d20 system open gaming license
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Does the open gaming license of the d20 system mean that I can make a game that uses the d20 system, including all the races, classes, items and spells that belong to it, like Elf, Rogue, Magic Missile, Headband Of Intellect +2, Warhorse, Light MW Crossbow, etc...
If I use this system in a computer game, do I have to do something, like putting some copyright or credits text somewhere?
No, you have to pay them money (and lots of it) to make a game based on their system. I'm pretty sure the open gaming license just lets you play the game they produce (and make new campaigns?).
It shouldn't be that hard to come up with your own ideas, though. I know I'd be a lot more likely to play an original indie game than one based on D&D, too.
It shouldn't be that hard to come up with your own ideas, though. I know I'd be a lot more likely to play an original indie game than one based on D&D, too.
Quote:Original post by Lode
Does the open gaming license of the d20 system mean that I can make a game that uses the d20 system, including all the races, classes, items and spells that belong to it, like Elf, Rogue, Magic Missile, Headband Of Intellect +2, Warhorse, Light MW Crossbow, etc...
If I use this system in a computer game, do I have to do something, like putting some copyright or credits text somewhere?
The D20 system, simply is the system. What your describing is Dungeons and Dragons. You have to pay for D&D, not for the D20 system. The D20 system actually uses a modified open source (think software) license, meaning you can take that system and apply it to any sort of game you want. You can't however use D&D in your product. So yes, you can use D20 (the actual system) without paying and no you can not use all the races, classes, items, etc. without paying. Read up on the license on Wizard's website:
D20 system
Actually, you can't include anything D&D or d20 related in any videogame at all. The d20 license is not applicable for interactive software. The closest you can come are character generators or whatnot, but nothing for profit and definately not any games. Particular publishing companies (don't know off the top of my head) have exclusive publishing rights for all d20 or D&D games and have paid for such.
No, you can't. Read their notices on software applications.
Quote:meaning you can take that system and apply it to any sort of game you want.
No, you can't. Read their notices on software applications.
Author
I had some trouble with the .rtf file format, but I finally managed top open it. The license is this:
It doesn't say at all what you can and can't do with the d20 system! It especially doesn't say anything about making computer games with it. What does it actually say? I see 15 points, and most of those 15 points just say that this is a license...
On the site it also sais that the SRD, which contains all the classes and races and such, is Open Game Content. So if it's open game content, can't I use it in a game?
Why is it called Open Gaming System, if you can't use it?
Quote:
OPEN GAME LICENSE Version 1.0a
The following text is the property of Wizards of the Coast, Inc. and is Copyright 2000 Wizards of the Coast, Inc ("Wizards"). All Rights Reserved.
1. Definitions: (a)"Contributors" means the copyright and/or trademark owners who have contributed Open Game Content; (b)"Derivative Material" means copyrighted material including derivative works and translations (including into other computer languages), potation, modification, correction, addition, extension, upgrade, improvement, compilation, abridgment or other form in which an existing work may be recast, transformed or adapted; (c) "Distribute" means to reproduce, license, rent, lease, sell, broadcast, publicly display, transmit or otherwise distribute; (d)"Open Game Content" means the game mechanic and includes the methods, procedures, processes and routines to the extent such content does not embody the Product Identity and is an enhancement over the prior art and any additional content clearly identified as Open Game Content by the Contributor, and means any work covered by this License, including translations and derivative works under copyright law, but specifically excludes Product Identity. (e) "Product Identity" means product and product line names, logos and identifying marks including trade dress; artifacts; creatures characters; stories, storylines, plots, thematic elements, dialogue, incidents, language, artwork, symbols, designs, depictions, likenesses, formats, poses, concepts, themes and graphic, photographic and other visual or audio representations; names and descriptions of characters, spells, enchantments, personalities, teams, personas, likenesses and special abilities; places, locations, environments, creatures, equipment, magical or supernatural abilities or effects, logos, symbols, or graphic designs; and any other trademark or registered trademark clearly identified as Product identity by the owner of the Product Identity, and which specifically excludes the Open Game Content; (f) "Trademark" means the logos, names, mark, sign, motto, designs that are used by a Contributor to identify itself or its products or the associated products contributed to the Open Game License by the Contributor (g) "Use", "Used" or "Using" means to use, Distribute, copy, edit, format, modify, translate and otherwise create Derivative Material of Open Game Content. (h) "You" or "Your" means the licensee in terms of this agreement.
2. The License: This License applies to any Open Game Content that contains a notice indicating that the Open Game Content may only be Used under and in terms of this License. You must affix such a notice to any Open Game Content that you Use. No terms may be added to or subtracted from this License except as described by the License itself. No other terms or conditions may be applied to any Open Game Content distributed using this License.
