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| < In Discussion ~ Renamed: 4e GSL |
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Thu Jan 10, 2008 3:47 am
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He Who Founds Wyrmlings
Joined: 04 Dec 2006
Posts: 3997
Location: Sa sikmura ng Bakunawa
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| WotC wrote: |
D&D 4th Edition System Reference Document and OGL Designer’s Kit
Wizards of the Coast has developed a new, two-phased release structure for the Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition System Reference Document (SRD) and Open Gaming License (OGL).
Phase One
The first phase of the 4th Edition developer materials release will be marked by the January 2008 availability of the OGL Designer’s Kit. This kit is designed for independent publishers looking to obtain early access to 4th Edition rules in order to develop compatible products to release just after the 4th Edition launch. These publishers will pay a one-time fee of $5,000.00 USD for access to the OGL Designer’s Kit, which includes first looks at the 4th Edition rulebooks, the SRD, final galleys and more.
The OGL Designer’s kit includes:
* Pre-publication versions of the 4th Edition rulebooks:
# 4th Edition Player’s Handbook
# 4th Edition Dungeon Master’s Guide
# 4th Edition Monster Manual
* Pre-publication version of the System Reference Document (SRD)
* Open Gaming License (OGL)
* License Guide
* FAQ
* Registration Card
* Updated documents as the rules are finessed and finalized
* Final galleys including typeset text and artwork
* Advanced copies of the finished core rulebooks
Developers purchasing the OGL Designer’s Kit will receive updated pre-publication versions of the 4th Edition Dungeons & Dragons core rules through the time of launch. They will also receive the right to publish OGL products on August 1, 2008, five months earlier than the general public.
Parties interested in the OGL Designer’s Kit must possess a business license and execute a Non-Disclosure Agreement prior to contract communications.
Phase Two
Wizards of the Coast will release the second phase of the developer materials on June 6th, 2008 with the free, public availability of the Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition SRD and OGL. The SRD will be live immediately upon release. The OGL will go-live on January 1, 2009.
For further information contact linae.foster@wizards.com.
FAQ
Q: Why are you charging for the OGL Designer’s Kit?
A: We want to encourage publishers who are serious about the business of OGL publishing to create compelling, quality products to complement the hard work we’ve put into creating 4th Edition material.
In that spirit, the OGL Designer’s Kit helps to establish a minimum bar for early entry into the OGL publishing world. We feel that publishers and developers with a proven track record of creating quality products will be able to cover the cost of the OGL Designer’s Kit and continue to create new material for 4th Edition.
Q: What about new publishers that can’t afford to pay for the kit? Won’t they be left out?
A: All of the material included in the OGL Designer’s Kit will be available for free starting on June 6, 2008. Parties who find the cost prohibitive can begin developing their products at that time.
Q: Can anyone purchase an OGL Designer’s Kit?
A: Interested parties are required to possess a business license. Wizards of the Coast reserves the right to limit participation in this program as appropriate to the business.
Q: When can I start publishing OGL products?
A: Purchasers of the OGL Designer’s Kit can begin publishing their OGL products on August 1, 2008. Other publishers may begin publishing their OGL products on January 01, 2009.
Q: Why do I have to pay to publish an OGL product for 4th Edition?
A: You don’t. Starting in June, the core rulebooks will be available on shelves everywhere, and you can use those books to craft your OGL product for sale on January 01, 2009.
Q. What about the d20 license? Will that still exist in 4th Edition?
A: We are making the OGL stronger by better defining it. We’re rolling certain elements that used to be in the d20 license into the OGL, things like community standards and other tangible elements of the d20 license.
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Last edited by BJ on Wed Jun 18, 2008 10:11 am; edited 2 times in total
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Thu Jan 10, 2008 4:47 am
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He Who Founds Wyrmlings
Joined: 04 Dec 2006
Posts: 3997
Location: Sa sikmura ng Bakunawa
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So where does this take us?
From what I can see right now, we are in no position to purchase an early version of the SRD, thus we will wait until the official release of the core books in June. That gives us until December 08 to finish the mechanical aspects of Godstone. (OGL goes live on January 1, 2009)
Thus, here is a proposal regarding our timetables:
*We should have a draft of how the World will look, feel, and work from a flavor perspective by April. A draft is based on Revan's campaign seed, but is much more detailed, as it incorporates a lot of things that we have discussed here.
