Questions tagged [publishing]
For questions relating to the creation and distribution of gaming-related materials, whether digitally or in print.
88
questions
4
votes
0answers
69 views
Authoring software used to create illustrated Pen&Paper book [closed]
At the risk of being somewhat off-topic (sorry but couldn't find any conclusive info on this) ...
What authoring software is recommended to create rich, illustrated books in a similar style as many ...
4
votes
1answer
96 views
What's the order of publication of classic Spycraft products?
While classic Spycraft didn't suffer the same sort of abundant rules replacement that plagued, for example, Dungeons & Dragons 3.5, enough occurs that it bothers me that the books are silent on ...
5
votes
2answers
189 views
How can I format a single monster statblock for an adventure designed to work across multiple editions?
I'm writing a module that has hopes of being as edition-neutral as possible. However, new monsters are presented so I'm left with the very hard task of making it accessible to older and newer editions ...
34
votes
4answers
6k views
Why are feminine pronouns used for GMs in rule-books?
I'm French, and GM are usually male in the french translations or in french RPG books. We do not have a neutral pronoun like English has with 'they'.
But I noticed that many rule-books in English ...
5
votes
1answer
641 views
What is the typeface or font that is used for the text of the Moldvay Red Box basic D&D set?
I'm trying to find the iconic typeface that was used throughout the interiors of the B/X Moldvay Basic D&D set as well as the blue Expert Set. The publication dates pre-date desktop publishing so ...
3
votes
2answers
219 views
How can I publish a document to look like a 1st / 2nd ed. AD&D adventure product?
IIRC someone released information publicly online in the last year or two enabling someone to publish an RPG product with the same look as standard late 1st / early 2nd Edition Advanced Dungeons & ...
8
votes
4answers
1k views
Easily formatting a Pathfinder stat block
What procedure can I use so I can enter the statistics for a Pathfinder character or monster, and get some formatted text of a proper stat block? Either to print or to use in software like Microsoft ...
5
votes
1answer
354 views
Creating an RPG with a similar setting to Shadowrun: is it a derivative work?
I have spent a lot of time looking at both other posts on this form about derivative work and its actual definition/ conditions, but I would like to hear your thoughts on this specific case. I have ...
9
votes
2answers
581 views
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 ...
3
votes
1answer
283 views
What can I include in 3rd-party content? [duplicate]
What WotC 5e D&D content am I and am I not allowed to use in published 3rd-party content? Core books? Books like Xanathar's and Volo's? Unearthed Arcana? How do I avoid plagiarism, copyright ...
2
votes
0answers
145 views
How hard is it to get a license from WotC to publish a novel set in a D&D setting? [closed]
Everybody is trying to get around writing their own stories without infringing any copyrights by WotC. That got me wondering...
How hard could it be to obtain a license to actually publish a book ...
4
votes
3answers
1k views
How to turn hand-drawn maps to digital
I've been beginning to format my adventures for publishing, and the last hangup I have is that my maps are hand-drawn. I want to transfer them to digital format, but I'm limited to scanning them into ...
10
votes
1answer
1k views
Can I publish my own books for use with D&D 5th edition?
I've had artistic skills since I was a kid and I love D&D, and I want to create some books. I would be trying to fund them with KickStarter — 100 new monsters, 100 NPCs, 100 map tiles, and stuff ...
6
votes
2answers
481 views
Is there any copyright infringement if you prepare a campaign setting based on a published book or movie?
I'm working on a project to prepare roleplaying settings. We first wanted to make it for ourselves but we thought that if anyone wants to use it why not. We even thought further and figured that it ...
26
votes
3answers
2k views
Why do RPGs have metaplots?
Lacking a more definitive source, I'm working from the metaplot article on Wikipedia, which says, in part, that
The metaplot is the overarching storyline that binds together events in the official ...
0
votes
1answer
109 views
Why are the basic rules of World of Darkness stated after chapters that require understanding the rules? [closed]
In World of Darkness the very basic rules like rolling dice are stated pages and pages after not so basic rules are. For example, the Disciplines are all described by their effects narrated, then with ...
19
votes
3answers
1k views
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 ...