3.Offer and Acceptance: By Using the Open Game Content You indicate Your acceptance of the terms of this License.
4. Grant and Consideration: In consideration for agreeing to use this License, the Contributors grant You a perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive license with the exact terms of this License to Use, the Open Game Content.
5.Representation of Authority to Contribute: If You are contributing original material as Open Game Content, You represent that Your Contributions are Your original creation and/or You have sufficient rights to grant the rights conveyed by this License.
6.Notice of License Copyright: You must update the COPYRIGHT NOTICE portion of this License to include the exact text of the COPYRIGHT NOTICE of any Open Game Content You are copying, modifying or distributing, and You must add the title, the copyright date, and the copyright holder's name to the COPYRIGHT NOTICE of any original Open Game Content you Distribute.
7. Use of Product Identity: You agree not to Use any Product Identity, including as an indication as to compatibility, except as expressly licensed in another, independent Agreement with the owner of each element of that Product Identity. You agree not to indicate compatibility or co-adaptability with any Trademark or Registered Trademark in conjunction with a work containing Open Game Content except as expressly licensed in another, independent Agreement with the owner of such Trademark or Registered Trademark. The use of any Product Identity in Open Game Content does not constitute a challenge to the ownership of that Product Identity. The owner of any Product Identity used in Open Game Content shall retain all rights, title and interest in and to that Product Identity.
8. Identification: If you distribute Open Game Content You must clearly indicate which portions of the work that you are distributing are Open Game Content.
9. Updating the License: Wizards or its designated Agents may publish updated versions of this License. You may use any authorized version of this License to copy, modify and distribute any Open Game Content originally distributed under any version of this License.
10 Copy of this License: You MUST include a copy of this License with every copy of the Open Game Content You Distribute.
11. Use of Contributor Credits: You may not market or advertise the Open Game Content using the name of any Contributor unless You have written permission from the Contributor to do so.
12 Inability to Comply: If it is impossible for You to comply with any of the terms of this License with respect to some or all of the Open Game Content due to statute, judicial order, or governmental regulation then You may not Use any Open Game Material so affected.
13 Termination: This License will terminate automatically if You fail to comply with all terms herein and fail to cure such breach within 30 days of becoming aware of the breach. All sublicenses shall survive the termination of this License.
14 Reformation: If any provision of this License is held to be unenforceable, such provision shall be reformed only to the extent necessary to make it enforceable.
15 COPYRIGHT NOTICE
Open Game License v 1.0 Copyright 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.
It doesn't say at all what you can and can't do with the d20 system! It especially doesn't say anything about making computer games with it. What does it actually say? I see 15 points, and most of those 15 points just say that this is a license...
On the site it also sais that the SRD, which contains all the classes and races and such, is Open Game Content. So if it's open game content, can't I use it in a game?
Why is it called Open Gaming System, if you can't use it?
When we started the design for Mistlands we were looking at many diffrent rule sets and OGL was one of them. In the end we choose to not use a existing system and make our own from the start. We did make everything else so why not make the rulesystem also :).
As for OGL look at the software FAQ, http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=d20/oglfaq/20040123i .
As for OGL look at the software FAQ, http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=d20/oglfaq/20040123i .
I think that the OGL/d20 system licenses are aimed more at people creating new content based on the system rather than implementing games.
The System Reference Document contains everything from the core books that is defined as open content; As far as I can tell, the OGL license allows you to use any or all of this document as you wish, within the terms of the license.
Note though, that the SRD does not include certain specific rules, particularly rules for character creation and progression As far as I can tell, you are not actually allowed to reproduce the rules for these, even in software, without violating the terms of the license.
Of course, IANAL and all that.
The System Reference Document contains everything from the core books that is defined as open content; As far as I can tell, the OGL license allows you to use any or all of this document as you wish, within the terms of the license.
Note though, that the SRD does not include certain specific rules, particularly rules for character creation and progression As far as I can tell, you are not actually allowed to reproduce the rules for these, even in software, without violating the terms of the license.
Of course, IANAL and all that.
Quote:Original post by Lode
I had some trouble with the .rtf file format, but I finally managed top open it. The license is this:Quote:
OPEN GAME LICENSE Version 1.0a
This is the OGL license (not the D20 one), which fully describe what you can do open game content. While the SRD is open game content, it do not describe the character creation and level progression. You have 2 possibilities: create you own, which should be very different from the actual one (thus you'll have a OGL game that MUST be freely distributed) or use the one in D&D (thus your game is a D20 game and require you to obey to the D20 license, which prohibits the creation of softwares).
This is how I understand the stuff. Of course, I am not a lawyer and I can be wrong.
Regards,
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