Hey there! This is my first time posting on the forum, so I hope I'm posting this in the right place. If not, please let me know what the right place would be, and I will happily delete and re-post.
So I've created a new setting for DnD 5e. In the setting's core book, I've listed the Player's Handbook, Dungeon Master's Guide, and Monster Manual as required texts. I reference all of these texts in the setting, but do not copy any material from them. I do have modifications of course--e.g. "the paladin class is not allowed. It is replaced here with these classes" and "all monsters from the Monster Manual exist in this world, in addition to these new ones." etc. I make one reference to a feature in the Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide, but that feature is also listed for free here on DnD Beyond (It's the "Turn the Tide" ability given to paladins with Oath of the Crown). The book contains new gameplay mechanics, as well as a host of NPCs, monsters, and magic items, and completely new races.
I've been reading up on the various licensing rules, and I THINK I'm okay to sell this (just not on DM's Guild, because it's an original setting), but I want to make sure. Have I done anything here that would make it so I can't sell the setting book?
Again, apologies if this is in the wrong place or if this answer is obvious. I did quite a bit of research before posting this and am still unsure.
Sounds like this would be more a question for a copywrite lawyer.
I'd be concerned about mentions of the PHB, DMG, and MM being mentioned, especially as required. If that can be slimmed down to the SRD, you can include that along with all of it's OGL or CC licenses. Referencing anything from those books that are not in the SRD would probably be a big no no. I'd also have serious concerns about the stuff from Oath of the Crown being from the SCAG. Not sure what you mean by being listed for free.
Including any of those things is fine for free personal homebrew. But once you start charging money for it, you need to make sure there's no loose ends.
Hmmm, ok. I may have to redo some of this then, as there are things in the PHB that I reference that are not in the SRD. I don't actually repeat the text from the PHB, but refer the reader to the PHB--e.g. "this subclass has an animal companion. Follow the PHB rules for a ranger under "Ranger Companion." That type of thing. I was thinking that this would be acceptable but I think I will rework it, just in case.
By "available for free," I mean that you can literally look up Oath of the Crown on dndbeyond without needing to purchase any sources. It's listed there under the Paladin class. I didn't even realize at first that it wasn't in the PHB. In fact, everything I specifically reference in the core books can be viewed for free on DnDBeyond.
By "available for free," I mean that you can literally look up Oath of the Crown on dndbeyond without needing to purchase any sources. It's listed there under the Paladin class. I didn't even realize at first that it wasn't in the PHB. In fact, everything I specifically reference in the core books can be viewed for free on DnDBeyond.
You might have the SCAG shared with you in some campaign, the same for any PHB specific features.
I have a second account that has no purchases and is not in any campaigns just so I can look up and see what is available for free and this is what I get on the Paladin page for that account:
That being said, just because something is free on dndbeyond, it still does not make it available for use in 3rd party publications. It has to be spelled out specifically in the SRD. That is the only stuff you are protected to use freely.
Ahhhhhhh, ok, I didn't realize that stuff popped up all over the website if I have the book or have it shared. I thought it just let me access that book. Good to know. And yeah, I wasn't planning on including the text for the ability as part of the setting--I was just going to refer the reader to here. I'm going to rework all of those things anyway, though. Anything not SRD I'm going to replace with original stuff. Really appreciate your advice!
Hey there! This is my first time posting on the forum, so I hope I'm posting this in the right place. If not, please let me know what the right place would be, and I will happily delete and re-post.
So I've created a new setting for DnD 5e. In the setting's core book, I've listed the Player's Handbook, Dungeon Master's Guide, and Monster Manual as required texts. I reference all of these texts in the setting, but do not copy any material from them. I do have modifications of course--e.g. "the paladin class is not allowed. It is replaced here with these classes" and "all monsters from the Monster Manual exist in this world, in addition to these new ones." etc. I make one reference to a feature in the Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide, but that feature is also listed for free here on DnD Beyond (It's the "Turn the Tide" ability given to paladins with Oath of the Crown). The book contains new gameplay mechanics, as well as a host of NPCs, monsters, and magic items, and completely new races.
I've been reading up on the various licensing rules, and I THINK I'm okay to sell this (just not on DM's Guild, because it's an original setting), but I want to make sure. Have I done anything here that would make it so I can't sell the setting book?
Again, apologies if this is in the wrong place or if this answer is obvious. I did quite a bit of research before posting this and am still unsure.
Sounds like this would be more a question for a copywrite lawyer.
I'd be concerned about mentions of the PHB, DMG, and MM being mentioned, especially as required. If that can be slimmed down to the SRD, you can include that along with all of it's OGL or CC licenses. Referencing anything from those books that are not in the SRD would probably be a big no no. I'd also have serious concerns about the stuff from Oath of the Crown being from the SCAG. Not sure what you mean by being listed for free.
Including any of those things is fine for free personal homebrew. But once you start charging money for it, you need to make sure there's no loose ends.
How to: Replace DEX in your AC | Jump & Suffocation stats | Build a (Spell & class effect buff system | Wild Shape effect system) | Tool Proficiencies as Custom Skills | Spells at higher levels explained | Superior Fighting/Martial Adept Fix | Snippet Codes Explored - Subclasses | Snippet Math Theory | Homebrew Weapons Explained
Check out my: FEATS | MAGIC ITEMS | MONSTERS | SUBCLASSES Artificer Specialist: Weaveblade
Dndbeyond images not loading A PERMANENT WORKAROUND!!! (thank you Jay_Lane)
Hmmm, ok. I may have to redo some of this then, as there are things in the PHB that I reference that are not in the SRD. I don't actually repeat the text from the PHB, but refer the reader to the PHB--e.g. "this subclass has an animal companion. Follow the PHB rules for a ranger under "Ranger Companion." That type of thing. I was thinking that this would be acceptable but I think I will rework it, just in case.
By "available for free," I mean that you can literally look up Oath of the Crown on dndbeyond without needing to purchase any sources. It's listed there under the Paladin class. I didn't even realize at first that it wasn't in the PHB. In fact, everything I specifically reference in the core books can be viewed for free on DnDBeyond.
You might have the SCAG shared with you in some campaign, the same for any PHB specific features.
I have a second account that has no purchases and is not in any campaigns just so I can look up and see what is available for free and this is what I get on the Paladin page for that account:
That being said, just because something is free on dndbeyond, it still does not make it available for use in 3rd party publications. It has to be spelled out specifically in the SRD. That is the only stuff you are protected to use freely.
How to: Replace DEX in your AC | Jump & Suffocation stats | Build a (Spell & class effect buff system | Wild Shape effect system) | Tool Proficiencies as Custom Skills | Spells at higher levels explained | Superior Fighting/Martial Adept Fix | Snippet Codes Explored - Subclasses | Snippet Math Theory | Homebrew Weapons Explained
Check out my: FEATS | MAGIC ITEMS | MONSTERS | SUBCLASSES Artificer Specialist: Weaveblade
Dndbeyond images not loading A PERMANENT WORKAROUND!!! (thank you Jay_Lane)
Ahhhhhhh, ok, I didn't realize that stuff popped up all over the website if I have the book or have it shared. I thought it just let me access that book. Good to know. And yeah, I wasn't planning on including the text for the ability as part of the setting--I was just going to refer the reader to here. I'm going to rework all of those things anyway, though. Anything not SRD I'm going to replace with original stuff. Really appreciate your advice!