Do you really HAVE TO choose? Neither one costs anything other than page space to use. Use both, if wizards tries to screw with one, point to the other and say "I got everything from over there." If they try to screw with both, talk to your lawyer.
What are the pros and cons of sticking with OGL vs going with CC version of SRD for Creators?
There really isn't a downside to switching to the CC-BY-4.0 license. It's more open, and since WotC/Hasbro doesn't own it, there's no possibility of future attempts to deauthorize it. OGL 1.0a is, as has just been shown, possibly vulnerable to revokation in the future.
I am only wondering for those who wants to use 3.5e SRD info in a 5e setting... They may be locked into using OGL vs CC-BY
I'm curious. What is it in the 3.5 SRD that you think requires this protection? I suspect it's a moot point, because drawing a box specifically to exclude 3.5 users would probably kill wizards(or at least any shred of credibility they currently have), but can you give me a hypothetical? I'm only familiar with 5.0/5.1 but there's not a lot of "setting" related info there. It's more "this is how you roll with advantage." "this is when you roll for advantage." etc.
This kerfufle has shaken a lot of people's confidence, but it's good to remember that most of the things in ANY version of the SRD are there specifically because Wizards didn't think (or at least weren't sure and didn't care enough) they would have a case if they wanted to take it in front of a judge. They wrote the SRD to protect themselves, legally. It's not meant to be a hammer, and it's not really meant to be a shield. It's more of a cease fire.
I am only wondering for those who wants to use 3.5e SRD info in a 5e setting... They may be locked into using OGL vs CC-BY
I'm curious. What is it in the 3.5 SRD that you think requires this protection? I suspect it's a moot point, because drawing a box specifically to exclude 3.5 users would probably kill wizards(or at least any shred of credibility they currently have), but can you give me a hypothetical? I'm only familiar with 5.0/5.1 but there's not a lot of "setting" related info there. It's more "this is how you roll with advantage." "this is when you roll for advantage." etc.
Some people like the crunchyness of 3.5(in terms of the depth of detail one wishes to pay by), versus the more fluidic style 5e allows. As for 'setting' any edition of the rules can be used to play adventures, campaigns, etc... Just as any edition could be used to create said content. The thing with the licenses is a specific edition could be used to clearly define certain aspects of your content, rather than having to work on a broad interpretation of how to proceed.
As for the 5.1 SRD under both licenses, it's a start at rebuilding trust, but there is still work needed to be done with regards to 'onednd' and its SRD and its license.
I am only wondering for those who wants to use 3.5e SRD info in a 5e setting... They may be locked into using OGL vs CC-BY
I think I remember talking about WotC putting the old SRDs in CC licenses as well. Maybe they haven't gotten around to it because, for obvious reasons, 5.1 is the more important and timely part of this discussion.
Under the OGL (of which D20, 3.5e and 5e are licensed, you are allowed to use source material from any OGL license product and any 3rd party content created from those various SRD's.
Say I want to print a coffee table book with a bunch of Creatures in it. I could use all the creatures from D20, 3.5e and 5e, as well as any other creatures anyone else has created that were also under OGL, in my work, if I accept the OGL
Under the CCL, I am wondering (and think is true) that I am limited to accessing only 5e SRD material, and any other material also under the CCL.. this would exclude, material from D20, 3.5e, and other 4rd parts content licensed under the OGL.
Do you really HAVE TO choose? Neither one costs anything other than page space to use. Use both, if wizards tries to screw with one, point to the other and say "I got everything from over there." If they try to screw with both, talk to your lawyer.
You can only use one or the other, and once it goes print, you cant change it...
As ZoneChaos mentions, the biggest benefit of OGL 1.0a is that it is FAR more than just the SRD, but also 23 years of products from countless publishers that all has content available to use. Monsters in particular are a great example because there are some real gems in various d20 products that have not been converted to 5e yet. There are also tons of spells, prestige classes (oh my goodness, so many prestige classes) that could make interesting subclasses, and so on. The SRD is actually only a tiny sliver of the content available under the OGL.
Note - this also includes every Pathfinder 1e, Pathfinder 2e, and Starfinder official product from Paizo AND every product compatible with those games. For one thing, I'm actually really surprised no one has converted the wealth of Pathfinder ancestries to 5e Races/Species/whatever.
Plus, even looking at the 3.5 SRD, it includes real psionics for those who enjoy that, as well as, I believe several monsters that were excluded from the 5.1 SRD. Also things like the Epic Level rules, some UA optional rules, etc. some of which might be interesting to consider in 5e.
However, if you are only interested in using the 5.1 SRD and not any of that other wealth of content, then using the CC-BY SRD is probably the better option.
Do you really HAVE TO choose? Neither one costs anything other than page space to use. Use both, if wizards tries to screw with one, point to the other and say "I got everything from over there." If they try to screw with both, talk to your lawyer.
You can only use one or the other, and once it goes print, you cant change it...
Why? Does either the OGL or the CC-BY 4.0 actually prevent you from using other material covered under a different license? Does one of them have language that would force one to supersede the other?
Under the CCL, I am wondering (and think is true) that I am limited to accessing only 5e SRD material, and any other material also under the CCL.. this would exclude, material from D20, 3.5e, and other 4rd parts content licensed under the OGL.
