I've been looking to publish a homebrew setting I've been writing, with its own races, subclasses, magic rules, and even adventures set in it. Does anyone know where I can publish and sell this setting? Perhaps a legal guide? Advice on getting people to buy it? Any help and advice is appreciated
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my name is not Bryce
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Certified Dark Sun enjoyer
usually on forum games and not contributing to conversations ¯\_ (ツ)_/
For every user who writes 5 paragraph essays as each of their posts: Remember to touch grass occasionally
You should check out the SRD for the legal guide. As to publishing, you would have to self publish. Getting people to buy it would require advertising.
You could look into selling it through Drive Through RPG or DMSGuild. (DMsGuild Is run by Drive Through, but the rules and cost splitting are different)
DMsGuild prohibits the publication of original settings, everything must be set in the FR, or generic enough to be in the FR.
Does Drive Through permit it?
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If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
IamSposta’s information is slightly out of date. DM’S Guild also allows Ravenloft, Eberron, and the Magic: The Gatheric Settings (Ravnica, Theros, and Arcavios/Strixhaven) content. But yes, you cannot publish an original setting there.
IamSposta’s information is slightly out of date. DM’S Guild also allows Ravenloft, Eberron, and the Magic: The Gatheric Settings (Ravnica, Theros, and Arcavios/Strixhaven) content. But yes, you cannot publish an original setting there.
DMsGuild prohibits the publication of original settings, everything must be set in the FR, or generic enough to be in the FR.
Does Drive Through permit it?
I believe it does, as I have seen 3rd-Party publishers’ settings for sale there, and have even bought one or two. However, I am not a lawyer, so they might be jumping through extra hoops to do so that I can’t see from the purchaser side. I do know that the Drive-Thru RPG 5e settings I’ve bought for money only reference material found in the 5e System Reference Document (SRD), so PHB material like the Stout Halfling, Wild Magic Sorcerer, and Chromatic Orb spell are no-goes I think (Again, I am not a lawyer, let alone an intellectual property lawyer).
If you adhere strictly to the legal rights granted by the SRD you can publish just about anything just about anywhere. If you want to ignore the SRD you can only publish on the DM’sGuild, and only in one of those officially recognized settings. (Trust me, I know how big of a pain in the 455 it is as I am developing something for publication myself and have to shoehorn what was intended to be an independent setting into a far away continent on Toril. 🙄)
I was going to chime in with some thoughts on how to develop and sell your first creation, (based on my own non game writing editing background but also noting trends I've seen among game designers) but this video dropped and James Introcastro says it all much more efficiently, and loads the caption (or doobleedoo, as they say on MCDM channels) with links depending how deep you want to go. Bottom line is, lots of people create D&D content, and if you follow the work of some of the more successful folk there's a sort of product trajectory they follow. Anyway, the vid's like 15 minutes but very good info:
What shouldn't be stressed enough is to make sure you're cultivating a following by participating in a design community, your peers will likely be your first sales and all, as well as your first word of mouth. There's a sort of romantic notion of the "creative" being lone artist toiling away in solitude. While, yes, creatives by nature of the work in most media do need their alone time, success comes from being part of a community via the feedback and growth one can receive from the community as well as your preliminary recognition.
As someone who has published a few things, I like itch.io better than DM's Guild or DriveThruRPG. Itch.io is more hands-off and doesn't require as large of a percentage of your revenue. They ask 10%, while other platforms take 30-50% of payments. The downside to itch.io is that there isn't as much RPG traffic, so you don't get casual browsers buying your product.
Yes, there are a significant number of original settings on DriveThruRPG and i have started submitting my own after funding their creation via kickstarters.
So long as you include the legal pages of the SRD / OGL within the book, you can publish absolutely anything there.
DMsGuild prohibits the publication of original settings, everything must be set in the FR, or generic enough to be in the FR.
would a cursed island with some mechanical monsters count as generic enough?
you're also looking at an old quote. The current allowed settings are: Forgotten Realms, Ravenloft, Eberron, Ravnica, Theros, Arcavios (Strixhaven), Radiant Citadel, Spelljammer, and Dragonlance settings.
