I'm making a fantasy game in Unreal 5 and was wondering, are basic spell names and effects copyrighted or trademarked or can they be used freely? Nothing like "Melf's Acid Arrow" or "Tasha's Hideous Laughter" but things like Dissonant Whispers, Toll of the Dead, or Magic Missile.
Anyone have any idea or where I could get info on this?
I'm making a fantasy game in Unreal 5 and was wondering, are basic spell names and effects copyrighted or trademarked or can they be used freely? Nothing like "Melf's Acid Arrow" or "Tasha's Hideous Laughter" but things like Dissonant Whispers, Toll of the Dead, or Magic Missile.
Anyone have any idea or where I could get info on this?
if it's in the SRD, it's fair game.
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Formerly Devan Avalon.
Trying to get your physical content on Beyond is like going to Microsoft and saying "I have a physical Playstation disk, give me a digital Xbox version!"
Keep in mind none of us are lawyers for WotC, but generally everything in the System Reference Document can be used in accordance with the terms at the beginning of it (as stated above). Also, named spells such as Melf's AA and Tenser's Floating Disk are not in the SRD, but unnamed versions of some spells are (Acid Arrow and Floating Disk, respectively).
Also not a a lawyer, but the would be developer should actually read the SRD through as opposed to just checking to make sure what they want to use is in there. I believe SRD derived content requires an iteration of the SRD license and credit etc., I don't think drawing from the SRD for a non TTRPG project like a video game changes that requirement of including a "produced under the OGL" statement.
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Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
Even non-SRD spells are going to be fine if they aren't referencing specific characters or IP. Generic terms like Shadow Blade or Dawn certainly aren't claimed by WotC and can be seen in wide variety of games and products, both big and small. You don't even have to bother with any SRD disclaimers or anything.
Unless the game is a literal 1 to 1 translation of 5e, just avoid those few spell names with proper names like "Tasha" and you will be fine. If you are doing a literal video game translation of the TTRPG, you might need to be a bit more careful.
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I'm making a fantasy game in Unreal 5 and was wondering, are basic spell names and effects copyrighted or trademarked or can they be used freely?
Nothing like "Melf's Acid Arrow" or "Tasha's Hideous Laughter" but things like Dissonant Whispers, Toll of the Dead, or Magic Missile.
Anyone have any idea or where I could get info on this?
if it's in the SRD, it's fair game.
Formerly Devan Avalon.
Trying to get your physical content on Beyond is like going to Microsoft and saying "I have a physical Playstation disk, give me a digital Xbox version!"
Anything that's in the SRD can be used freely. If it's not in the SRD, probably a good idea not to directly copy it.
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
Thank you.
Keep in mind none of us are lawyers for WotC, but generally everything in the System Reference Document can be used in accordance with the terms at the beginning of it (as stated above). Also, named spells such as Melf's AA and Tenser's Floating Disk are not in the SRD, but unnamed versions of some spells are (Acid Arrow and Floating Disk, respectively).
Also not a a lawyer, but the would be developer should actually read the SRD through as opposed to just checking to make sure what they want to use is in there. I believe SRD derived content requires an iteration of the SRD license and credit etc., I don't think drawing from the SRD for a non TTRPG project like a video game changes that requirement of including a "produced under the OGL" statement.
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
Even non-SRD spells are going to be fine if they aren't referencing specific characters or IP. Generic terms like Shadow Blade or Dawn certainly aren't claimed by WotC and can be seen in wide variety of games and products, both big and small. You don't even have to bother with any SRD disclaimers or anything.
Unless the game is a literal 1 to 1 translation of 5e, just avoid those few spell names with proper names like "Tasha" and you will be fine. If you are doing a literal video game translation of the TTRPG, you might need to be a bit more careful.