Difference between revisions of "Open Game Systems"

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[[Category:OpenLicense]]
 
[[Category:OpenLicense]]
  
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Roughly once a month, there's a thread on RPGnet asking about what systems are available under an open license like the OGL or the Creative Commons licenses. This project aims to collect all those games, ordered by license, on one page, to help aspiring game designers and publishers find an open system for their games.
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This page collects all the games under an open license like the [[Open Game License]] and various [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creative_Commons_licenses Creative Commons Licenses].  
  
 
= Definition: What is an Open License? =
 
= Definition: What is an Open License? =
  
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There is no simple or comprehensive definition of an "open license". The [http://www.opensource.org/docs/osd Open Source Definition], used by the Open Source Initiative, isn't useful in the context of RPG game rules. This page operates under the following definition:
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This page operates under the following definition:
  
 
"An Open License allows the free and perpetual re-use of original material by anybody willing to follow the restrictions of said license, without an explicit contact or negotiation between original author and licensee."
 
"An Open License allows the free and perpetual re-use of original material by anybody willing to follow the restrictions of said license, without an explicit contact or negotiation between original author and licensee."
  
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In other words, if something is available under an open license, I can use and re-use it for free, as long as I respect the restrictions laid out in the license, without having to ask or contact the author.
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In other words, if something is available under an open license, I can use and re-use it for free, as long as I respect the restrictions laid out in the license, without having to contact the author.
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Good examples of Open Licenses used for RPG systems are the [[Open Game License]], the original [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fudge_%28role-playing_game_system%29 Fudge License] and various [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creative_Commons_licenses Creative Commons Licenses].
 
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Many of those licenses are not compatible with each other, so people wishing to use material covered under multiple licenses should keep this in mind. (And probably consult a lawyer. Or at least the licenses FAQ.)
 
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'' Secondary Licenses ''
 
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Many games, particularly those published under the Open Game License, also include a secondary license which allows the publication of compatable material using the trademarks of the game. These licenses restrict the publisher further than the OGL does, and sometimes include requirements that do not qualify as an open license. For example, [[Mutants & Masterminds]] is released under the OGL, and also under M&M Superlink. Superlink is not an open license - it requires potential publishers to contact publisher Green Ronin for their project to be approved. Mutants & Masterminds is still listed on this page because its content is under the OGL, though its trademarks are not.
 
  
 
'' Retro-Clones ''
 
'' Retro-Clones ''
  
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Retro-clones are new games that are compatible with games that are now out-of-print. Currently, only editions of [[Dungeons and Dragons]] have retro-clones, because the creation of these games is facilitated by the Open Game Content of the SRD. [[OSRIC]], [[Labyrinth Lord]] and [[Swords & Wizardry]] are retro-clones of 1st edition Advanced Dungeons and Dragons, Basic and Expert Dungeons and Dragons and so-called 0e Dungeons and Dragons respectively. [[GORE]] is also sometimes listed as a retro-clone, though it is not a clone of a particular game system.
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Retro-clones are new games that are compatible with games that are now out-of-print. They are listed separately to the other games.
  
 
= The List: =
 
= The List: =
  
 
The following systems are available under an open license and are thus free to use in your own publications. (Though with varying restriction on the use of the material.)  
 
The following systems are available under an open license and are thus free to use in your own publications. (Though with varying restriction on the use of the material.)  
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'''[[Retro-Clones]]
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* [http://www.knights-n-knaves.com/osric OSRIC] (OGL and OSRIC Open License) (based on 1E D&D)
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* [http://www.goblinoidgames.com/labyrinthlord.htm Labyrinth Lord] (OGL and [http://www.goblinoidgames.com/ll_license1.zip Labyrinth Lord Trademark License]) (based on B/E D&D)
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* [http://www.swordsandwizardry.com/?page_id=4 Swords & Wizardry Core Rules] (OGL and the Swords & Wizardry Compatability Statement License) (based on 0E D&D)
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* [http://www.swordsandwizardry.com/?page_id=6 Swords & Wizardry Whitebox] (OGL and the Swords & Wizardry Compatability Statement License) (based on whitebox D&D)
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* [http://hazardstudio.net/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/4csystem.zip 4C System] (Public Domain; Direct link to file) (based on the Marvel RPG)
  
 
'''[[Open Game License]] ([http://www.wizards.com/d20/files/OGLv1.0a.rtf Direct Link])'''
 
'''[[Open Game License]] ([http://www.wizards.com/d20/files/OGLv1.0a.rtf Direct Link])'''
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These games release their material as Open Game Content, but also provide another, more restricted, license to allow publishers to refer to Product Identity.
 
