I'm also very interested with taking D20 to the computer RPG I'm
developing now, and I don't necessarily see any massively overriding
no-nos to doing this. I think the confusing part for me legally is if
the use of the word "Publication" in the D20 Trademark License
extends to cover software applications.
The approach I would like to adopt would rely on character generation
output from a legitimate app like the Character Generator program
which will pump out D&D-approved characters (the preview screenshots
for the app on Eric's site don't include the D20 logo but they do
include a D&D logo
(http://www.rpgplanet.com/dnd3e/3eelectronic.htm#screenshots)). As a
weaker alternative/option, characters might be rolled up using analog
dice and the PH and then manually input into the program.
Restrictions on level advancement and distribution of EXP would be
honored as well, leaving this up to manual input from the DM using my
software (just like tabletop D&D). So if you wanted to use my RPG
software with D&D, you would still have to rely on the Player's
Handbook, DMG, and the Character Generator.
These are my questions:
1) To fuel this discussion thread: Without getting into any specific
feature set of my software, does this plan sound workable within the
confines of the D20 STL?
2) Will the Character Generator provide some sort of standardized
electronic output (for instance, like this HTML:
http://aquela.com/roleplaying/otherPCs/Fik.html), not just printed
output?
I also hope the Macintosh version of the Character Generator is
released right on the heels of the Windows version. It would be a
shame to ignore the Mac.
My apologies if any of this has been discussed in length before. I
haven't been too active on this list.
yr humble svt,
Stephen Downs
>On 6/13/00 4:54 PM, Brad Thompson ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) wrote
>
> >Every time I've asked Ryan about this he's said 'not yet, not with the d20
> >Logo'. You can still use the D20 SRD to create software (once we get it),
> >but they don't want you to use the logo. The license doesn't prohibit it,
> >but it isn't particularly software-friendly either.
>
>The D20 trademark restrictions would seem to block it, because a computer
>game would have to reproduce portions of the D20 system rules that are
>barred (character creation and advancment). I'm planning to experiment
>with a D20-compatible MUD (I'm the author of ROM, one of the MUD bases),
>but probably won't brand it as such unless I'm confident of the
>legalities.
>
>--
>Russ Taylor (http://www.cmc.net/~rtaylor/)
>CMC Tech Support Manager
>
>Otto: "Apes don't read philosophy."
>Wanda: "Yes they do, Otto, they just don't understand it!"
>
>-------------
>For more information, please link to www.opengamingfoundation.org
-------------
For more information, please link to www.opengamingfoundation.org
