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True, but is Illithid IP? I've been calling Illithid, illithid since 2e, I haven't called them mind flayers since 1e.Mind Flayer isn’t.
True, but is Illithid IP? I've been calling Illithid, illithid since 2e, I haven't called them mind flayers since 1e.Mind Flayer isn’t.
Indeed. "Drow", as an evil fey spirit, is definitely public domain, as is the use of the name for anything else you might want that definitely isn't dark-skinned, white-haired versions of elves who live in a matriarchal, underground society worshiping an evil spider goddess. But there is some unknowable degree of similarity in how your "Drow" could resemble WotC's "Drow" which would violate their IP.Many are public domain in name, but not depiction. The kobold is a classic example.
It never stops being hilarious to me that someone at WotC thinks the carrion crawler is a monster worth special protection. I can't remember ever using dungeon caterpillars, and I've been DMing since 1E.The only declared IP is
everything else that isnt a Name is good, although the specific expression (blue dragons breath lightning) is probably copyright
- Beholder
- Gauth
- Carrion Crawler
- Displacer Beast
- Githyanki
- Githzerai
- Mind Flayer (Illithid)
- Umber Hulk
- Slaad
- Yuan-Ti
Other publishers have been using them and calling them "phase cats" for a while.Displacer beast won't fly. The person making that list might not have known it, but they are just coeurls from Voyage of the Space Beagle. (As are xill, which aren't on the list.)
Yeah, Basic Fantasy has already made them into schnauzer humanoids to explicitly distance them from WotC's version. WoW's are even more different -- mole/rat people who believe their souls are contained in the candles they wear atop their heads.Many are public domain in name, but not depiction. The kobold is a classic example.
Well, that's closer, since the original lore had them as miners. One thing I liked about the mythology was that Cobalt was named after Kobolds, as it was a substance that killed miners. This is the version I did for Twilight Fables, with the cobalt tie inYeah, Basic Fantasy has already made them into schnauzer humanoids to explicitly distance them from WotC's version. WoW's are even more different -- mole/rat people who believe their souls are contained in the candles they wear atop their heads.