Questions tagged [ogl]
For questions relating to the use and application of the Open Game License (OGL). The OGL allows for derivative works of game material to be produced, while allowing the originator to protect their intellectual property.
83
questions
13
votes
1
answer
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Can I use initialisms such as DMG, PHB and MM in third-party OGL content?
I'm creating some commercial content that will deal with techniques for playing solo DnD. In the text I will be referring to the 3 core books, to guide readers, but will not be drawing any content ...
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6
votes
1
answer
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Can iconic monsters like Beholders and Illithids be used via the SRD for D&D 5th edition?
Does the SRD of Dungeons and Dragons 5th edition now allow the use of some iconic monsters like Beholders and Illithids (Mind Flayer), since the SRD is now under CC license? Or they are still ...
anon
9
votes
1
answer
650
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Does the SRD5.1 being in CC free me allow me to directly state which system my book is made for?
As you may know, the SRD5.1 is now available on Creative Commons Attributions license.
https://www.dndbeyond.com/attachments/39j2li89/SRD5.1-CCBY4.0License.pdf
The document states that you can give ...
11
votes
1
answer
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With the new Creative Commons SRD and the OGL no longer applying, can I name spells from Tasha's Cauldron in my supplement book?
This question has been asked here before the OGL scandal and I've seen the answers. From what I understood the, OGL had an agreement in place to not name any intellectual property, like spell names in ...
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5
votes
1
answer
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What licenses does FATE Freeport depend on?
FATE Freeport was made by Green Ronin games. It uses FATE rules, and FATE comes from Evil Hat, so I assume they have a license from Evil Hat. It also uses some of the ideas from Dungeons and Dragons, ...
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25
votes
2
answers
8k
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What is Dungeons & Dragons' unique intellectual property?
With the recent OGL discussions and the probability of people moving out of D&D and making their own games and systems, it got me thinking...
What does Dungeons & Dragons own in terms of races,...
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71
votes
5
answers
6k
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What was going on with D&D's leaked OGL 1.1 in January 2023? How does it affect me?
Most of the communities I participate in are currently ablaze with rumours and speculations about Wizards of the Coast's OGL 1.1 stemming from a leaked document.
As someone that is on the brink of ...
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7
votes
2
answers
413
views
Can I use UA material if I'm writing a D&D 5E OGL supplement to be sold on DriveThruRPG or Amazon?
Can I use Unearthed Arcana material if I'm writing a D&D 5E OGL supplement to be sold on DriveThruRPG or Amazon?
I am specifically interested in the UA: Psionic Options Revisited playtest material....
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22
votes
3
answers
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Which D&D monsters are copyrighted?
I am currently constructing a D&D supplement and was wondering which D&D monsters were copyrighted, so that I can avoid lawsuits. The reason I am asking on here instead of going to other sites ...
- 1,415
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votes
2
answers
763
views
Can I legally refer to Maneuvers under the OGL?
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 ...
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15
votes
1
answer
605
views
Does referencing specific monster actions break the 5e SRD/OGL?
I'm writing my own supplement for 5e, using the OGL/SRD, and have a chapter on monsters. I'm wondering if I can safely use standard monster actions such as Brave, Aggressive, Charge, Camouflage, ...
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6
votes
2
answers
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Can artificer subclasses be in (third-party) material published under the OGL?
If I were to publish my own campaign setting for D&D 5e under the OGL, can I include new subclasses for the artificer in the material I publish?
Would any restrictions/workarounds allow me to do ...
- 69
14
votes
1
answer
1k
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Can I self publish a new character creation system for D&D 5e legally?
Say I come up with a whole new system, with talent trees for miles and you get new talent choices (I didn’t do this, but theoretically) every level… can I publish this somewhere other than DMsGuild?
I ...
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3
votes
1
answer
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Can I copy verbatim text of a game declared as Open Game Content under the OGL License?
As the title says, can I copy verbatim from a game (Old-School Essentials, in this case) text declared as Open Game Content under the OGL License?
The license states:
DESIGNATION OF PRODUCT IDENTITY
...
- 1,469
8
votes
2
answers
675
views
Can a translation of a text declared as OGC be declared as Product Identity?
Le't say I make a translation of an rpg originally published in English (in this case a retroclone of D&D BX).
The original game was licenced under OGL. Under the Open Game Content section it is ...
- 1,469
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votes
1
answer
288
views
Is referencing non SRD material permisable under the OGL 5e?
