Unearthed Arcana 3.5....where besides Kazaa?

[SSquirrel]

You seem to have entirely missed the point that it's not illegal! WotC and their lawyers have had their say, and what they said is that anyone can copy and re-publish most of the text of UA.

It's Open Content. Get used to it.

Bingo, hence why I asked for the OPEN CONTENT ONLY!! I don't need the freakin artwork, the githyanki/githzerai/slaad bloodlines and whatever other couple of non-OGC stuff in the book. Those were specifically mentioned as 3 of maybe 5 things in the ENTIRE book that weren't open content. So it's perfectly legit to ask for the other stuff, especially considering that WOTC has stated that the OGC stuff from UA WILL be added to the SRD in the near future. Of course, given the timeliness of past updates I don't hold my breath for that one.

Besides, I know the only versions I will find on Kazaa are the ones that go against the OGL and I don't want those versions, no mattter how much prettier they may be.

Hagen

 

[CRGreathouse]

So it's perfectly legit to ask for the other stuff, especially considering that WOTC has stated that the OGC stuff from UA WILL be added to the SRD in the near future.

Had they? I didn't see that. When did they say that? Who said it?

I'm curious just because there was discussion on the OGF listserv and no one had an answer yet.

 

[kenjib]

There are no moral issues in reprinting, distributing, downloading, or using open content per the terms of the OGL. That is our legal right and it is a risk that those who use the OGL license must account for in their business model. If someone makes UA available as open content, wizards will still do fine for the many reasons that their book will be superior, including but not limited to a high profile distribution and advertising model, print quality, ease of use at the gaming table, and exclusive content (both text and artwork). Most companies can also leverage the same benefits. Even if wizards doesn't do fine because someone made UA available as open content, then it is because they took that calculated risk. Furthermore, of all the companies that produce open content, Wizards is the only one who has a clear legal choice in doing so while claiming d20 compatibility, so if this concept is clear in any example, it is clear in this one.

In any case, the market has clearly spoken on this. People prefer oem manufactured content to ripping & redistributing via the ogl. There are very few products (free or otherwise) that take the latter route, and they do not enjoy remotely the same success as the products they license from with the exception, perhaps, of some that actually add value by screening and compiling from multiple sources. These exceptions are good from the consumer and do not clearly detract from the original sources, as the original sources are free to declare content closed and thus retain exclusive content.

EDIT: I hope someone makes an OGL UA pdf and I hope others find it useful. If it causes WotC problems, they can adapt.

 

[CRGreathouse]

I hope someone makes an OGL UA pdf and I hope others find it useful. If it causes WotC problems, they can adapt.

If it causes them problems, they're unlikely to produce more OGC.

 

[Fiery James]

WotC was really generous, and very clear, in declaring their open content in Unearthed Arcana. Basically, if it's not a trademarked name or proper name, and has nothing to do with beholders, displacer beasts, gauth, githyanki, githzerai, mindflayers, slaad, umber hulks, or yuan-ti, all of the text is open content.

So, scanning the book is a big no-no, as it always is, 'cause it's copyrighted, just like any other book. If someone were to take the time to re-type everything, excluding any trademarks and names and the creatures mentioned above, and add the proper OGL requirements, then that's all well and good.

Of course, if you've got that kind of time, you've probably got enough time to collect a bunch of empty bottles and get enough cash to actually buy the book -- it's 224 pages!!! That's a lot of typing!!

So, the Alternate Experience Point Progression table is Open Game Content. Now, you may be restricted by the d20 License on using this (at least insofar as a part of describing character advancement), but in a strictly OGL work, it would be fine (as would any discussion of character advancement).

It's an interesting book of options. I read a lot of reviews here and elsewhere on the net before I decided to spend my limited funds on it, but I think it was worth it in the end, if only for introducing some new concepts and new mechanics that I can apply to my game and other projects.

- James

 

[kenjib]

If it causes them problems, they're unlikely to produce more OGC.

What's the point of having OGC if the goal is to have it not taken advantage of as per the license agreement?

 

[Numion]

WotC would say that if you can't afford to purchase their books then you don't have the right to own them. Unless someone gives you one as a gift, of course.

This whole "I'm poor so that's why I illegally download PDFs" argument really doesn't make a lot of sense, if you think about it.

Some people don't need excuses. Somewhere downloading is legal

 

[Nightfall]

Yep and somewhere it's legal to steal kids. Not that I'm condoning such actions.

In any case I still say, cheap a$$ gamers only use Kazaa. I should know. I'm one too.

 

[Grazzt]

So, scanning the book is a big no-no, as it always is, 'cause it's copyrighted, just like any other book. If someone were to take the time to re-type everything, excluding any trademarks and names and the creatures mentioned above, and add the proper OGL requirements, then that's all well and good.

Yeah- what James said.

 

[barsoomcore]

If it causes them problems, they're unlikely to produce more OGC.

Yes they will, IF they determine it will drive sales of the Player's Handbook. That's the WHOLE POINT of the Open Gaming concept -- to get more people to buy the Player's Handbook. The PHB is THE big money-maker in RPG-Land and Open Gaming was conceived by Ryan Dancey to use the Theory of Network Externalities to drive sales of the big money-maker.

Losing UA sales to online versions of the OGC is a matter of small concern to them -- UA sales will never come close to those of PHB, so big deal.

I'm making some of this up, sorta, but it I'm taking the theory as I understand it and applying to their actions, and it seems to make sense to me. And since they've been following this strategy without serious changes (except for adding content restrictions to the d20 license, which I don't think was very smart, but what do I know?), I assume it's working.