Knights & Knaves Alehouse

Hello everyone,

I'm wondering what OSRIC (& other old school) module publishers and fans think about the below, which asks if certain purchased modules could (or should be allowed to) be used by GM's in web forum campaigns. For in this case module keys are broadcast to players in a publc arena. Forum GM's also have the option of copying and pasting appropriate text, images, and maps into the forum to save time, which of course then publishes the module piece-meal.

Here are my thoughts.

On the pro use side I see one main argument, which is:

Products and publishers (and the system in question) gain free promotional exposure and advertising (possibly large) to what ad firms call high quality traffic. In this case RPG fans and active gamers of course.

On the con side I see two arguments offhand:

1. Module spoilers are revealed in whole or part. This depends on the parties route, thoroughness, and success. They will normally miss several areas of course, and pass various hidden things that only a module perusal could reveal. (When the magic beans are missed the GM grits his teeth behind pursed lips... hiding painful sighs!)

2. Pilferers purloining module pieces within a forum could reassemble a patchworked whole for personal use or even public distribution.

IMO the latter wouldn't be worth the effort, especially since the PDF adventures are priced very competitvely. Also most GM only stat blocks and lore wouldn't be posted to the forum.

IMHO, I see the good points of both argument here, yet feel it would be ultimately advantageous to grant forum use to select modules now and then. Additionally, dissemination of patched up modules is clearly illegal, which would hopefully dampen such deviltry.

I admit I must be biased though (even though aiming for objectivity), for as a forum GM the pro sounds great, and for many modules. On the pro side it's worth noting that I'd keep a purchasing eye out for forum friendly modules, and the growing community of forum GM's would probably do likewise (a solid percentage at least).

This is a matter of some import for many forum GM's, and it's effected my web campaign on several occasions (in big ways) where it wouldn't have in a live game.

Happy adventuring
Lorgold

That would be up to the individual publishers - OSRIC itself doesn't force publishers to allow something like this. The "openness" of a module's content for use without explicit publisher permission is outlined in each module -- the amount of open game content (requires OGL license copy) and OSRIC open content (requires that the resource be OSRIC compatible with required disclosure line) gives the guidelines for use of this sort of content without explicit permission.

With permission, it would, of course, be okay, but that would have to come from the individual publisher not from me and P&P.

It's fine with me. I know the people who aren't going to pay for material will find it anyway so I don't put restrictions on how people who've actually paid for the material use it.

I'd be more concerned with the spoiler issue but that can be fixed with a simple

Hello Mythmere and Joseph. It's a pleasure to hear from you so soon!

Mythmere,

Thank you for the detailed clarification. I apologize I wasn't more clear that I was adressing OSRIC compatable module publishers specifically, since OSRIC is OGC. It's good to have the verification though for everyones reference.

Joseph,

This is wonderful news, and will surely cheer the forum GM's finding this!

This is especially heartening to me since I'm presently forming a long term OSRIC campaign in a new dice enabled forum. I'm stocking the homebrewed campaign realm now with adventures, and look forward to playing your modules there. (Btw, the dice forum will give dedicated campaign space to fellow OSRIC GM's.)

Thank you for allowing this, and I'll try to reveal only what's needed. Forum GM's (at the new site) will be required to follow suit, and give prominent credit to the publishers who generously allow them to use their modules. The content should be scattered through slow to search/ edit forum layers too, making pilfering more difficult.

I look forward to reading your modules, and posting the OSRIC campaign announcement (and call to heroes) here soon.

Happy gaming everyone
Lorgold

I only have one module out so far, but all text (except for some things that are product identity) is open game content, so you can use it however you want.

Best,
Dan Proctor
Goblinoid Games
http://www.rpgnow.com/default.php?manufacturers_id=1033

Hello Daniel,

Thank you for the information! I now have a follow up question about Product Identity use in your module.

Is it is ok to post the player encounter, rumour, legend, background, etc. descriptions into a forum piece-meal 'as their needed'? (i.e. The 'read to player' text blocks if present.). If not ok is it alright to post modified text descriptions (a line here and there).

I personally usually modify modules to fit a campaign, but encounter descriptions are often great 'as is' with only minor name/ monster changes needed. I value the latter time saver, and the care authors put into writing fine descriptions.

I'll be looking for your module's'.

Happy adventuring
Lorgold

Yes, all of that kind of text is fine. The material that is product identity is the company name, logos, art etc. as outlined in the license in the back of "Medusa's Hunger." But you can refer to Goblinoid Games all you want for your purposes here. I'd rather you not post art from the book unless you do it in a way so that people who have not bought the material can't "grab" images. If you are able to do this I also would ask that they be taken down when you are done with them.

But as far as text goes, it is fair game.

Hi Daniel,

Thanks for the clarification, sounds great!
Understood about the images.

If the images are helpful (showing a pariticular scene) I can post them to a password protected directory so that only players see them. (Btw new web GM's , it's easy to make private directories if you run your own instant forum, blog, or web site.)

Is it alright to display snips of game maps in the forum showing the parts players have found? If the players find most things on a map (and are still adventuring there) the full map could be posted to a private directory only. I'll be using low web resolution for all images btw.

------------------------------------------------------
PS:
I'm ordering your module Medusa's Hunger at RPGNOW.com, and it looks like a fun easily managed quest. It will be easy to adjust for low level play too. (The monsters are wounded, the traps are rusty, etc.). Though the small cover image is hard to see (at rpgnow),I like the printer friendly old style design and art.

Cheers

Sounds fine to me. I hope you like the module!

Dan