Would referencing non SRD material by book name and page number in a supplement be permissible under OGL 5e?
For example saying The Statblock for archmage can be found on page 342 of the "Monster ...
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votes
1
answer
573
views
WotC Product Identity and Design [closed]
I have a simple question, at least simple for people who understand legalities better than me. The way I understand the OGL and SRD, is that you can use anything from within and sell it without ...
7
votes
2
answers
734
views
Online SRD vs Official PDF SRD
The question I have is pretty simple. The PDF file that WotC has on their website does not have the same content as this website https://www.5esrd.com/.
If I create a 5e adventure and want to go the ...
3
votes
1
answer
249
views
Does an OGL Version of D6-Legend exist?
I'm wondering. I saw a few references that aside from the normal D6 also D6 legend could be OGL. (d6that is success based and 5+ is a success).
When I searched I stumbled only over one single book ...
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13
votes
2
answers
3k
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What editions of D&D are derived from the d20 system?
The tag wiki on this website says:
For questions about the d20 System, an RPG system originally published in 2000 by Wizards of the Coast. The d20 System was developed alongside D&D 3e and is a ...
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1
vote
1
answer
110
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Using non-mechanical descriptors from Pathfinder SRD for a non-d20 system game
I have an inquiry. If someone can help me with it, I would strongly appreciate it.
I'm currently in the process of designing the bestiary of my TTRPG. It doesn't use the d20 System, but I'm taking ...
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6
votes
1
answer
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views
Does mentioning Product Identity-protected things in a comparison violate the OGL?
I have a homebrew setting that involves a heavily-modified cosmology. None of my planes are identical to the "standard" planes, and the re-used names are only generic ones with heavily-...
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votes
2
answers
1k
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What people/deities and places fall under the SRD and how much wiggle room is there?
So I'm working on an original campaign setting but using 5E rules, and in the core and extended rule books it references things like "the Raven Queen" and the "Shadar Kai", "...
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11
votes
1
answer
560
views
What does the OGL mean for things based on d20 elements, but which aren't games?
I've been thinking lately about how the Overlord novels/manga/anime are so clearly based on 3e/3.5e/d20/whatever, yet were still commercially published--and, as far as I'm aware, suffered no legal ...
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11
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2
answers
1k
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Can I sell a supplement that references non-SRD Cleric Domains?
I am creating a completely unique setting for Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition, and really pouring my heart and soul into it. Under Wizards of the Coast's OGL (Open Gaming License), I am hoping to ...
2
votes
1
answer
95
views
Can you run pregen characters with only the System Reference Document?
The System Reference Document is a document containing 3.5 rules except for character creation.
Can you run pregenerated characters with only the System Reference Document?
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3
votes
2
answers
585
views
What proper names and characters are defined as "not Open Content" by the Pathfinder OGL?
In this answer, it mentioned that "Proper name" and "Character" are in the "Product Identity", which can NOT be reproduced.
What it means is the names of the towns and characters in any Adventure ...
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12
votes
2
answers
2k
views
How can I make use of the material that doesn't fall under the OGL?
So I am doing a side project to build a platform where different groups of people can play D&D 5e online. While looking for resources online, I stumbled across the OGL. Now the OGL has a lot of ...
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8
votes
1
answer
166
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Can I reprint obscure OGL rules in my campaign setting book?
I am presently writing a campaign setting for Pathfinder 1e, in which several rules from the adventure paths and third-party books are used. For example, it uses rules for modern firearms, and city ...
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11
votes
1
answer
879
views
If Drow and Duergar are allowed as monsters in the D&D 5e SRD, are they allowed as subraces as well?
I'm developing a campaign setting with my S.O. which we intend to publish. (We're uncertain of exactly where we'll publish yet.) I was reading through the D&D 5e SRD released under OGL to see what ...
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4
votes
1
answer
85
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OGL-Related Inquiries Regarding Pathfinder Comic Books
I found this website in search of answers to OGL-related inquiries regarding the Pathfinder comic books. I was wondering... if the OGL occurs between the comic content and the bonus game content (not ...
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votes
2
answers
1k
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Can the original WotC-published SRD RTF files be found anywhere?
The “Revised (v3.5) System Reference Document” page on wizards.com still exists, but all of its links, described as RTF (rich text file) downloads of a given size, all result in 404 page-not-found ...
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10
votes
2
answers
2k
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How can I reference a Monster Manual stat block in an OGL adventure?
