Grand OGL Wiki Seeks to Publish RPG Book Back-Stock

Zonk pointed out an interesting story over at The Gamer Dome that details a new wiki project partnering with Mongoose Publishing to share the publishing company's back-stock for free. Titled "The Grand OGL Wiki," the new project seeks to create a repository for many out of print books that would otherwise be lost to the sands of time. "'If a volunteer (or volunteers - you might have to be some sort of maniac to go through all this material solo!) were to come forward and create a suitable web site, we would happily supply electronic versions of our D20 lines for translation of OGC to such a web site. We would be very free with the material permissible, allowing you to effectively cut and paste large chunks of 'fluff' text alongside the OGC. This would include all the Quintessentials, Slayer's Guides, Encyclopedias, Ultimates - potentially, even some Babylon 5 material, if someone is prepared to remove all the licensed text (no Conan though, as that is still current!).'"

Comments

Re:Infringment Ahoy!

[AKAImBatman]

if someone is prepared to remove all the licensed text

Seems they're way ahead of you. ;-)

Games Workshop

[Anonymous Coward]

If GW did this with their outdated books, that would make alot of us fans of not only the game, but the fluff as well, very happy.

Re:Games Workshop

[Anonymous Coward]

never gonna happen. GW is run by money whores.

Used to be a huge Fantasy Roleplay fan, as well as some of their other games like the old Blood Bowl and Necromunda.. but anything that doesnt make them a crapload of cash gets axed.

I am sorry but you failed your wisdom check

[multi-flavor-geek]

You have been rendered a harmless, mouth breathing, citizen of the coastal lands, please do not annoy us with these back stock requests further. Do, however, take advantage of your new idiot status to actually be able to enjoy the X-box.

I wonder how much the license will allow

[Lord Crowface]

Would folks be able to do things like create "non-wiki" versions of the online books for easier reference? Create new games based on but modified from old rules and texts? Write computer adaptations of the material? All these questions, and more, should be answered before this can rise to anything more than just a bit cool.

Re:I wonder how much the license will allow

[Nadaka]

of course it does. All material published under the Open Gaming License is freely reproducible under the terms of the OGL. For those not familiar with it, it is similar to some creative commons licenses (but with well defined, non vague terms) in that it has elements of share-alike and requires attribution.

OGC?

[JakeD409]

...we would happily supply electronic versions of our D20 lines for translation of OGC to such a web site...

I don't know what D20 lines they're using, but I certainly don't remember any OGC in mine.

Re:OGC?

[Anonymous Coward]

Turn your head 90 degrees left, and you will see that there is a high correlation with role-playing games.

Re:OGC?

[Crazy_CorranH]

The Book of Erotic Fantasy?

Great use of a Wiki

[LandDolphin]

I think this is great. Older systems do nto become useless just becase newer ones come out. Also, a lot of people enjoy playing the older games. This should be a great way to keep them around.

Re:Infringment Ahoy!

[Nadaka]

The material being released on this wiki is not infringing. It is covered and protected by the Open Gaming License. This License has clearly defined terms concerning how material may be shared and what kind of attribution is required.

I participated in some of the discussions that led to the creation of this wiki in the ENWorld.org forums. IIRC it began with a blog post by developer Mike Mearls claiming that the OGL was a failure.

Re:Infringment Ahoy!

[Nadaka]

for references:
http://mearls.livejournal.com/
http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?t=231991