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The Battle Master subclass is not in the Systems Reference Document. I am designing a Wild West supplement for d&d-5e, to be published on DriveThruRPG, and I want to add a few Gun-Themed maneuvers that can be applied when firing a gun. Can I legally say “If you have access to maneuvers, the following maneuvers are added to the list of maneuvers available to you.”, and then list maneuvers that refer to superiority dice?

I cannot figure out if this would be considered a violation of product identity or not.

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No. If it isn't in the SRD, you can't use it.

In the open gaming movement, a System Reference Document is a reference for a role-playing game's mechanics licensed under the Open Game License to allow other publishers to make material compatible with that game Wikipedia Definition

So if WoTC didn't put it in the SRD it's protected under their copyright.

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    \$\begingroup\$ Yes, I know. I have studied the OGL and SRD. However, my question is not if I can use them verbatim, but if I can say the word maneuver in reference to a game ability. They clearly cannot copywrite that word, but does it still count as product identity in this case? The OGL definitions do not make this clear to me. \$\endgroup\$
    – TheDragonOfFlame
    May 10, 2022 at 15:23
  • \$\begingroup\$ @TheDragonOfFlame No, you cant even reference them, since the mechanism is under copyright. Think of it this way: You are selling a small cookbook. a few pages in, you say "go to "Velvet Rainbow Cake" in "Jennys' Recipes" and add sprinkles as a new last step". The recipe and the book you are referencing are protected under copyright, so you can't use them by name. (note, this isn't a trademark issue as the name of the book and recipe are part of the copy written material) \$\endgroup\$
    – Will Moff
    May 10, 2022 at 19:19
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    \$\begingroup\$ Exactly. Which is not what I’m doing. If Jenny’s book happened to refer to a special type of cupcake called “maneuvers”, however, could I say “you can add sprinkles to your maneuvers”. \$\endgroup\$
    – TheDragonOfFlame
    May 10, 2022 at 20:38
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    \$\begingroup\$ That’s not what I’m looking for. I’m looking for people citing legal terms and actually putting an effort into answering the question rather than quoting Wikipedia. \$\endgroup\$
    – TheDragonOfFlame
    May 11, 2022 at 14:44
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    \$\begingroup\$ @TheDragonOfFlame then contact a lawyer \$\endgroup\$
    – Will Moff
    May 11, 2022 at 18:58

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