I'd like to publish an OGL adventure for 5e. In order to keep its size small, I'd like to avoid having to repeat stat blocks for simple creatures like the skeleton, the zombie, etc. And because not ...
- 4,064
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votes
1
answer
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Are monster names covered as identity under the OGL or otherwise copyrighted?
Can I reuse the names of monsters from works published under the Open Gaming license, specifically monsters found in the Pathfinder Bestiary, the Open Pathfinder SRD web site or books published under ...
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17
votes
2
answers
4k
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Can I mention Dungeons & Dragons in a D&D 5e OGL product description?
I have been thinking of publishing a D&D 5th edition module under the open gaming license (OGL).
I understand the phrase "Dungeons & Dragons" product title is copyrighted trademarked and thus ...
- 173
10
votes
1
answer
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views
Does referencing non-SRD material by name constitute "use"?
I am working on a homebrew deity book with the possibility of later publishing it. Having looked over the 5e SRD, the only cleric domain that is Open Content is the Life domain. It is nigh impossible ...
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votes
3
answers
465
views
Does only mentioning a work constitute OGL "usage"?
I am working on a supplement that I will publish under the OGL 1.0a. In one part of my supplement, I list a number of OGL-works as recommended further reading - however, I do not use any rules or ...
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votes
1
answer
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views
SRD summary translation legal?
I just wonder if it is legal (according to the OGL) to summarize/translate the key rules of the 5e SRD in another language (say German or French) using the OGL?
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votes
0
answers
420
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Is there an official streamlined/simplified version of the D20 system? [closed]
I'm considering building my own RPG, the setting is already underway I just need a system. For sake of expediency, recognizability and legality I'd like to use an existing system as the base.
The ...
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1
vote
2
answers
209
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Is Golarion's map covered by the OGL? [closed]
Is the world of golarion considered to be covered in the ogl? By which I mean if I was creating a world using golarion for the base map would I infringe any copyrights?
The reason I ask is my dm and ...
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3
votes
1
answer
336
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Open Gaming License and Novels
I would like to write an RPG licensed under the OGL that draws inspiration (but does not contain any copyrighted material etc.) from novels and other forms of media. How could I reference those books ...
16
votes
2
answers
26k
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How compatible are the published D&D 5e rules with the rules in the SRD?
As of the time I'm writing this question, Dungeons & Dragons 5th edition is published only in English, and to the best of my knowledge, no plans exist for an official translation into other ...
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votes
3
answers
2k
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How to enter the OGL into my work
I am writing a module for fifth edition DnD and planning on printing it myself. I understand the do's and do not's of the OGL as far as what I can and cannot use, but I am having troubles with one ...
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6
votes
1
answer
381
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Does the OpenD6 OGL allow creating computer games?
As OpenD6 is a bit older (2009 while the ogl used is from 2000) there was probably no thought about the recent trend of digitalization and usage of RPG rules in computer games. So I'm wondering there. ...
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3
votes
1
answer
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views
Is one bound in open D6 in any way to the list of skills and where to put them?
With open D6 (all applications of it) you get different skill lists and under which attribute to put them. Most publications that use open D6 seem to almost completely use only skills from this lists ...
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votes
3
answers
2k
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Some core rulebook material isn't in the SRD. Is it licensed under the OGL? [closed]
My core rule books have more material than the SRD. Several sections that are in the rule books the SRD cuts off or leaves out. For example:
Some racial subtypes are missing.
Some class options are ...
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votes
1
answer
1k
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Are the other wizard arcane traditions not part of the SRD?
The 5e SRD mentions all eight schools as possible for the wizard's Arcane Tradition feature.
But later on it only describes evocation.
Does this mean the other seven (as described in the PHB) are ...
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5
votes
2
answers
259
views
May I link to SRD in a document under OGL?
I am writing a house rules document for a Pathfinder game. Not publishing it would be a pity, and not using OGL to publish it likewise, since publishing the house rules under OGL allows others to use ...
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3
votes
1
answer
3k
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Is there a copy of the 5E SRD in Libreoffice or Word format?
Is there a copy of the 5E SRD in LibreOffice or Word format? I attempted to covert it myself, but were unable to. The only copies I can find are in PDF format or wiki format.
- 1,955
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votes
7
answers
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Is it legal to design and publish a game with D&D's ability scores?
If I were to design an RPG that had Str/Dex/Con/etc... would it be legal to publish it? I know that games like Pathfinder and Dungeon World got away with it, but I'm not sure how or why.
Looking at D&...
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