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Hi all,
I am considering making some pathfinder products. One would be an online character generator, and the other would be an online web site based role playing game.
I don't expect people to explain the OGL to me, though I do need to get a lawyer to help me out with that.
But I want to know beforehand, if possible, what kind of allowance there is for using pathfinder in such a manner. Would I be able to use it royalty free according to people's understanding? If so what parts would I be able to use and which wouldn't I?
Ultimately all of these questions will be answered by a lawyer, but before I make that expense, I want to see whether the idea is feasible or not, as this is coming out of my own pocket and lawyers aren't cheap.
The other question, which will ultimately also be answered by the lawyer, but would be nice to get an idea of before hand, is whether and/or what parts can I make money off of? The game and character generator will probably run off of donations to start, but I would still be interested in knowing what my options are.
Thanks all for your time,
Gicker
Hi all,
I am considering making some pathfinder products. One would be an online character generator, and the other would be an online web site based role playing game.
I don't expect people to explain the OGL to me, though I do need to get a lawyer to help me out with that.
But I want to know beforehand, if possible, what kind of allowance there is for using pathfinder in such a manner. Would I be able to use it royalty free according to people's understanding? If so what parts would I be able to use and which wouldn't I?
Ultimately all of these questions will be answered by a lawyer, but before I make that expense, I want to see whether the idea is feasible or not, as this is coming out of my own pocket and lawyers aren't cheap.
The other question, which will ultimately also be answered by the lawyer, but would be nice to get an idea of before hand, is whether and/or what parts can I make money off of? The game and character generator will probably run off of donations to start, but I would still be interested in knowing what my options are.
Thanks all for your time,
Gicker
Well according to the OGL, a publisher has to describe what content in the product is considered open content. Different publishers put the disclosure in different places, I think most put it on the title page, but if it is not there find the actually license and it should be around there instead.
One thing to keep in mind that the OGL does not give the right to claim that the product is compatible with another pubisher's product, though you do have to site the other product at the end of the OGL.
Now Paizo does offer an additional license, that does allow you to claim compatibility of their product, but it has additional restrictions as well, but you would get say that your product is (PFRPG) vs. (OGL) compatible, which is helpful if you intend to market it to PF customers.
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Thanks, that is quite helpful. So looking at the Pathfinder Core Rules, it seems as if dialogue would be considered product identity. So I can, for example, use all the stats in the dwarf race, but I have to come up with my own text for the racial and racial ability descriptions... is that right? Everything else seemed self explanitory.
Also, the game would be no problem marketing as OGL compatible, at least to begin, but maybe I'd have to hold off on the character builder until I get enough income from the game to get that license that allows it to be marketed as pathfinder compatible.
Thank you very much, you have been very informative and educational.
Gicker
If you're going to try to make money using someone else's license, even a free license, you should talk to a lawyer, and not rely on "the guys on the internet" to explain how it works. I say this for your own protection.
Here is a link for the PFRPG compatibility license. (I'm surprised Reynolds didn't bother to link it for you.)
Sorry, it was 7:30 on a Friday....
Here's a worthwhile discussion.
Short answer is, the compatibility license doesn't cover computer programs (games or character creators or other utilities). So while you can build a generator that uses the OGL rules (although with caution, a discussion with a lawyer is definitely prudent), you can't advertise as "Pathfinder Compatible" (or use any of their trademarks) without getting a special license from Paizo.