Hi all,
Ryan S. Dancey wrote:
> This essentially creates a "carve out" for "the setting", without affecting
> the utility of the rules themselves.
>
> The thing I like about this approach is that it provides an affirmative way
> for a publisher to ensure they don't accidentally Open "the setting", and it
> gives us a great way to mesh licenses with Open Game Content in a protected
> way.
>
> Comments?
If I am reading this correctly (and I always want to double check on this
list -- I'm a bit out of my league), then you're talking about proceeding with
the sort of approach John Tynes took in "Three Days to Kill." In that product,
the specific text objects which are to be considered OGC are clearly stated in
the space with the simplified OGL. Within the product itself, OGC is set off
from the rest of the text by special sidebars.
This is the process which appeals to me. It does suggest that a high volume
of material connected to OGC will not actually be OGC itself (in this case, the
bulk of the prose material). This seems fine. Following authors seriously
interested in writing products derivative of non-OGC could still obtain to do so
from the original authors. If the process encourages communication between
authors utilizing the OGL, so much the better.
Secondly, it allows for precision in the Opening of the author's material.
Not just "carved," if you will, but "surgically" removed. While it may not be
possible for every product under the OGL to utilize colored sidebars or whatnot,
product-specific terms can identify any applicable signage indicating OGC. Each
OGLed product would have a sort of key or legend indicating where to find OGC,
just as Tynes does. Anything remains the property of the author until further
notice.
This could even help generate interest in future products. "Crazy Dungeon
#1" hints at a terrible beast or fabulous treasure, and supplies several new
monsters as OGC. But the terrible beast is still the author's property. Oh! But
I hear that in "Crazy Dungeon #2" the author's going to print stats for the
beast and release all of its background as OGC! I'll certainly want to get a
look at that product.
Methinks. Seriously, if you all think I'm wrong, I need to know about it. I
want to learn.
word,
Will
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