These games release their material as Open Game Content, but also provide another, more restricted, license to allow publishers to refer to Product Identity.
 
* [http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=d20/article/srd35 d20 System 3.5 SRD], Dungeons and Dragons (OGL and d20 System License)
 
* [http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=d20/article/srd35 d20 System 3.5 SRD], Dungeons and Dragons (OGL and d20 System License)
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* [http://www.knights-n-knaves.com/osric OSRIC] (OGL and OSRIC Open License)
 
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* [http://www.goblinoidgames.com/labyrinthlord.htm Labyrinth Lord] (OGL and [http://www.goblinoidgames.com/ll_license1.zip Labyrinth Lord Trademark License])
 
 
* [http://www.goblinoidgames.com/mutantfuture.htm Mutant Future] (OGL and Mutant Future Trademark License)
 
* [http://www.goblinoidgames.com/mutantfuture.htm Mutant Future] (OGL and Mutant Future Trademark License)
 
* [http://www.goblinoidgames.com/gore.htm GORE] (OGL and GORE License)
 
* [http://www.goblinoidgames.com/gore.htm GORE] (OGL and GORE License)
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* [http://www.prometheusgaming.com/ Prometheus SRD] (OGL and Prometheus License)
 
* [http://www.prometheusgaming.com/ Prometheus SRD] (OGL and Prometheus License)
 
* [http://www.fudgerpg.com/fudge.html FUDGE] (OGL and FUDGE System Trademark License; also under its own license)
 
* [http://www.fudgerpg.com/fudge.html FUDGE] (OGL and FUDGE System Trademark License; also under its own license)
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* [http://www.keepandshare.com/doc/show.php?i=335944&cat=3&fclick=y Swords & Wizardry] (OGL and the Swords & Wizardry Compatability Statement License)
 
 
* [http://www.mutantsandmasterminds.com/ Mutants & Masterminds] (OGL and [http://www.mutantsandmasterminds.com/superlink/000080.php M&M Superlink])
 
* [http://www.mutantsandmasterminds.com/ Mutants & Masterminds] (OGL and [http://www.mutantsandmasterminds.com/superlink/000080.php M&M Superlink])
 
* [http://true20.com/ True20] (OGL and [http://true20.com/licensing/True20TrademarkLicense.htm True20 Adventure Roleplaying Trademark License])
 
* [http://true20.com/ True20] (OGL and [http://true20.com/licensing/True20TrademarkLicense.htm True20 Adventure Roleplaying Trademark License])
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'''Other'''
 
'''Other'''
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* [http://hazardstudio.net/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/4csystem.zip 4C System] (Public Domain; Direct link to file)
 
 
* [http://www.dominionrules.org/ Dominion Rules] (Dominion Rules Licence)
 
* [http://www.dominionrules.org/ Dominion Rules] (Dominion Rules Licence)
 
* [http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product_info.php?products_id=28830 Action! System] (Action! System Open License)
 
* [http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product_info.php?products_id=28830 Action! System] (Action! System Open License)
 
* [http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product_info.php?products_id=2589 Active Exploits] (Active Exploits Distribution and Expansion License)
 
* [http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product_info.php?products_id=2589 Active Exploits] (Active Exploits Distribution and Expansion License)

Revision as of 23:00, 13 April 2009


This page collects all the games under an open license like the Open Game License and various Creative Commons Licenses.

Definition: What is an Open License?

This page operates under the following definition:

"An Open License allows the free and perpetual re-use of original material by anybody willing to follow the restrictions of said license, without an explicit contact or negotiation between original author and licensee."

In other words, if something is available under an open license, I can use and re-use it for free, as long as I respect the restrictions laid out in the license, without having to contact the author.

Retro-Clones

Retro-clones are new games that are compatible with games that are now out-of-print. They are listed separately to the other games.

The List:

The following systems are available under an open license and are thus free to use in your own publications. (Though with varying restriction on the use of the material.)

Retro-Clones

Open Game License (Direct Link)

Open Game License and Another License

These games release their material as Open Game Content, but also provide another, more restricted, license to allow publishers to refer to Product Identity.

Creative Commons Licenses

GNU free documentation license

Other

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