What is official?

[spunky_mutters]

As part of a personal project to become more familiar with the rules, and to try out some new programming techniques, I'm attempting to deconstruct the SRD and add semantic markup. My problem is trying to figure out what to use for sources.

The undated stuff on Wizards' site contains some stuff that is not in a released state on the OGF site. Does this mean there have been updates to the OGF files that haven't been signed off yet? And what about the portions available at OGF that aren't at the WOTC site? I'm also assuming that neither of these sources contains all of the errata changes.

So, what do you people use as the final authority, and also, what is considered the legal base for d20 stuff (and what is considered the de facto base, as Psionics is clearly listed in the not available under license section, yet it has been used in d20 products).

I'm a little confused, but I want to make sure I take the right approach to this project.

 

[Crothian]

If oyu're looking what can be used under the d20 liscense, then that's only what is in the SRD. Other publishers have to have stuff that is OGL so that can be used as well.

Or are you looking at officail answers to question like FAQ Sage Advice?

 

[spunky_mutters]

Both. On the WotC site they have parts of the SRD that are explicitly stated at the top to be covered by OGL 1.0a. On the OGF site, those same files are listed as being under revision, and not available under OGL until released. So, you're probably safe following what it allows on the WotC site, but this means d20 publishers theoretically don't have access to Psionics, or even monsters. Since this is clearly not reflective of reality, I'm trying to figure out where the truth is. On a related note, I'm trying to make sure that I have the "correct" rule for a given situation. That would be the rule as described in the SRD. Since there are 2 versions of the SRD (WotC and OGF), and I don't know the dates on the files at the WotC site, I don't know which version to choose where there are discrepancies. Finally, there have been errata released for the core books which may change portions of the SRD (whenever they are edited to reflect this). I'm just trying to figure out what is the ultimate authority for rules. My assumption is SRD, unless errata for a Core book changes a rule. I'm still left trying to make sure I use the 'official' version of the SRD for my project.

 

[Crothian]

Well, even the stuff not fully realeased into the SRD but are planned to be can be used. It's a gentleman's agreement sort of thing.

As for the final answer to rules questions, well, that's a little tough. I've seen the FAQ contridict the SRD, and Sage Advice doing the same thing. So, the only answer I can give there is the DM.

 

[smetzger]

The official stuff is on the WOTC site. The OGF site has not been updated in sometime.

If something is on the OGF site and does _not_ have a [RELEASED] tag _and_ is not on the WOTC site then you can use that stuff as per gentlemans agreement.

Gentlemans agreement is that you can use said un-finalized version of the OGF until it becomes finalized, at which point you need to use the finalized version. You won't find anything officially explaining the gentlemans agreement because it is just a personal guarantee from Ryan D. (not WOTC) that it'll be Ok.

p.s. The Psionics material is available on the OGF site, therefore it falls under the gentlemans agreemant.