Yep! OrcPub is 10 times the character creator anything else is, and it just got shot down! I guess this is why we can't have nice things. Someone might be able to preserve it for others who want a functional character building tool so fingers crossed that happens.
Yep! OrcPub is 10 times the character creator anything else is, and it just got shot down! I guess this is why we can't have nice things. Someone might be able to preserve it for others who want a functional character building tool so fingers crossed that happens.
Unfortunately for orcpub, the creator made the decision that they would illegally sell the content of Wizards of the Coast D&D books, so it was only a matter of time until legal action happened.
It's a shame really, as there's a lot of work gone into the site and some great design ideas.
Worth me noting that I have no inside knowledge of the case or even who the legal action is from, so can't answer questions.
Unfortunately for orcpub, the creator made the decision that they would illegally sell the content of Wizards of the Coast D&D books, so it was only a matter of time until legal action happened.
It's a shame really, as there's a lot of work gone into the site and and great design ideas.
It's pretty interesting, in that "I wonder why they don't realize it" sort of way, that there are always so many folks willing to put in their time and effort to do things like make a character builder, but not willing to do the little bit of extra work of actually getting permission. It's like they are operating under the idea that it's better to ask forgiveness than permission, and are missing the fact that in the case of trademarks the company seeking to protect them can't forgive unpermitted use because it creates the legal precedent that they don't actually care who uses their trademarks, so they can end up no longer being trademarks.
...and then people that liked the tool that drew a cease & desist order mistakenly blame WotC for the not having of nice things, when that really comes down to someone choosing to be a bootlegger instead of try to be legit.
Maybe Wizards should opt to buy OrcPub since there seems to be a unanimous love for its character builder.
"Sorry we had to shut you down, the law's the law and all, but we love what you've done with our stuff..." If I were OrcPub I'd say yes (and ask for a continued development role!!).
Maybe Wizards should opt to buy OrcPub since there seems to be a unanimous love for its character builder.
"Sorry we had to shut you down, the law's the law and all, but we love what you've done with our stuff..." If I were OrcPub I'd say yes (and ask for a continued development role!!).
We don't know what offers may have been made, by who, or to whom.Maybe that happened and was declined?
Maybe that happened and was declined?
Maybe it didn't.
There were some cool design elements to Orcpub's character creator though, yes. :)
Maybe Wizards should opt to buy OrcPub since there seems to be a unanimous love for its character builder.
"Sorry we had to shut you down, the law's the law and all, but we love what you've done with our stuff..." If I were OrcPub I'd say yes (and ask for a continued development role!!).
If OrcPub infringed upon any WotC trademarks (which is likely, since doing that only takes using any of the actual names of spells like Melf's Acid Arrow), then WotC can't - as I understand it, but I'm not a lawyer - offer to buy, rather than shut down, because that can be construed as failure to defend their trademark which can cause them to lose the trademarks.
Maybe Wizards should opt to buy OrcPub since there seems to be a unanimous love for its character builder.
"Sorry we had to shut you down, the law's the law and all, but we love what you've done with our stuff..." If I were OrcPub I'd say yes (and ask for a continued development role!!).
If OrcPub infringed upon any WotC trademarks (which is likely, since doing that only takes using any of the actual names of spells like Melf's Acid Arrow), then WotC can't - as I understand it, but I'm not a lawyer - offer to buy, rather than shut down, because that can be construed as failure to defend their trademark which can cause them to lose the trademarks.
This is my understanding as well. Once WotC is aware of someone infringing on their IP they MUST respond otherwise they can lose the ability to fight it in the future. Once Orcpub went beyond a simple website and started to blatantly offer the IP in a kickstarter, they probably couldn't ignore it any longer.
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The most memorable stories always begin with failure.
There are a few websites I read and learn from as a DM.
slyflourish.com Mike Shea has written multiple small books on being a "lazy dm" and posts a new topic on mondays.
dmdavid.com David Hartlage combine history, lore and experience to give some really solid thinking on the game and how to run and play it.
themonstersknow.com Keith Ammann writes this blog on making sure your creatures as a dm are not all x hit points orcs. The creatures will be deadlier, the encounters juicier, and your players will either learn or die. He also offers a small PDF guide for sale to help characters/players figure out how to be a fun character and also enhance their chances to contribute and survive.
Maybe Wizards should opt to buy OrcPub since there seems to be a unanimous love for its character builder.
"Sorry we had to shut you down, the law's the law and all, but we love what you've done with our stuff..." If I were OrcPub I'd say yes (and ask for a continued development role!!).
We don't know what offers may have been made, by who, or to whom.Maybe that happened and was declined?
Maybe that happened and was declined?
Maybe it didn't.
There were some cool design elements to Orcpub's character creator though, yes. :)
Notice any glitches in that post?
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both" -- allegedly Benjamin Franklin
Yep! OrcPub is 10 times the character creator anything else is, and it just got shot down! I guess this is why we can't have nice things. Someone might be able to preserve it for others who want a functional character building tool so fingers crossed that happens.
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D&D Beyond FoundersPun-loving nerd | Faith Elisabeth Lilley | She/Her/Hers | Profile art by Becca Golins
If you need help with homebrew, please post on the homebrew forums, where multiple staff and moderators can read your post and help you!
"We got this, no problem! I'll take the twenty on the left - you guys handle the one on the right!"🔊
I'm surprised it lasted as long as it did TBH.
I'm still pretty gutted, it was an excellent Character creator.
Maybe Wizards should opt to buy OrcPub since there seems to be a unanimous love for its character builder.
"Sorry we had to shut you down, the law's the law and all, but we love what you've done with our stuff..." If I were OrcPub I'd say yes (and ask for a continued development role!!).
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View User Profile
-
View Posts
-
Send Message
D&D Beyond FoundersPun-loving nerd | Faith Elisabeth Lilley | She/Her/Hers | Profile art by Becca Golins
If you need help with homebrew, please post on the homebrew forums, where multiple staff and moderators can read your post and help you!
"We got this, no problem! I'll take the twenty on the left - you guys handle the one on the right!"🔊
The most memorable stories always begin with failure.
There are a few websites I read and learn from as a DM.
slyflourish.com Mike Shea has written multiple small books on being a "lazy dm" and posts a new topic on mondays.
dmdavid.com David Hartlage combine history, lore and experience to give some really solid thinking on the game and how to run and play it.
themonstersknow.com Keith Ammann writes this blog on making sure your creatures as a dm are not all x hit points orcs. The creatures will be deadlier, the encounters juicier, and your players will either learn or die. He also offers a small PDF guide for sale to help characters/players figure out how to be a fun character and also enhance their chances to contribute and survive.
Thats 3 to start with.
"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both" -- allegedly Benjamin Franklin
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