*Over the course of May, we will proofread the draft extensively, searching not only for corrections to grammar, but for flavor inconsistencies as well. An idea would be to "mock-finish" the setting with the 3.5 mechanical parts, just to see how it looks.
*4.0 releases on June. I plan to purchase the3 core books ASAP. This will also be the time when the March of Alazlam finishes, so I can DM a 4.0 game. I am fairly confident that by the start of August, I have a good grasp on the rules. So;
*August to September is the time when we fit our setting into 4.0 mechanically. We change a few things, rethink others, and perhaps outright get rid of some tedious notions. I am confident thoug, that most of what we thought of will survive the cutting process.
*October and November will be our finalizing stage. Everything gets put into pdf; each COPAL gets a printed copy. Revision suggestions are noted by pencil, and we redo. Repeat the process as often as possible until we get something we are all happy with.
*December is our polishing stage. By this time, we should only be concerned with incredibly minor changes in our document, and we simply await OHL to go live on January.
Other notes:
*We should contract concept artists soon. I also voiced out wanting to get a Lingg major to help us come up with these extremely hard to conjure names. Do we pay them? We'll try our best to negotiate something that doesn't involve finances. However, we should foresee this as a grim possibility.
*I want to learn how to create a pdf file, but I don't even know what program to use. If someone has the appropriate program, kindly pass it to me. I have nothing (yes, nothing) to do until 1st sem and am willing to learn this for the sake of COPAL.
And, oh, in case you guys haven't noticed, I'm dead serious about this project.
@Xtian: Feel free to point out problems with the timetable, or to construct an entirely new one if mine is too messed up. It is 4:30 in the morning, brain's not exactly at a hundred. |
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Sat Jan 12, 2008 1:15 am
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Goderator
Joined: 30 Nov 2006
Posts: 3260
Location: Avernus
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Let's meet this one up. Seriously. We need one very productive meeting. We can't do everything here on boards.
Seriously we need this meeting.
| Quote: |
| We should have a draft of how the World will look, feel, and work from a flavor perspective by April.
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Let's us meet up on first week of April. Everyone will have their assigned works. THen it will be passed to me for reading and compilation. Then give a copy to everyone for comments in another real-life meeting. Then a week to edit and improve. Probably by mid-May already have a finished product.
Before April, keep posting ideas and suggestions so we will have something to talk about by April. Hell, our brainstorming time is taking up too much time. Come on guys post post post! |
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solbergb on sorcerers:
"Whether it is true or not, all sorcerers seem to act as if their power is inexhaustible. It really annoys the prepared casters."
A druid on rogue:
"Foolish girl! I am a Druid, I have special abilities more powerful than your entire class!" |
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Sat Jan 12, 2008 1:21 am
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Goderator
Joined: 30 Nov 2006
Posts: 3260
Location: Avernus
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| Quote: |
| @Xtian: Feel free to point out problems with the timetable, or to construct an entirely new one if mine is too messed up. It is 4:30 in the morning, brain's not exactly at a hundred.
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We don't have too much time left so there's no much room for errors in your timetable.
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| *I want to learn how to create a pdf file, but I don't even know what program to use. If someone has the appropriate program, kindly pass it to me. I have nothing (yes, nothing) to do until 1st sem and am willing to learn this for the sake of COPAL.
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Adobe Acrobat professional or something like that. You can also try this one. |
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solbergb on sorcerers:
"Whether it is true or not, all sorcerers seem to act as if their power is inexhaustible. It really annoys the prepared casters."
A druid on rogue:
"Foolish girl! I am a Druid, I have special abilities more powerful than your entire class!" |
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Fri Apr 18, 2008 7:32 pm
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He Who Founds Wyrmlings
Joined: 04 Dec 2006
Posts: 3997
Location: Sa sikmura ng Bakunawa
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Yosh!
Link: http://wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/4news/20080417a
Repost:
| WotC wrote: |
Wizards of the Coast is pleased to announce that third-party publishers will be allowed to publish products compatible with the Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition game system under the new Dungeons & Dragons 4E Game System License (D&D 4E GSL). This royalty-free license will replace the former d20 System Trademark License (STL), and will have a System Reference Document (SRD) available for referencing permissible content.