3
votes
0answers
84 views
Legality of publishing a homebrew campaign [duplicate]
A friend and I are collaborating on designing a campaign setting for D&D 5e. We'd like to eventually publish it on drivethrurpg. I'm wondering about legality concerns with this. We're going to ...
5
votes
1answer
421 views
Are there any known plans for Paizo to move Pathfinder to D&D 5e?
Are there any concrete documents or plans that show Paizo (the Pathfinder publishers) are planning to move to D&D 5e?
21
votes
2answers
3k views
What software does the WOTC design team use to layout the rulebooks?
I'm presently writing a setting sourcebook for my own campaign, and I'd like it to look at least somewhat like the D&D 5e books, but I'm finding most of the obvious software programs used for ...
5
votes
1answer
347 views
Can I publish my own continent or pantheon on the Dungeon Master's Guild?
The Dungeon Master's Guild says:
Under the DMs Guild program, you can publish D&D material that either
has no setting or
uses the Forgotten Realms or Ravenloft setting.
So, let's ...
14
votes
1answer
2k views
Is it legal to make a D&D 5e character sheet app?
I am working on a simple Android app. My app implements a D&D 5e character sheet. It lets the user fill form fields and calculates the effects of level progression and attributes. I am not using ...
15
votes
2answers
380 views
DMs Guild: can stories be set in the past of the Realms?
The DMs Guild FAQ says:
Can I create and sell content for older D&D editions on DMs Guild?
Sorry, no — 5th Edition content only, please.
Does this refer to both rules and content?
Must ...
4
votes
1answer
4k views
Legality of publishing a book based on a D&D game
I'm planning to write a book based on a game of Dungeons and Dragons. The rest of the people in my party will get credit as will the DM, who wrote the adventure. If I change the things that were ...
13
votes
7answers
5k views
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&...
9
votes
3answers
712 views
How are monsters/creatures/npcs presented in Fate setting manuals?
Background
I'd like to add a list of creatures, monsters, and characters to a Fate project, like the D&D Monster Manual. I understand that the GM usually writes NPCs custom per game, but I want ...
8
votes
1answer
224 views
Do Fate's licenses allow including core rulebook text in a for-profit expansion?
Is it supported by either or both of Fate's licenses to include passages of significant length from the Fate Core and Fate System Toolkit rulebooks in a Powered By Fate game of your own design that ...
10
votes
2answers
1k views
Does the OGL let me write D&D 5e compatible rulebooks legally?
In the D&D 5th Edition Dungeon Master's Guide, there are two magic items named The Book of Exalted Deeds and The Book of Vile Darkness. In their description, under "Vile Lore" it says that the DM ...
17
votes
2answers
1k views
What is the average number of sales of adventures (modules) and adventure settings (hexcrawls) for OSR publishers?
I came across this post on the blog Monsters & Manuals about the campaign setting Yoon-Suin and its units sold since being published. It's interesting to read for someone who's entertaining the ...
10
votes
2answers
629 views
How can I replicate the native look & feel of Fate documents?
Fate documents (whether they are rule books, adventure books, character sheets, etc.) generally have a pretty recognizable style (a typical example is the Fate Core Character Sheet). The rule books ...
2
votes
1answer
577 views
Can I Write A Story Within The Forgotten Realms And Publish it? [duplicate]
If I were to use a character, say a Deva, and create a story using them can I publish it?
For things like town names, God titles and small amounts of lore I can change them. But the real question is, ...
11
votes
3answers
628 views
Why does Fate Accelerated Edition cost so little?
I feel like Fate Accelerated Edition shouldn't cost so little. Does anybody know why or were the developers just being nice?
12
votes
1answer
353 views
How do I get my game reviewed?
I've created an RPG that's available free online as a Google doc, and want to get it some more exposure by having people write reviews of it. I tried finding reviewers on reddit/google+/twitter, but ...
26
votes
2answers
2k views
What is an SRD for?
Some RPGs have SRDs. Wikipedia tells me that they are System Reference Documents, but that it's largely a D&D thing, and doesn't explain why they exist. Only that they do.
This answer suggests ...
12
votes
5answers
4k views
Is it legal to write and publish a novel based on a pre-existing campaign or setting?
