The Definite d20/D&D Conversion thread

[Faolyn]

Originally Posted by Jürgen Hubert

I'm not sure what SJG would think of that if we offered near-identical stats for creatures from a book they still have for sale.

Except that they aren't near-identical at all. Fantasy Bestiary lists the basic stats, which for ST are often quite different, the damage they do seems to be arbitrary (although I don't keep by 3e basic with me when I'm converting), and, of course, there's the PD/DR problem. And the rest of their abilities aren't stated out at all, as was typical for 3e. It's mostly my interpretation of the text.

Nevertheless, I won't post them unless I hear otherwise from one of the bigwigs, pretty much for that reason.

[Bruno]

Originally Posted by Jürgen Hubert

The d20 licence/OGL is about what commercial publishers can/cannot do in their publications which they sell. That's different from private fan sites. They kept specific monsters because they wanted to retain a monopoly on who could sell publications with these specific monsters.

The OGL 100% applies to fan sites as well. The OGL, in fact, solves all the wooly confused issues around fan sites: If you follow the OGL, you know you're AOK.

The d20 license is more commercial, because it involves the use of the logo.

Copyright especially applies in the USA regardless of whether it's a fan work or a commercial work, but registered trademarks also need to be aggressively defended - even against non-commercial use - to prevent them from becoming generic and therefore unprotected.

[Jürgen Hubert]

Originally Posted by Bruno

The OGL 100% applies to fan sites as well. The OGL, in fact, solves all the wooly confused issues around fan sites: If you follow the OGL, you know you're AOK.

Well, we can't use the OGL, because we are using GURPS rules which is not part of the OGL.

[Kuroshima]

Originally Posted by Jürgen Hubert

Well, we can't use the OGL, because we are using GURPS rules which is not part of the OGL.

Also, the OGL applies to reproducing things verbatim. A big plus when making rulebooks, not so much when you use the idea behind the monster (that is not protected by copyright) and build your interpretation under a different ruleset. Fair use policies will probably work, but nothing shields you from being sued (to be honest, nothing shields you from being sued, ever, it only makes it easier for the case to resolved before trial. see SLAPP, there are laws to protect you against this, but AFAIK, and IANAL nor a US citizen, it is still not universal, and the US can be litigation-happy)

[Faolyn]

Perhaps we should have a thread for completely original monsters. We did well coming up with races for the Vote Up A Space Opera thread, after all.

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by Kuroshima

the idea behind the monster (that is not protected by copyright)

The "product identity" monsters are trademarks of WotC. I think it's probably a good idea to just steer clear of the list. Nothing stops you from changing the names though, hence the Mind Warpers.

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

Nothing stops you from changing the names though, hence the Mind Warpers.

You should probably also steer away from 'lesser spawn of Cthulhu' and the like...

[Bruno]

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

The "product identity" monsters are trademarks of WotC. I think it's probably a good idea to just steer clear of the list. Nothing stops you from changing the names though, hence the Mind Warpers.

Mind Warpers are more than just changed names. They play with the base idea of "psychic squid monster from another dimension" and that's really the only relationship.

[Faolyn]

Originally Posted by Bruno

Mind Warpers are more than just changed names. They play with the base idea of "psychic squid monster from another dimension" and that's really the only relationship.

They're really more like psychic starfish monsters...

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by Bruno

Mind Warpers are more than just changed names. They play with the base idea of "psychic squid monster from another dimension" and that's really the only relationship.

Same basic role: Badass humanoid Elder Thing that is as likely to give you an ill advised quest as to kill you.