any way. The only effect the current polymorph subschool change would have is if you are using any non-PHB polymorphing-types of spells (such as those from the Spell Compendium or PHB II).

From this article on the Wizards of the Coast site:

Spells That Have Come Before

For the purpose of adjudicating effects that apply to polymorph spells, any spell whose effect is based on either alter self or polymorph should be considered to have the polymorph subschool. However, note that the spells' existing rules text takes priority over that of the subschool. Alter self, for instance, does not change the target's ability scores (unlike normal for spells of the polymorph subschool).

 

[James Jacobs]

It probably got lost in the exploding girth of this thread, but I do think you're right about spells. They don't get picked up from non-core books nearly as much as monsters or magic items or feats do. Going forward, I'll certainly keep an eye out for places where non-core spells can be used to make a cool adventure even more cool.

 

[James Jacobs]

James, what is your policy WRT non-WoTC material? What if, say, someone sent you a really freaking awesome adventure but it included hypermitotic amorphous hiveminded kobolds (templates from the Book of Templates). Would you reject it?

This is an easier topic to discuss: simply put, we can't use material from other sources, particularly sources that have open content. Part of the deal of being an official WotC licencse is that the contents of the magazine can't be open; therefore we can't really use material from D20 products other than those WotC produces. If the adventure wre that awesome, I'd ask the author to rewrite it using a similar template using WotC books, or more likely, make up something entirely new that fits the need of the adventure without copying the inspiration source.

 

[der_kluge]

This is an easier topic to discuss: simply put, we can't use material from other sources, particularly sources that have open content. Part of the deal of being an official WotC licencse is that the contents of the magazine can't be open; therefore we can't really use material from D20 products other than those WotC produces. If the adventure wre that awesome, I'd ask the author to rewrite it using a similar template using WotC books, or more likely, make up something entirely new that fits the need of the adventure without copying the inspiration source.

That is the most bizarre thing I've ever heard. It's WoTC's license, yet - you can't benefit from it? You designate what is open and what is not open by the terms of the OGL. It's really not difficult at all. Contents of the magazine don't have to be open, if you don't designate them as open?

I thought the whole theory of the OGL/SRD stuff was to expand the ideas being utilized by the community at large? But, when it comes down it, WoTC is really only interested in having people play in their own sandbox.

Has Paizo considered created an OGC-compatible version of Dungeon magazine - a new magazine where 3rd party content is not only welcome, but encouraged?

 

[Nightfall]

So I guess that means my Scarred Lands mini-series is out huh?

Plane,

I always type what I think, person or not. But yes so as there's peace in the land, I'll try not to do that.

 

[Nightfall]

Has Paizo considered created an OGC-compatible version of Dungeon magazine - a new magazine where 3rd party content is not only welcome, but encouraged?

I thought that was what doing d20 was about, getting people to buy mags as well as products Klugie. Just saying it's not 100% Paizo's problem to give us what we want.

 

[Treebore]

Has Paizo considered created an OGC-compatible version of Dungeon magazine - a new magazine where 3rd party content is not only welcome, but encouraged?

That idea has me already getting all kinds of excited. A magazine for the "other" companies material would be fantastic. I would love it even if it supported True20, and modern, and future. Well, I am a Traveller and Shadowrun GM too, so even that content would be useful to me.

I think I would in fact dump your Dungeons and Dragon titles in favor of such a magazine.

Any rich people on these boards looking for a tax write-off and willing to invest in such a venture?

 

[AdmundfortGeographer]

That is the most bizarre thing I've ever heard. It's WoTC's license, yet - you can't benefit from it?

I'd hardly say that Paizo isn't benefiting from the license. Apart from being able to publish profitable magazines (I'm assuming their making decent money), they get the right to write stuff for D&D explicitly... they get to toy around with all the exclusive D&D material (excluding WotC's fascinating prohibition on remaking the rakasta)

I guess WotC believes that if the magazines mixed D&D with open content that it would contribute to confusion in the marketplace over what D&D elements are indeed open content.

 

[Nightfall]

Eric,

Probably right and also the fact that because of that right, Dungeon was able to use old school villains like Kyuss, Demogorgon, the Cairn Hills, the Rift Canyon, the Isle of Dread, among others, to make some very memorable adventures.

Tree,

If I was rich, I'd do so I could get people to write some Scarred Lands, Midnight, Oathbound, and probably a few other d20 setting adventures just so people could say "Hey lookie at that!"

Well that's after I'd got my right to the Scarred Lands, hired some new writers, artists and probably two good editors, so I could get it off the ground. I figure Steve Balmer could give me like...45% of his billions maybe.

 

[megamania]

I agree. Though, I'd also say another possibility would be to add a sidebar (particularly for bigger baddies) saying, "If you have the Spell Compendium, you may want to consider substituting (this spell(s) for this spell(s)).

I see the point but there so many hundreds of spells just in the PHB. For more variety, switch out or maybe Dungeon could do this suggestion. Gives ideas while not using up pages and pages of spell descriptions that could be adventures.