SRD Explanations...

[steffworthington]

Hi all,
I'm currently in the process of producing anew RPG based along historical lines and would like to use Mongoose RuneQuest rules.

Now, I'm a novice when it comes to what's allowed and what isn't..

Is there anyone out there who can explain SRD, OGL etc to me?

What will I need to reproduce, what can I use, what information can I place in MY book, and can it be reproduced as is or will it need to be paraphrased?

Any help I can get will be useful...

 

[soltakss]

There's a lot of info in this thread http://www.mongoosepublishing.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=41208&sid=35c99645ed5d68b50a97891281e3931a.

Basically, you can use anything from the SRDs as long as you include the Open Games Licence (OGL) and conform to the OGL.

In your supplement, you can specifiy content as Open Game Content (OGC) or not OGC. Anything classed as OGC can be used by anyone else. Normally, rules and spells are classed as OGC, backrgounds and professions are often OGC but setting information usually isn't.

You can use the SRD verbatim, if you want, but can change it as well.

It is usually best to say something like "You need to use the RuneQuest Rules with this supplement".

What kind of supplement are you thinking of writing?

 

[steffworthington]

It's not a supplement really but a new rpg.

What I was hoping for is to have the MRQ rules in the book so the MRQ rulebook wouldn't be needed (There's no magic in my setting so I'm guessing a lot of it would be useless).

Essentially it's not a RQ book but a new RPG 'powered by MRQ'. I don't intend to have anything OGC in the book except the rule system.

I've always liked the percentile system and have played CoC & RQ III for many years but Chaosium are uncommunicative at the best of times and have an unrealistic view when it comes to licencing (BRP).

 

[Newtus]

Then all you have to do is

1. Use only the text of the SRD's you are using to base your 'new' RPG on. Don't have the RQ book open when you are composing your game,

2. Include a copy of the OGL license given in the SRD with your book. If you are using multiple SRDs , list them all in Section 15.

And off you go!

Although its aimed at OpenQuest developers, I do a very quick one page walkthrough of how to use the OGL on this page, which is still relevant to the MRQ SRD

http://d101games.co.uk/books/openquest/openquest-developers-kit/

 

[steffworthington]

Thanks Newt old chum!

 

[RosenMcStern]

Essentially, you can do almost anything you want with the SRD, provided you release your stuff under the OGL, too. The only restriction that applies in your case is that you cannot use the RuneQuest logo or the trademark "RuneQuest".

I am forced to add that it is not very fair to comment about Chaosium's policy on a "competitor" 's forum, where Chaosium staff cannot, or should not, reply properly. There have been problems in the past, but, as a licensee of both companies, my experience does not register Chaosium as being less communicative than Mongoose. As for their licensing views being unrealistic, the only difference is that they charge a [small] amount for licensing, something that is entirely their right to do. The fact that Mongoose (among others) does not do this does not imply that other publisher should not, either.

 

[steffworthington]

Sorry Rosen. Quite right. Consider this a retraction.

 

[iamtim]

Sorry the thread necromancy, but...

...as an ex-publisher of OGL games, I cannot stress enough that a game forum is probably not a place to get solid answers to legal questions. I would wholeheartedly recommend that if you are serious about commercially publishing that you drop the dime to talk it over with a lawyer.