Greetings all, My subject matter today may seem refreshing to you�I have an Open Game project I'd like to get feedback on, and it doesn't have ANYTHING to do with D&D3 or the D20 system! I'm hoping I can get some feedback from Ryan and other regular list members on these ideas� I'm very interested in applying the Open Game License to an ongoing role-playing game system I've been working on for several years now. This game engine is specifically designed for any science fiction, comic book, or anime style setting. As far as I know, this may the first application of the OGL to a science fiction style game. It has always been intended to be modular in design. If you don't like the Psionics rules as they are, you can write your own alternate version that can be "substituted" for the current rules. You can modify existing rules and submit your own "home" version. You can write expanded mechanics for existing rules, which can be added on to the original. It will operate on the same concepts as FUDGE or FUZION, but will be more streamlined. We want to get as many RPG designers and contributors to work on it as possible, in the same vein that Steffan O' Sullivan did when he worked with members of the alt.design.games to write FUDGE. I strongly feel this method of creating a RPG lends itself to the concepts of Open Gaming and the Open Gaming License. A website is currently be put together for this project that will become the home site for the game system. Contributors can go to the site and access interactive forms that will allow them to make their additions or modifications to the game system online. All of this is easy enough to distinguish as Open Content, as I read the OGL and the OGL FAQ. As far as I can see, all of the mechanics will be considered Open Content. This section concerning the game mechanics will all be designated a different color than the rest of the site, making a distinction between it as Open Content and the rest which will be our Product Identity. What I'm hoping will work out is that a group could go to the site, click on each of the rules they prefer, and put together their own copy of the system tailored to their tastes in gaming. My first question is this: How exactly should I use the OGL on my site? As I understand the OGL and the postings here on the list, I can use the OGL as written by Ryan as the OGL for my game system, with modifications made to the COPYRIGHT NOTICE section to give credit to each person that contributed to the game. I should have a copy of the OGL in one primary location on my website, and each page of my site with Open Content should have a link back to the primary license page. Is this correct so far? Now, for each of the interactive forms that will be used ( one for submitting weapons, one for powers, one for an alternate attribute) do I need to include something like "By hitting the submit button you have read, understand, and agree to all terms of the Open Game License presented HERE."? Would the logo graphic I have designed for the game system be considered my Trademark, or should it also be considered Open Content? I would like for others to be able to use the logo on their works, advertising their game uses the game system. Right now my thoughts are that the logo will be our Trademark, and that we will have to design a different license similar to the D20 System Trademark license to allow others to use the Trademark, but still retain control over its use. Since I am distributing my system as Open Game Content, anyone else could take the system verbatim, word for word, from my site and put it in any of their written works or on their own game site, as long as they include an updated version of my OGL in their work. Is this correct? Any Open Content contributed to the system can also be used and redistributed by me as long as I give credit to the person in the COPYRIGHT NOTICE of the OGL I include with each copy of the work. Sound correct? If WOTC decided to make a change to the OGL, my game would be covered under Section 9 of the license as using a earlier, acceptable version. Is this right? I can reproduce the "The Open Game License: FAQ" and the "Open Game Definitions" from the WOTC site on my website as long as I include the Copyright notice that goes with them. Correct? Or should I only put links to the original pages on the WOTC site? The Game System is not complete�I consider it to still be in the heavy development stages. I have nearly 75% of it completed, but I want to be able to bring others in to help contribute to it and make changes as necessary. I have opened a Yahoo group to discuss various aspects of the game's development�do I need to include a copy of the OGL that can be accessed from the group site, or include in the notice for becoming a member of the group a copy or link to the OGL to let people know whatever they contribute to the game will be considered Open Content? We are also working on a unique Campaign Setting to go along with the Game System which will include timeline, histories, characters, stories, creatures, races, etc. that will all be considered our own Product Identity, seperate from the Game System. We plan on introducing this setting as the "default setting" for the Game System, but put it under a license that more closely resembles the FUDGE licenses�you can modify or add to our setting as long as its for you own entertainment or personal use, but if you want to publish anything for commercial purposes then you must apply for a separate license from us to do so. This will allow anyone to create material for our setting if they'd like (characters, stories, adventures, new planets, starships, monsters, etc.) but not directly profit from it without our permission. This allows us to maintain intellectual property over our creations, but be flexible enough to allow anyone to add to it as well. So in closing, for our entire project we will have four licenses for different things�the Open Game License for Open Content for the game system, the game system Trademark logo license, the "FUDGE-like" license for the Campaign Setting, and the "FUDGE-like" license for commercial use of material created for the Campaign Setting. Anyone interested finding out more information about this project please don't hesitate to e-mail me. Our website should be up and nearly functional in the next week to week and a half or so. Thanks for your time! Clint Jackson [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Auctions - buy the things you want at great prices http://auctions.yahoo.com/ _______________________________________________ Ogf-l mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.opengamingfoundation.org/mailman/listinfo/ogf-l
