Contributor
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The worst part is it almost always happens on long posts...never short ones. Is this some kind of page-timeout?
Yes. Many messageboards and other web-based data-entry portals reset their cookies at a fixed rate. Livejournal, for example, used to have this problem.
Those of us who post a LOT of stuff to the Internet tend to do one of two things to avoid losing our long posts:
1. Write them in a text editor (like MSWord) and paste them into the form or
2. Use the CTRL-A/CTRL-C option, just in case (this is what I do).
The Back button on your web browser is also your friend in this case, as you can usually hit it once you see your post was lost and then use the CTRL-A/CTRL-C option.
I'm worried they would be sued for mimicing concepts designed for the new, non-OGL D&D system.
US Copyright law is very clear on this: you cannot copyright an idea. You can copyright a presentation, the phrasing, the trade dress, things of that nature. The two best examples of this in OGL products are OSRIC and the Binder class.
OSRIC is 1E. Period. The creator (PapersAndPaychecks, blanking on his real name) made no bones about it when he created it. He wanted to make a game that was compatable with 1E so those that still played 1E (and yes, there are some) could buy products without converting. 1E is not open. So how was it accomplished? All new artwork, All new phrasing of everything. Tables that originated from a formula (i.e. +1 every 3rd level kind of idea) could be copied wholesale, but tables that are just arbitrary numbers had to be changed (slightly). WotC had the creator of it brought to Seattle for a meeting. The final result is that OSRIC was different enough from 1E that WotC could had no ground to sue. Instead of just killing him with his own legal fees, they just let it go.
Other best example is Dario Nardi's book of binder stuff (Sorry Mr. Nardi, I'm blanking on the book's name). The binder from the WotC 3.5 tome of magic was created from real world mythology. Drawing symbols, having parts of the spirits manifest in a person visually, etc are all straight out of real world stuff. Nadri's book just draws on those same sources. To the best of my knowledge, Mr. Nardi never received a Cease & Desist order. I do believe that he was instructed to not use the term "vestiage" as the general term for what binder's bind, so he used spirits. Since Mr. Nardi does frequent these boards, I hope he could fill in the gaps.
In short, Wizards doesn't have a legal leg to stand on if they tried to sue. While a lawyer could, I'm sure, find something to keep them in court for a long time, we haven't seen WotC do that in the past (even against WizKids) and I doubt if they will change that anytime soon.
I'm suprised that no one has brought up USCO FL-108 ( http://www.copyright.gov/fls/fl108.html ).
Mike
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Those of us who post a LOT of stuff to the Internet tend to do one of two things to avoid losing our long posts:
1. Write them in a text editor (like MSWord) and paste them into the form or
2. Use the CTRL-A/CTRL-C option, just in case (this is what I do).
Ahhh yes.. between here and Candlekeep, I've learned to put all my lengthy posts in the clipboard before posting them. :)
WOTC has enough trouble creating a GSL, their lawyers don't have any braincells left to think about OGL if you ask me.
Assuming, of course, that they're actually working on the GSL instead of just telling us while actually having no intention to allow third-party publishers a piece of the cake after all. ;-P
I'm all for biting the hand that starves you.
Hee! Well said.
-The Gneech
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I'm more worried about making Pathfinder as awesome as it can be while avoiding the nervous breakdown that's lurking just over my shoulder. I think it just bought a baseball bat. And it's not a fan of baseball, is what I'm saying...Whenever you hear its footsteps behind you remember to take long, deep breaths.
Adapt as the stresses come and know that all problems are just challenges, and that nothing will ever break you.
Oh Sage Jade, is there no conflict you cannot resolve? ;-)
*salutes your wisdom with a bow of acknowledgement*Touche'
Ahhh yes.. between here and Candlekeep, I've learned to put all my lengthy posts in the clipboard before posting them. :)
Those of us who post a LOT of stuff to the Internet tend to do one of two things to avoid losing our long posts:
1. Write them in a text editor (like MSWord) and paste them into the form or
2. Use the CTRL-A/CTRL-C option, just in case (this is what I do).
Dear God, yes . . . I've lost track of how many times that used to happen to me....
Then I got Safari Browser with my new MacBook. :-) Nevertheless, though more stable, I still cut and paste for safety's sake. And out of habit, I suppose.
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Other best example is Dario Nardi's book of binder stuff (Sorry Mr. Nardi, I'm blanking on the book's name). The binder from the WotC 3.5 tome of magic was created from real world mythology. Drawing symbols, having parts of the spirits manifest in a person visually, etc are all straight out of real world stuff. Nadri's book just draws on those same sources. To the best of my knowledge, Mr. Nardi never received a Cease & Desist order. I do believe that he was instructed to not use the term "vestiage" as the general term for what binder's bind, so he used spirits. Since Mr. Nardi does frequent these boards, I hope he could fill in the gaps.
