Hello All,
Since Pathfinder RPG has been announced, I have seen a number of threads asking similar questions about the OGL and its relation to Pathfinder RPG. I hope that this thread will answer most questions. I ask one of the Paizians to sticky this thread, please.
What will happen to the OGL once D&D 4E comes out? Will it be revoked?
The OGL cannot be revoked. So all open content (including the 3.5 SRD) can be used by anyone. It is possible that the Fourth Edition Game System License (GSL) will limit use of the OGL, but at this point in time, we do not know for sure.
I heard something is going to be revoked. I thought it was the OGL. Isn't it?
No. The d20 license is being revoked. The OGL is forever.
What exactly is the difference between the OGL and the d20 license?
The OGL license is a copyright license (you can copy wholesale what is in the SRD if you like or modify it as you see fit). Using the OGL license does not indicate compatibility with any wizards product. RuneQuest, Fudge, True20, and soon Traveller and Battlefield Evolution are all examples of OGL games that are in no way compatable with any d20 product (or even each other, for that matter). Only using the OGL, you can create whole games that use the basic D&D engine but are stand alone products (Mutants and Masterminds, True 20, Conan, Babylon 5, etc).
The d20 license is a trademark license. As long as you meet certain requirements (community standards, no chargen, etc) you can use the provided trademarked logo. Using the d20 license, you can create products that are compatable with D&D and not get introuble with Wizards for indicating compatability. The d20 license was a way settle people's nerves about how sue happy TSR was. Now companies could create all they wanted without fear of retaliation.
What does this mean for Pathfinder RPG?
So far only the mechanics of the Alpha Releases have been released OGL. Paizo has said they will release the mechanics of the Beta Release and the final version under the OGL.
Cool. I'd love to write about [insert name of favorite thing from Pathfinder's Setting]. Can I?
No. The setting is not open content. But there is nothing in the OGL to prevent you from creating your own world.
With no d20 logo, how am I to know someone writes a book that can work with Pathfinder RPG?
Paizo has said they are working on compatability logo and license. There is still alot of time between now and GenCon '09, when the final version is scheduled to be released for things like this to be worked out.
How do I let my favorite publisher know that I would like to see their products written for Pathfinder RPG?
First thing, buy their 3.5 material. Publishers are not going to stick with a 3.5 variant that comes out a year from now if no one is currently interested in buying material for the original game. Second, send them a quick email telling them how much you love their stuff and how you'd like to see them publish for Pathfinder.