You're required to follow the licensing rules of anything you include, so if you include both CCL and OGL materials you have to follow the rules of both licenses. They aren't obviously incompatible, though.
In true, you really don't need the 3.5 SRD in the CC, you only need to use the 5.1 SRD to extrapole from there, the OSR do this to come with old versions of the D&D with the 3.0 SRD
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
What are the pros and cons of sticking with OGL vs going with CC version of SRD for Creators?
SRD is a key-locked drawer. CC is a titanium safe.
As understand it though, they may have access to different pools of content.. they both have access to 5e SRD but what about:
3.5 SRD, Roll20, Pathfinder, Other Third party SRD content, and DM's Guild Content?
To me it seems:
ODL = 5r SRD, 3.5SRD, R20 SRD
CC-BY = 5e SRD, Any other 3rd party content covered by CCL. and maybe some DMs Guild content
Do you really HAVE TO choose? Neither one costs anything other than page space to use. Use both, if wizards tries to screw with one, point to the other and say "I got everything from over there." If they try to screw with both, talk to your lawyer.
There really isn't a downside to switching to the CC-BY-4.0 license. It's more open, and since WotC/Hasbro doesn't own it, there's no possibility of future attempts to deauthorize it. OGL 1.0a is, as has just been shown, possibly vulnerable to revokation in the future.
I am only wondering for those who wants to use 3.5e SRD info in a 5e setting... They may be locked into using OGL vs CC-BY
I'm curious. What is it in the 3.5 SRD that you think requires this protection? I suspect it's a moot point, because drawing a box specifically to exclude 3.5 users would probably kill wizards(or at least any shred of credibility they currently have), but can you give me a hypothetical? I'm only familiar with 5.0/5.1 but there's not a lot of "setting" related info there. It's more "this is how you roll with advantage." "this is when you roll for advantage." etc.
This kerfufle has shaken a lot of people's confidence, but it's good to remember that most of the things in ANY version of the SRD are there specifically because Wizards didn't think (or at least weren't sure and didn't care enough) they would have a case if they wanted to take it in front of a judge. They wrote the SRD to protect themselves, legally. It's not meant to be a hammer, and it's not really meant to be a shield. It's more of a cease fire.
Some people like the crunchyness of 3.5(in terms of the depth of detail one wishes to pay by), versus the more fluidic style 5e allows. As for 'setting' any edition of the rules can be used to play adventures, campaigns, etc... Just as any edition could be used to create said content. The thing with the licenses is a specific edition could be used to clearly define certain aspects of your content, rather than having to work on a broad interpretation of how to proceed.
As for the 5.1 SRD under both licenses, it's a start at rebuilding trust, but there is still work needed to be done with regards to 'onednd' and its SRD and its license.
I think I remember talking about WotC putting the old SRDs in CC licenses as well. Maybe they haven't gotten around to it because, for obvious reasons, 5.1 is the more important and timely part of this discussion.
Under the OGL (of which D20, 3.5e and 5e are licensed, you are allowed to use source material from any OGL license product and any 3rd party content created from those various SRD's.
Say I want to print a coffee table book with a bunch of Creatures in it. I could use all the creatures from D20, 3.5e and 5e, as well as any other creatures anyone else has created that were also under OGL, in my work, if I accept the OGL
Under the CCL, I am wondering (and think is true) that I am limited to accessing only 5e SRD material, and any other material also under the CCL.. this would exclude, material from D20, 3.5e, and other 4rd parts content licensed under the OGL.
OGL works with any SRD. Only 5.1 is available (currently) under CC.
Discuss the best option for you with a lawyer.
You can only use one or the other, and once it goes print, you cant change it...
As ZoneChaos mentions, the biggest benefit of OGL 1.0a is that it is FAR more than just the SRD, but also 23 years of products from countless publishers that all has content available to use. Monsters in particular are a great example because there are some real gems in various d20 products that have not been converted to 5e yet. There are also tons of spells, prestige classes (oh my goodness, so many prestige classes) that could make interesting subclasses, and so on. The SRD is actually only a tiny sliver of the content available under the OGL.
Note - this also includes every Pathfinder 1e, Pathfinder 2e, and Starfinder official product from Paizo AND every product compatible with those games. For one thing, I'm actually really surprised no one has converted the wealth of Pathfinder ancestries to 5e Races/Species/whatever.
Plus, even looking at the 3.5 SRD, it includes real psionics for those who enjoy that, as well as, I believe several monsters that were excluded from the 5.1 SRD. Also things like the Epic Level rules, some UA optional rules, etc. some of which might be interesting to consider in 5e.
However, if you are only interested in using the 5.1 SRD and not any of that other wealth of content, then using the CC-BY SRD is probably the better option.
Why? Does either the OGL or the CC-BY 4.0 actually prevent you from using other material covered under a different license? Does one of them have language that would force one to supersede the other?
You're required to follow the licensing rules of anything you include, so if you include both CCL and OGL materials you have to follow the rules of both licenses. They aren't obviously incompatible, though.
In true, you really don't need the 3.5 SRD in the CC, you only need to use the 5.1 SRD to extrapole from there, the OSR do this to come with old versions of the D&D with the 3.0 SRD