D&D 5E Would an OGL allow me to create and sell adventures?

[machineelf]

I'm going to do a bit more in-depth research into exactly what the OGL would mean for adventure creators, but this thread is meant to find a quick summary and to have a few questions answered.

I'm a page designer and copy editor by trade, working with InDesign and Photoshop and Illustrator. I've considered designing some adventures for 5th Edition and creating professional-quality PDFs to either give out for free or to sell (and probably a little of both). Would an OGL allow me to tie them to a D&D setting and to the 5th Edition rules and then selling the PDFs? Also, would I be able to convert a classic adventure, like Isle of Dread or The Hidden Shrine of Tamoachan, and selling the PDFs of the conversions? I am presuming the answer to the last question is 'no,' due to issues over rights held by TSR and original creators (but perhaps that no longer applies?) and due to those adventures being tied to other non-open license rights. But if so I might do those for free, which I presume would be allowable and legal. Is that correct?

Thanks for any answers.

 

[Morrus]

First things first: if you plan to publish under it, it's vital that you read and understand it. Messageboard advice is not adequate. Go to http://opengamingcontent.com, and read the license (it's fairly clear).

So, that aside.

Yes, it would. It would allow you to use anything designated as open gaming content.

To determine what if WotC or TSR is open gaming content, you need merely look at the SRD (System Reference Document). You can use anything in that document. If it's not in that document, it's not open gaming content.

Doing something for free is irrelevant to the question. Copyright law doesn't care how much you charge.

 

[machineelf]

First things first: if you plan to publish under it, it's vital that you read and understand it. Messageboard advice is not adequate.

True, and that's why I said I planned to do some more in-depth research before really starting on any project. But I thought I could get an idea of a direction to start, and some other useful info on the outset by asking in the forum. And I did! Thanks for the quick response.

 

[Morrus]

True, and that's why I said I planned to do some more in-depth research before really starting on any project. But I thought I could get an idea of a direction to start, and some other useful info on the outset by asking in the forum. And I did! Thanks for the quick response.

To be clear, setting elements typically are not OGC. You're limited to what's in that document, which is mainly 3.x rules, not fluff text.

 

[Sacrosanct]

To be clear, setting elements typically are not OGC. You're limited to what's in that document, which is mainly 3.x rules, not fluff text.

Which is why, IMO, waiting for a 5e OGL (or version thereof) is important before releasing anything of substance for 5e. It is my understanding that by using the OGL, you agree to the terms of it (obviously), which means if I use an IP monster included in the OGL (like a bulette), I am agreeing to use the bulette's stat block as it appears in the OGL, which obviously doesn't work in 5e games. That's my interpretation, but I admit I could be mistaken.

 

[machineelf]

Doing something for free is irrelevant to the question. Copyright law doesn't care how much you charge.

Side question: Does this mean that the person who created the 5th Ed. conversion of Ravenloft broke copyright law and could potentially face legal action (although I don't see that as likely)?

I feel a little dopey to be asking this, to be honest, because I am familiar with some broad strokes of copyright law, and you're absolutely right that you can't print someone else's book and then give it away for free, because you are still breaking their copyright. But I suppose I (apparently mistakenly) thought that using certain concepts of a work, but not the full work itself, and making a conversion document and giving it out for free would be on the legal side of the copyright line, due to fair use.

And with any project I do, I am not interesting in breaking copyright or stealing someone else's legally owned work, to make that clear.

 

[Morrus]

Which is why, IMO, waiting for a 5e OGL (or version thereof) is important before releasing anything of substance for 5e. It is my understanding that by using the OGL, you agree to the terms of it (obviously), which means if I use an IP monster included in the OGL (like a bulette), I am agreeing to use the bulette's stat block as it appears in the OGL, which obviously doesn't work in 5e games. That's my interpretation, but I admit I could be mistaken.

No. Nothing like that. There is no bullette stat block or anything else in the OGL. The OGL is about a page long, and worth reading rather than guessing at.

 

[Morrus]

Side question: Does this mean that the person who created the 5th Ed. conversion of Ravenloft broke copyright law and could potentially face legal action (although I don't see that as likely)?

I feel a little dopey to be asking this, to be honest, because I am familiar with some broad strokes of copyright law, and you're absolutely right that you can't print someone else's book and then give it away for free, because you are still breaking their copyright. But I suppose I (apparently mistakenly) thought that using certain concepts of a work, but not the full work itself, and making a conversion document and giving it out for free would be on the legal side of the copyright line, due to fair use.

And with any project I do, I am not interesting in breaking copyright or stealing someone else's legally owned work, to make that clear.

I created a thread all about copyright the other day. Lots of info. To be clear, the OGL is not a copyright issue. It's a contractual issue.

http://www.enworld.org/forum/showth...efore-You-Distribute-That-Cool-Thing-You-Made!

The OGL is a contract (a license). Copyright isn't relevant there. Your agreement is.

I've no idea about the Ravenloft thing. I haven't seen it.

 

[RangerWickett]

OGL = Open Gaming License, the law thingy that tells you what you have permission to do that normally wouldn't be legal

SRD = System Reference Document, a collection of open content from the core rules of D&D 3rd edition and 3.5

There's also tons of other source of open gaming content, which are things other people published using the OGL, and which they declared as open for others to use. If I recall correctly, the OGL requires that at least 5% of any product you make be new open gaming content.

 

[Lanefan]

OGL = Open Gaming License, the law thingy that tells you what you have permission to do that normally wouldn't be legal

SRD = System Reference Document, a collection of open content from the core rules of D&D 3rd edition and 3.5

To save myself a bunch of digging I'll just ask: I know 4e isn't included in the OGL, but what about 0e-1e-2e? Or is it strictly limited to 3e/d20?

Lan-"one of these days I'd like to put out some 1e-based adventures"-efan