[Open_Gaming] Conclusion? (for me)

[Githianki]

I mean this as no slight to anyone on the list, but it becomes very difficult to follow through on a discussion when people address statements piecemeal without consideration for the whole discussion, and I don't mean the general topic of the list. I have lost my own train of thought many times not because I don't know what my opinions on the OGL are, but because it is very easy to get sidetracked by comments people make in regard to conversations that are ongoing.  I am not opposed to people participating (that is what this list is for) but at least recognize that many posts are not standalone pieces but a part of a larger discussion. Some statements which might seem plain wrong or misguided if read alone, make perfect sense if read in the context of earlier posts which they reply to or address.  Sometimes it seems people aren't reading everything (I know I do). Unfortunately in ! ! a list where people can jump in and out of the discussion a lot of assumptions get made about each post.  I have contributed to this by providing long posts that made controversial assertions and asked "innocent" questions. I apologize. This is not often a good technique to use but sometimes if you ask "obvious questions" you get unexpected and revealing answers.  It can also reveal what a respondant knows or doesn't.  I have had teachers throughout my life that asked apparently dumb questions to see how I and others would respond.  I have tried this a bit here to explore the issues around the OGL, but I think I may have confused many people about where I stand.  To be clear, I think the OGL is a good thing (most of the time :)). I boil down what I have read thusly: a) Most people believe that the OGL is a great thing. b) Many people think that d20 is a good thing too. c) There are some who believe that any reference whatsoever to another person's       work in your work automatically makes your work a derived work of limited rights. d) There are some people who believe that this is not so, that you can create works    which refer to other works and are not neccessarily automatically derived works of    limited rights. e) People will argue over the meaning of each of the phrases in the above, citing    various definitions and laws and exceptions to no end. They will point to the    existence of works in each category as proof of their view. f)  The law is unclear for many examples which could be used to support either   assertion. g) The law is very clear for many examples which could be used to suport either    assertion. Finally, firm conclusions. :P Personally, I side with Clark in the practical outlook that the OGL is here now,  is fair, seems to work, and there isn't much else to choose from. BUT, I have to disagree with the sometimes dogmatic view of some posters that an otherwise original work is somehow derivative of a game system just because the work is compatible with that system.  I speak primarily of adventures but campaign settings, monster books, etc. are all within the scope of what I mean by work. If the law is unclear don't claim it is clear.