I'm asking what is allowed. I have players starting a Dragon Heist game. I'd like them to have access to the Player Map of Waterdeep. I figure I have a couple of options.
1. Link to the purchased content I can just put a link in to the purchased content (the map file itself) online. The player map is 11.7 MB or so, but they could see it, download it for offline use, etc. If I am using the link, I assume that they will only be able to see content at that link if they have purchased it, or it is shared with them. Is this allowed?
2. Download it myself and provide them with a link I can always download the image myself, host it on a server I have, and give the players a private link to the file. Then they can see it themselves, download it for offline use, etc. I assume this is possible under some sort of fair use something or other, because I'm using it for my game with my players, and have only given it to them. Is this allowed?
3. Download it myself and post it to the PbP Forum Thread This seems the least likely, as I am basically putting the file into a Forum message that anyone can see (and then copy). But I figured I'd ask. Is this allowed?
4. Corollary: Can I post modified/partial maps to the PbP Forum Thread? I guess I should ask: If I have downloaded a map of one of the encounters, edited it to add tokens for the players, the monsters, added some fog of war, maybe destroyed a wall or something the players did, and then uploaded it as a sitrep map to the PbP Forum Thread, is that allowed? Here's an example of this sort of thing (with DM's Guild content, not DDB content, but I'm asking about DDB content): https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/d-d-beyond-general/play-by-post/27529-the-cottage-on-the-long-road-game-finished?comment=658
I am afraid that anything protected by copyright posted in an open forum can be considered a breach of copyright, so I'll go out on a limb and say that 3 and 4 are not allowed.
1 and 2 are within what can be considered personal use, so it's basically your business what you do with what you purchased, as long you do not post it somewhere public.
On 1 again, I am not sure you need to have purchased the content to see the maps from a direct link to them on DDB, sorry, can't help much on this one.
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Born in Italy, moved a bunch, living in Spain, my heart always belonged to Roleplaying Games
It was decided early on that there would be certain 'spoiler' posts that could border on copyright infringement. However, since a whole 'adventure' isn't necessarily being reproduced or published on the forum you are free to run through the adventure, posting pictures and maps as needed.
Some people prefer to link the map in the campaign notes section of a campaign, others post pictures and maps in spoiler tags on a thread itself. However you do it, we will not see it as a violation if you're playing through an adventure/campaign.
I'm asking what is allowed. I have players starting a Dragon Heist game. I'd like them to have access to the Player Map of Waterdeep. I figure I have a couple of options.
1. Link to the purchased content
I can just put a link in to the purchased content (the map file itself) online. The player map is 11.7 MB or so, but they could see it, download it for offline use, etc. If I am using the link, I assume that they will only be able to see content at that link if they have purchased it, or it is shared with them. Is this allowed?
2. Download it myself and provide them with a link
I can always download the image myself, host it on a server I have, and give the players a private link to the file. Then they can see it themselves, download it for offline use, etc. I assume this is possible under some sort of fair use something or other, because I'm using it for my game with my players, and have only given it to them. Is this allowed?
3. Download it myself and post it to the PbP Forum Thread
This seems the least likely, as I am basically putting the file into a Forum message that anyone can see (and then copy). But I figured I'd ask. Is this allowed?
4. Corollary: Can I post modified/partial maps to the PbP Forum Thread?
I guess I should ask: If I have downloaded a map of one of the encounters, edited it to add tokens for the players, the monsters, added some fog of war, maybe destroyed a wall or something the players did, and then uploaded it as a sitrep map to the PbP Forum Thread, is that allowed? Here's an example of this sort of thing (with DM's Guild content, not DDB content, but I'm asking about DDB content): https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/d-d-beyond-general/play-by-post/27529-the-cottage-on-the-long-road-game-finished?comment=658
Thanks!
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
I am afraid that anything protected by copyright posted in an open forum can be considered a breach of copyright, so I'll go out on a limb and say that 3 and 4 are not allowed.
1 and 2 are within what can be considered personal use, so it's basically your business what you do with what you purchased, as long you do not post it somewhere public.
On 1 again, I am not sure you need to have purchased the content to see the maps from a direct link to them on DDB, sorry, can't help much on this one.
Born in Italy, moved a bunch, living in Spain, my heart always belonged to Roleplaying Games
It was decided early on that there would be certain 'spoiler' posts that could border on copyright infringement. However, since a whole 'adventure' isn't necessarily being reproduced or published on the forum you are free to run through the adventure, posting pictures and maps as needed.
Some people prefer to link the map in the campaign notes section of a campaign, others post pictures and maps in spoiler tags on a thread itself. However you do it, we will not see it as a violation if you're playing through an adventure/campaign.
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