The D&D 4E GSL will allow third-party publishers to create roleplaying game products in fantasy settings with the D&D 4th Edition rules, and publishers whttp://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=1019232ho register with WotC will be granted the right to use a version of the D&D logo that denotes the product as compatible with the D&D 4th Edition Roleplaying Game, in accordance with WotC’s terms and conditions. The effective start date for sales of D&D 4E GSL publications will be October 1, 2008.
The license associated SRD will be available on June 6, 2008, at no cost. A small group of publishers received advanced notice and will receive these documents prior to June 6, at no cost, in order to prepare for publication of compatible materials by the effective start date. If you haven’t already been contacted by WotC, you will be able to access the documents on the Wizards website beginning on June 6, 2008.
Wizards is also working on the details of a second royalty-free license, the d20 Game System License (d20 GSL). This license will allow third-party publishers to create roleplaying game products in non-fantasy settings with the 4E rules. The exact details for the d20 GSL will be released as they become available.
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Discuss at WotC boards:
http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=1019232 |
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Fri Apr 18, 2008 11:17 pm
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Goderator
Joined: 30 Nov 2006
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Sat Apr 19, 2008 5:04 pm
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He Who Founds Wyrmlings
Joined: 04 Dec 2006
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Location: Sa sikmura ng Bakunawa
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Sat Apr 19, 2008 6:18 pm
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Goderator
Joined: 30 Nov 2006
Posts: 3260
Location: Avernus
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2 comments.
1. I've read somewhere that taking back OGL won't affect the previously made 3.x products. However, it might affect the publishers who want stick with 3.x I am not entirely sure of this since I haven't read the entire license.
2. And also, on the bolded part, what if you don't sell but make 3.x stuff for free? |
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solbergb on sorcerers:
"Whether it is true or not, all sorcerers seem to act as if their power is inexhaustible. It really annoys the prepared casters."
A druid on rogue:
"Foolish girl! I am a Druid, I have special abilities more powerful than your entire class!" |
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Sat May 03, 2008 9:35 pm
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He Who Founds Wyrmlings
Joined: 04 Dec 2006
Posts: 3997
Location: Sa sikmura ng Bakunawa
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Updates, courtesy of ENworld:
| Morrus from ENworld wrote: |
WotC's Mike Lescault has just sent me the response to the interview questions we provided to them a couple of weeks ago. Short version: it's "per product line", not "per company"!
The first five questions are exclusive to EN World; the remainder will also be posted on WotC's own website.
Q. Does the so-called "poison pill" non-compete clause apply to ALL OGL, or only D&D-based fantasy? (i.e. what if it's based on d20 Modern, d20 Future, or a non-d20 source?)
A. It’s not a “poison pill.” It’s a conversion clause. The D&D 4E GSL applies to fantasy-based products. The d20 GSL, which will come out at an undetermined point in the near future, will be for non-fantasy genres such as Modern, Future, etc. Publishers will be able to decide on a product line by product line basis which license will work best for them.
Q. Does the GSL contain provisions to prevent a secondary, sister or subsidiary company being created in order to distribute products under the OGL?
A. There are no restrictions prohibiting the formation of partnerships or subsidiaries, however companies will be bound by the product line declaration under the Game System License.
Q. How much of WotC's IP is made available via the GSL? Creatures such as beholders and illithids were not available under the old licensing structure. Will they be available under the new structure?
A. All of those details will be released when the license becomes available on June 6.
Q. What products would WotC like to see come out of the third party publishers that they are not currently interested in producing themselves?
A. The easy answer is we want to see quality products that support 4th Edition D&D. I’m guessing you want specific examples, right? The GSL is designed for publishers to make Adventures, “Fluff,” Campaign settings, Alternate Classes, Races, Monsters, Paragon Paths, Epic Destinies, and other creative supplemental products.
Q. What are WotC’s main goals regarding the GSL? Do you believe that third-party products will drive sales of the D&D core rulebooks?
A. The goals with the GSL include supporting our product line, growing the industry, and supplying consumers with a rich offering of RPG products meant to be used with the 4th Edition of D&D . And, of course, we want to drive sales of the D&D core rulebooks.
On behalf of Russell Morrissey and all of EN World, thank you for the opportunity to hold this interview.
Q) Many questions have been raised since the announcement last week. I think the one question everyone wants to know is: is the limitation the GSL places on publication of OGL based products limited on a "per company" basis or a "per product" basis? That is, is the effect merely to limit re-issuing the same product, or is a company that publishes a GSL product thereafter limited in their ability to publish any OGL products?