I have read over the OGL and researched copyright laws, but I still am not sure how much of what I want to do is legal. What if someone wanted to write a story about a pre-existing campaign, such as ...
1
vote
0answers
347 views
How do I publish content for Pathfinder? [closed]
I have created a reference document for Pathfinder that I am interested in getting published. I have no clue about how to get this done. I can find the OGL rules and whatnot, but no advice on how to ...
14
votes
4answers
1k views
What are the legal/ethical considerations of republishing old adventures for new editions?
I am a lazy GM and I rely a lot on published adventures. Particularly shorter ones: I get a lot of pleasure from tweaking and arranging them into a coherent narrative frame for a campaign.
I've been ...
6
votes
1answer
1k views
Do Tabletop RPGs Require a Copyright?
I am currently creating a Tabletop RPG and I have already found a few ways to publish it. The main problem I am having is this: if I want to get credit for making the game, and receive any and all ...
16
votes
1answer
1k views
Where can I find FATE Core RPG symbols?
I want to write my own FATE Core adventures and rules. Where can I find either a font or individual graphical elements for: Overcome, Create an Advantage, Attack, and Defend.
Do these exist? Do I ...
16
votes
1answer
2k views
Why are the 5e releases spaced so far apart?
I'm just a little curious if anyone has any insight as to why the 5e releases (modules/books) seem to be coming at such a slow pace? I think there's maybe two releases this year, and at that rate it ...
23
votes
3answers
10k views
What Information Can I Use If I Want To Publish My Own D&D 5e Module?
I intend to write a D&D module and publish it under the OGL (I know 5e itself isn't OGL, see note below) for use with both D&D 5e and AD&D. I know there are areas where I can't draw ...
24
votes
6answers
4k views
Is it legally okay to blog a D&D 5e story (actual play)
Okay, this might be a stupid question (sorry about that) and possibly even a duplicate, but is it okay legally to blog a D&D 5e story, that is, to publish a kind of "actual play" publicly?
Sure I ...
5
votes
0answers
1k views
Writing D&D content (adventures, mostly) as a paying job, is it possible? [closed]
I've heard of people who write adventures and sell them, for real-life money.
I'd like to know how is it possible, profitable, and if so where can I do it? I have rather good writing skills and ...
6
votes
1answer
896 views
How to hire freelance writers for my self-published RPG who will adhere to my canon?
So, I'm in the early stages of writing my own tabletop RPG System/Setting. I plan to self-publish most likely, probably starting off just on DriveThruRPG and seeing how it goes from there.
And I'm ...
4
votes
2answers
360 views
What is the workflow in Commercial RPG writing?
What steps does writing a RPG go though?
I'm talking work break down structure.
and what happen.
For example in software, a workflow might be:
Development is divided into a series of releases
Each ...
0
votes
0answers
298 views
What is the chronological list of D&D 3(.5)e material? [duplicate]
The ring of the darkhidden wondrous item has been published in both MoF and MIC. I assume Magic of Faerûn was printed before Magic Item Compendium, but I want to know for sure. There is a similar ...
6
votes
1answer
593 views
What's a good printing/publishing service for tabletop RPGs?
I'm making a tabletop RPG (with some friends) that we plan to put on Kickstarter. Along with releasing the RPG in electronic form, I would really like to have a printing or publishing service so that ...
10
votes
3answers
3k views
Are the Gods in Forgotten Realms under copyright?
I'm in the midst of writing a story involving Cyric and Tharizdon butting heads over a group of mortals attempting to obtain one of Cyric's toys and destroy it. (based on a 2 dungeon master, dungeon ...
10
votes
2answers
3k views
Tutorials and advice regarding RPG layout design [closed]
I sometimes see great variations of layout/design quality between different RPGs. For example, Edge of the Empire, Shadowrun 5, or the recent OVA have great layouts and designs. Some others ... less ...
28
votes
2answers
2k views
How do I get started learning how to design my own RPG?
Let's say I have an idea for my own tabletop roleplaying game.
How do I begin to learn about how to design and publish my RPG?
In particular:
What do I need to know about?
And how should I learn?
...
