OGL-empowered Pathfinder Derivative Work?

[kyrt-ryder]

I have a bit of a dilemma here, and was wondering if anybody might have a few resources they could suggest as to where to start.

Here's my situation. Over the past several years I've slowly been revising the Pathfinder rules and integrating my own. It's a labor of love, with thousands of hours invested and likely several hundred more to go.

This revision has gone to the point where it would be dishonest to tell prospective players its Pathfinder, to the point where I felt it would be ideal to officially make a derivative game out of it (similar to what Pathfinder is to 3.5, but much more drastic.)

At the point of that realization, it occurred to me that there must be some niche market out there for this sort of game. Probably nothing spectacular, especially given my lack of an advertising budget, but it might recoup some of the time spent if I put together a PDF and set it up on some of the gaming PDF webstores.

My problem, is figuring out where to start on such an endeavor. If anybody could direct me to a few things I should read (or has any direct advice) I would really appreciate it.

Oh, right, one last thing (and the reason I posted it here), does Paizo have any particular legal clauses that might override the baseline OGL/prevent a work of this sort? (all PI would be excluded of course. I did manage to get that far into the research.) Or are there any other major obstacles beyond making certain I adhere to the OGL?

[GeraintElberion]

OGL and PF compatability license

When you have it ready to sell.

Ultimately, you would be doing something similar to all of the rules supplements publishers. You should check out the OGL / PF licence on a Super Genius Games release.

[Oceanshieldwolf]

@kyrt-rider: THIS Thread contains some very useful links to other threads, posts, options and information.

[Bruunwald]

Also might be worth it to consider whether your changes affect the basic structure of the mechanic so much that it deserves a whole rulebook unto itself, or it if can just be condensed into a rules supplement. Might save your readers some headache if it is properly edited and marketed in that regard, and thus sell more copy.

Also-also, and just guessing here - did your changes have anything to do with crafting a particular setting, and would they be easily tied to a unique setting? If so, adding that kind of fluff and marketing it as a very rules-specific setting could also attract buyers.

[Steve Geddes]

Remember the clause from the PF compatibility license:

"In order to make use of the compatible content, your product must operate under and rely on the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game. Standalone game systems are in no event authorized hereunder."

I haven't seen your stuff, but I'd kind of got the impression it wouldn't fit within the PF compatible license but would rather just be a "pure" OGL game.

[Vic Wertz]

kyrt-ryder wrote:

Oh, right, one last thing (and the reason I posted it here), does Paizo have any particular legal clauses that might override the baseline OGL/prevent a work of this sort? (all PI would be excluded of course. I did manage to get that far into the research.)

We couldn't override it if we wanted to—the OGL itself prohibits anyone from applying other terms and conditions to Open Game Content. As long as you abide by the OGL, you can use anyone's Open Game Content in any way that the OGL allows.