A. The restriction is on a per product line basis.
Q) How does this pertain to a company's catalog of existing OGL-based products? For example, if Necromancer Games publishes a Tome of Horrors 4e, would they have to stop selling their existing 3e OGL products via RPGnow?
A. Publishers will be able to continue to sell their backlist under the OGL. If those products had the d20 system logo on them there will be a 6-month sell off period after which they will not be able to use the d20 system logo.
Q) Can existing OGL products be updated to the GSL and what are the restrictions, if any?
A. Existing OGL products can absolutely be converted to 4e GSL products, so long as they adhere to the terms of the GSL. In fact, we want to see publishers update their popular product lines to 4e.
Q) What branding opportunities does the GSL offer publishers? Does it allow use of the new d20 logo; or does it allow access to Dungeons & Dragons specific branding?
A. There will be a compatibility logo. Embedded in this logo is a version of the new D&D logo and copy stating compatibility. This compatibility logo is permissible for use on product and marketing materials. There will be restrictions on placement and maximum size allowed.
Q) A six-month "sell-off" period has been mentioned with reference to stock carrying the old d20 logo. Is the d20 STL actually going away, or does this sell-off period apply only to those who adopt the GSL?
A. The d20 STL will be terminated. There will be a sell-off period of six months for products produced under the d20 STL. This is true for both pdf and print products. We’re estimating our own backlist stock to be sold through within 3 to 4 months, so allowing six months to other publishers feels fair. Allowing 6 months for pdfs is really pretty generous and we are already in conversations with publishers and PDF sellers like DrivethruRPG.com and RPGNow on how they can make these changes as easy as possible.
Q) Is the new GSL an open license?
A. We are not classifying the GSL as “open” as defined under the open source movement. It is a royalty-free license for permissible usage of specific D&D 4th Edition content including terms, tables, and templates. There is a significant amount of “openness” to the license and we wanted to provide ease of use and low barriers to entry while still maintaining control over things like the D&D Trademark. The GSL is designed to work with the 4th Edition of Dungeons & Dragons.
Q) Is WotC planning on providing an easily available, downloadable copy of the rules available both online and off without a fee?
A. No. Anyone wishing access to the rules will need to purchase the core rulebooks. The GSL SRD will have a list of the terms, tables, and templates available for use under the GSL and will be available for download at no charge with the GSL itself.
Q) Are there any "types" of product prohibited by the GSL? For example, the old d20 STL prohibited the inclusion of character generation or advancement, meaning that a standalone game could not be created, while the OGL alone did not. Does the GSL contain these restrictions? Are any other types of product restricted?
A. Most of what was in the d20 STL has been pulled into the GSL. For example, no product can describe a process for creating a character or applying the effects of experience to a character. The new license is meant to work with the core D&D rules. The final details will be announced when the license is released in June.
Q) Are products required to adhere to any 'community standards' clause, or anything similar?
A.. Yes. The community standards that were in the d20 STL are now wrapped up into the GSL’s.
Q) Is the GSL a perpetual license, or is it revocable by WotC for reasons other than violation?
A. The Game System License Is revocable as it is tied to the D&D trademark and other intellectual property. Because of this Wizards needs to maintain control of the license.
Q) Why is October 1st the selected date for release of third-party materials, as opposed to, say, GenCon, which would be a far more useful launch date?
A. Our initial intention was to have third-party materials ready for release at GenCon, however there is no way that anyone could develop a true quality product in the short time between now and GenCon. We think that October 1st is more reasonable, and will also allow publishers to take advantage of holiday sales.
Q) Will any third-party publishers be permitted to release product under the GSL prior to October 1st?
A. No. October 1st is the permissible on-sale date for all third party publishers.
Q) Is there anything that you wished we’d asked that we haven’t?
A. You didn’t ask about my 4E character.
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Hopefully that clears up some stuff. Muddied details will be available come June 6.
In short, get to work, Creative Head (yes, Rev, I'm looking at you). |
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Nosfecatu Publishing |
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Sat May 03, 2008 9:59 pm
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Goderator
Joined: 30 Nov 2006
Posts: 3260
Location: Avernus
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Wed Jun 18, 2008 10:10 am
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He Who Founds Wyrmlings
Joined: 04 Dec 2006
Posts: 3997
Location: Sa sikmura ng Bakunawa
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It is upon us, people.
The Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition Game System License
In a nutshell, here are the worst problematic bits.
| WarDragon from DF wrote: |
Some translations of the more obnoxious bits from someone who's had a semester of Contracts.
Section 2: Wizards can unilaterally change the agreement any way they like, any time they like. Pretty much standard for any corporation, but still dangerous.
6.1: You can't publish anything at all for 3e if you have a license to publish 4e stuff. This was announced a long time ago, but still annoying.
6.2: You can't publish conversions of 4e stuff to 3e
7: You have to be politically correct. No 4e Book of Erotic Fantasy for you. 
10.3: If anyone else ever infringes on WotC's rights, you have to help them defend themselves. They get to decide what's "reasonable" when reimbursing you for it.
11.1: Wizards can terminate the agreement. Nothing about the other party doing so.
11.2: All of the other party's responsibilities and restrictions, but none of their rights, under the agreement continue after it's terminated.
11.4: If you break the agreement, may God have mercy on you because our lawyers will ruin you six ways from Sunday.
13: Look, we can cover our asses. If anything bad happens to anyone ever, it's not our fault...
14: ...and you will swear to that in court.
15: You can make things compatible with our stuff, but don't sully our name by attaching yours to it, peon.
17: Fool us once, shame on us. Fool us twice and we'll come down on you like the hammer of God.
18: If we like your idea, we can steal it, and you will thank us for doing so.
19: This will be enforced under the laws our lawyers know best. Also standard but slimy.
20: If you have any other piece of paper with any other agreement with us, you can now line your birdcage with it. If we said anything else to you, we didn't mean it. You have no power to change this agreement.
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Nosfecatu Publishing |
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Wed Jun 18, 2008 8:28 pm
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Sith'ari, Chosen Heart of the Force
Joined: 04 Dec 2006
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Location: Korriban
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| OMFG. If I weren't exhausted atm, I would be spewing profanities. As eloquently as I could. I think I want to really really vent my spleen as vociferously as I could on this some other time, but geddam...this is an extremely raw deal. |
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Words are the only bullets in truth's bandolier. And poets are the snipers.
-George Wu (The Hyperion Cantos, Dan Simmons) |
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Wed Jun 18, 2008 10:56 pm
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Master of None
Joined: 06 Dec 2006
Posts: 2932
Location: Searching...
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| Quote: |
| 18: If we like your idea, we can steal it, and you will thank us for doing so.
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Uhmm, no, we won't.. would we? |
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There is happiness for those who accept their fate. There is glory for those who defy their fate
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Thu Jun 19, 2008 2:09 am
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He Who Founds Wyrmlings
Joined: 04 Dec 2006
Posts: 3997
Location: Sa sikmura ng Bakunawa
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Keep in mind that the quote is a summary, and is opinionated to a certain extent.
All things considered, I still don't see why we shouldn't apply for a GSL. It is (monetarily speaking) free, after all. |
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Tue Aug 12, 2008 7:29 am
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He Who Founds Wyrmlings
Joined: 04 Dec 2006
Posts: 3997
Location: Sa sikmura ng Bakunawa
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Tue Aug 12, 2008 8:09 am
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Goderator
Joined: 30 Nov 2006
Posts: 3260
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Tue Aug 12, 2008 5:25 pm
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Master of None
Joined: 06 Dec 2006
Posts: 2932
Location: Searching...
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This should be interesting.  |
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There is happiness for those who accept their fate. There is glory for those who defy their fate
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Tue Mar 03, 2009 9:22 pm
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He Who Founds Wyrmlings
Joined: 04 Dec 2006
Posts: 3997
Location: Sa sikmura ng Bakunawa
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The 4e GSL has been updated
Significant updates include (this is according to my reading, and I'm no lawyer):
*Section 6 was removed. I take that to mean you are free to cross-publish between 3.5 and 4e material now.
*You can now terminate the agreement yourself if it proves too drastic.
*You are given 6 months to get rid of your stuff online and on the shelves and they can't sue you, if the agreement turns sour.
*Barbarian, Bard, Druid, and Sorcerer are available as SRD. Certain monsters like the Copper, Gold, and Silver Dragon are SRD. Vehicle and Alchemy rules (but none of the items) are SRD.
All in all, this update is a lot easier to deal with than its predecessor. |
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