In short, Wizards doesn't have a legal leg to stand on if they tried to sue. While a lawyer could, I'm sure, find something to keep them in court for a long time, we haven't seen WotC do that in the past (even against WizKids) and I...
I would love to know what book you are referring to - I love the Binder class!
EDIT: Found it HERE
I'm more worried about making Pathfinder as awesome as it can be while avoiding the nervous breakdown that's lurking just over my shoulder. I think it just bought a baseball bat. And it's not a fan of baseball, is what I'm saying...Whenever you hear its footsteps behind you remember to take long, deep breaths.
Adapt as the stresses come and know that all problems are just challenges, and that nothing will ever break you.
Oh Sage Jade, is there no conflict you cannot resolve? ;-)
*salutes your wisdom with a bow of acknowledgement*
Well, I expect to have The Troubles all worked out by Wednesday. Can't get to the Middle East until September and that weighing on me, but the air fares are just ridiculous right now.
But seriously, thank you for the kind words, VedicDragon. Normally I turn folk's long internet names into acronyms. But out of respect, I shall refrain in your case. Don't feel bad, my birth name is Sheldon Horatio Ignatius Taft and I'm the head of my company.
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WOTC has enough trouble creating a GSL, their lawyers don't have any braincells left to think about OGL if you ask me.Assuming, of course, that they're actually working on the GSL instead of just telling us while actually having no intention to allow third-party publishers a piece of the cake after all. ;-P
Bah.. sure.. ruin my one attempt to be optimistic about the GSL. :)
Bah.. sure.. ruin my one attempt to be optimistic about the GSL. :)
Gotta dash one hope per day. It's a boy scouts sort of thing, but more interesting than the good deeds stuff (lately, all there was to do was forcing old women over the streets so you could "help them cross". Most of the time, they got run over when they hurried back to catch their bus.")
Don't feel bad, my birth name is Sheldon Horatio Ignatius Taft and I'm the head of my company.
You have to be kidding.
On the other hand, our neighbours called their kid Fee (German for fairy, and I don't care whether it's also an abbreviation for some other name, that poor girl will not love school).
I would love to know what book you are referring to - I love the Binder class!
EDIT: Found it HERE
Yea, that's the one.
Don't feel bad, my birth name is Sheldon Horatio Ignatius Taft and I'm the head of my company.You have to be kidding.
I was indeed kidding. I was born with the Rone Barton. It's Old Padruscan for "below the belt, above the brain."
In truth, its actually "Joy from the Barley Field." Really. No, I mean it this time. Word of honor.
I always wondered how WOTC decided what monsters to hold out of the SRD. I get the beholder and mind flayer, since those really didn't exist outside of D&D (though the mind flayer obviously owes its inspiration to Lovecraft).
But why one race of fish people, and not another (Kuo-Toa versus Sahuaghin, for example)? Why displacer beasts (which now that I see their origins, were pretty much even cut and pasted for their appearance) but not blink dogs, their mortal enemies? And why on earth is such a "generic" fantasy concept as a snake blooded race (yuan-ti) on the "no no" list?
I've forgotten who <edit - Steve Marsh>, but my understanding is that an individual holds the copyright for Sahuagin, and that designer insisted it be included in the SRD. Beholder & Illithids/Mind Flayers (despite the latter being a Cthulhu knockoff) were excluded because those two were copyrighted back when the they did the "I, Beholder" and the "Illithiad" books (as I recall).
Why the displacer beast is protected IP, I couldn't say.
I was indeed kidding.
You can never be sure about names. No matter how made-up and goofy something sounds, there's a chance someone has to actually run around with that name.
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
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I would love to know what book you are referring to - I love the Binder class!
EDIT: Found it HERE
Then buy this book, now. Spring for the hardback version.
You can never be sure about names. No matter how made-up and goofy something sounds, there's a chance someone has to actually run around with that name.
I once knew a Physics professor (who's last name started with a D) that named his kid Gregory Orion just so he could have the initials GOD. No joke.
Then buy this book, now. Spring for the hardback version.I would love to know what book you are referring to - I love the Binder class!
EDIT: Found it HERE
I'd get the hardback - or the combo version - but 60 dollars is too much, and that's what it would cost including shipping.
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Then buy this book, now. Spring for the hardback version.I would love to know what book you are referring to - I love the Binder class!
EDIT: Found it HERE
I fully intend to! I don't see how I missed this before...