I've been looking to publish a homebrew setting I've been writing, with its own races, subclasses, magic rules, and even adventures set in it. Does anyone know where I can publish and sell this setting? Perhaps a legal guide? Advice on getting people to buy it? Any help and advice is appreciated
my name is not Bryce
Actor
Certified Dark Sun enjoyer
usually on forum games and not contributing to conversations ¯\_ (ツ)_/
For every user who writes 5 paragraph essays as each of their posts: Remember to touch grass occasionally
You should check out the SRD for the legal guide. As to publishing, you would have to self publish. Getting people to buy it would require advertising.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
You could look into selling it through Drive Through RPG or DMSGuild. (DMsGuild Is run by Drive Through, but the rules and cost splitting are different)
Trying to Decide if DDB is for you? A few helpful threads: A Buyer's Guide to DDB; What I/We Bought and Why; How some DMs use DDB; A Newer Thread on Using DDB to Play
Helpful threads on other topics: Homebrew FAQ by IamSposta; Accessing Content by ConalTheGreat;
Check your entitlements here. | Support Ticket LInk
DMsGuild prohibits the publication of original settings, everything must be set in the FR, or generic enough to be in the FR.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
Does Drive Through permit it?
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
IamSposta’s information is slightly out of date. DM’S Guild also allows Ravenloft, Eberron, and the Magic: The Gatheric Settings (Ravnica, Theros, and Arcavios/Strixhaven) content. But yes, you cannot publish an original setting there.
Thanks for the update.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
🤷♂️
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
I believe it does, as I have seen 3rd-Party publishers’ settings for sale there, and have even bought one or two. However, I am not a lawyer, so they might be jumping through extra hoops to do so that I can’t see from the purchaser side. I do know that the Drive-Thru RPG 5e settings I’ve bought for money only reference material found in the 5e System Reference Document (SRD), so PHB material like the Stout Halfling, Wild Magic Sorcerer, and Chromatic Orb spell are no-goes I think (Again, I am not a lawyer, let alone an intellectual property lawyer).
If you adhere strictly to the legal rights granted by the SRD you can publish just about anything just about anywhere. If you want to ignore the SRD you can only publish on the DM’sGuild, and only in one of those officially recognized settings. (Trust me, I know how big of a pain in the 455 it is as I am developing something for publication myself and have to shoehorn what was intended to be an independent setting into a far away continent on Toril. 🙄)
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
thanks for the advice. I looked at those sites and I now have a better understanding on how it works
my name is not Bryce
Actor
Certified Dark Sun enjoyer
usually on forum games and not contributing to conversations ¯\_ (ツ)_/
For every user who writes 5 paragraph essays as each of their posts: Remember to touch grass occasionally
I was going to chime in with some thoughts on how to develop and sell your first creation, (based on my own non game writing editing background but also noting trends I've seen among game designers) but this video dropped and James Introcastro says it all much more efficiently, and loads the caption (or doobleedoo, as they say on MCDM channels) with links depending how deep you want to go. Bottom line is, lots of people create D&D content, and if you follow the work of some of the more successful folk there's a sort of product trajectory they follow. Anyway, the vid's like 15 minutes but very good info:
What shouldn't be stressed enough is to make sure you're cultivating a following by participating in a design community, your peers will likely be your first sales and all, as well as your first word of mouth. There's a sort of romantic notion of the "creative" being lone artist toiling away in solitude. While, yes, creatives by nature of the work in most media do need their alone time, success comes from being part of a community via the feedback and growth one can receive from the community as well as your preliminary recognition.
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
As someone who has published a few things, I like itch.io better than DM's Guild or DriveThruRPG. Itch.io is more hands-off and doesn't require as large of a percentage of your revenue. They ask 10%, while other platforms take 30-50% of payments. The downside to itch.io is that there isn't as much RPG traffic, so you don't get casual browsers buying your product.
https://sayeth.itch.io/
Yes, there are a significant number of original settings on DriveThruRPG and i have started submitting my own after funding their creation via kickstarters.
So long as you include the legal pages of the SRD / OGL within the book, you can publish absolutely anything there.
would a cursed island with some mechanical monsters count as generic enough?
I imagine so.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
you're also looking at an old quote. The current allowed settings are: Forgotten Realms, Ravenloft, Eberron, Ravnica, Theros, Arcavios (Strixhaven), Radiant Citadel, Spelljammer, and Dragonlance settings.
Guide to the Five Factions (PWYW)
Deck of Decks