d20 to Hero project

[TechnoViking]

I have started a project to convert the entire d20 System Reference Document and d20 Modern System Reference Document to Hero System 5th Edition.

Why?
I like pulling the wings off of flies and feeding catnip to puppies :D . The truth is I thought it may be a good way introduce new gamers to the Hero System with terms and concepts they are familar with. Also in the early 90s T$R threaten to sue me ober some AD&D spells I posted to gopher/web. I can't resist doing a full conversion of the d20 System since it is now legal (as far as I tell) :) .

You can find the project at
http://www.dbasinge.net/rpg/oglhero

There is nothing there now other than Links and a the Open Game License. I hope to have some conversions posted ASAP.

Let me know what you think, also let me know if there is a No conversions clause in the d20 System Reference Document.

Thanks,
Mike

[tiger]

Been working on converting Undermountain to Hero for sometime

[TechnoViking]

Originally posted by tiger
Been working on converting Undermountain to Hero for sometime

I really want to convert Forgotten Realms to Hero, but decided to take advantage of the Open Gaming License.

WoTC has been VERY protective of the copyrighted material that is not in the SRD (ask the PCGEN folks:) ).

Mike

[Greatwyrm]

You may want to check with whoever is in charge of licensing with HERO Games. By converting all of that to HERO, you may end up with someone trying to claim all of the HERO rules as OGC. They'd be wrong, but it would still be worth checking before you run the risk of opening them or yourself up to such an attack.

Again, I realize that would be a stupid assumption to make. To me, that makes it all the more likely someone will try it.

[TechnoViking]

Originally posted by Greatwyrm
You may want to check with whoever is in charge of licensing with HERO Games. By converting all of that to HERO, you may end up with someone trying to claim all of the HERO rules as OGC.

Your probably right.

Thanks,
Mike

[tiger]

I've found several places with most spells and such worked up.

What I do is strictly for me so I've converted and corrupted a bit.

I'm sure they'r open FR to OGL some in the future. Only time will tell

[Blackout]

I don't remember anything in the OGL that explicitly forbid conversions... However, I'm pretty sure there are some things implicit in the OGL that would preclude you doing that and publishing it.

One of the things that springs immediately to mind is that no d20/OGL product is supposed to change the rules for generating characteristics/stats and you can't alter the experience/level progression.

Those are two off the top of my head.

If you are going to convert things and want to keep it as "legal" as possible, make absolutely sure you base your material on the information in the SRD and not the printed books.

And don't try to sell it. If you do that, I have a feeling two companies will be breathing down your neck. :D

That said, IANAL. And I don't even play one on TV.

On top of that... The things I like about Hero are the ways it eliminates the things I DON'T like about D&D.

[Greatwyrm]

Originally posted by Blackout
I don't remember anything in the OGL that explicitly forbid conversions... However, I'm pretty sure there are some things implicit in the OGL that would preclude you doing that and publishing it.

One of the things that springs immediately to mind is that no d20/OGL product is supposed to change the rules for generating characteristics/stats and you can't alter the experience/level progression.

Nothing forbids conversions to other systems. However, there are a few fine points to keep in mind.

1. The d20 license and the Open Gaming License aren't the same thing. The d20 license gives you permission to use the d20 logo. The OGL gives you permission to create Open Game Content (OGC).

2. Don't worry about the d20 License. You're not making a d20 supplement, you're making a HERO supplement. The d20 license is the one that forbids character generation and experience rules. Thus, neither will be a problem for you.

3. The OGL not only gives you the right to make new OGC, but requires anything you make to be open content as well. This is where it starts getting really sticky for you. By throwing HERO rules into an OGC document, you are likely opening them as open game content, for anyone to re-use. Of course, you wouldn't be opening up much, but I doubt Mr. Long would appreciate you creating a headache on this scale for his company.

There's probably a good way to do a solid conversion from d20 to HERO, but definitely check with the parent companies before you do so.

By the way, making money has no bearing on whether or not someone can sue you for more that you're worth. Just ask the guys from Napster.

[TechnoViking]

Originally posted by Greatwyrm
3. The OGL not only gives you the right to make new OGC, but requires anything you make to be open content as well. This is where it starts getting really sticky for you. By throwing HERO rules into an OGC document, you are likely opening them as open game content, for anyone to re-use. Of course, you wouldn't be opening up much, but I doubt Mr. Long would appreciate you creating a headache on this scale for his company.


I have put a copy of the Hero Games on-line policy on the site and noted that Hero Games material is not OGL.

As far as I understand the material in the SRD are open to be publish on the web as long as you do not try to make money off it.

No wonder Steve is a lawyer, you have to be one to inderstand half this ^@&@#^%#@* :)

Mike

[Greatwyrm]

Originally posted by Mike Basinger
As far as I understand the material in the SRD are open to be publish on the web as long as you do not try to make money off it.

Again, making money is not the issue. If you're good enough to reprint the entire SRD and make people pay for what they can get for free on the 'net, you're welcome to do so.

The thing is, anything derived from SRD content or other open gaming content from the 3rd party publishers has to be open content too.

The companies I've seen that do stats for their own system and d20 versions. Usually, they end up putting the open game content in an appendix or sidebar, to keep it totally separate from their original system. The reason for this is it has to be clearly identifiable as OGC and they don't want to open the door on their proprietary system.

The way the Open Gaming License is set up, open content breeds more open content. If you start with open content, from any source, what you finish with is open too.

[atlascott]

Forgotten Realms conversions by definition are not open content bc Forgotten Realms is TM'ed and copyrighted. WOTC can and probably would crucify you if you converted their proprietary content to run under HERO.

Same as HERO would not be too happy if you converted, for example, their Alien War campaign into d20.

The OGL for d20 exists so you can create you OWN content freely, using their rules as a backbone for your campaign world or scenario or whatever--not to convert other people's IP to a d20 rule system. The same cannot be said for HERO. Try to create a scenario and post it for free on the web, and, depending on what you include, that violates the HERO license. The HERO use license is MUCH more restrictive than the d20 OGL. Your best bet is to ask permission before you write, publish, or post anything having to do with HERO BEFOREHAND. If HERO gives you the green light, go for it. Otherwise, the license is written restrictively enough that something that you might think is perfectly innocuous and in fact SUPPORTIVE of the HERO system, actually violates the strictly limited license granted to you when you bought a copy of the rules. After all, if you post, for example, a "Western HERO" campaign world, and HERO games has been working on one and plans to release one, your 'good deed' infringes on HERO Games ability to earn a living from their official content, and their ownership of the game itself. That's not fair to HERO games.

[Captain Obvious]

Same as HERO would not be too happy if you converted, for example, their Alien War campaign into d20.

I wouldn't be happy either. There's enough silliness in the world already.

[Greatwyrm]

One of the things that springs immediately to mind is that no d20/OGL product is supposed to change the rules for generating characteristics/stats and you can't alter the experience/level progression.

After re-reading part of the thread, this also caught my eye.

In a d20 product, you can't include char-gen rules or xp charts.

In an OGL product, you can do both. You can also make up whatever rules for char-gen or xp you want. You just can't use the d20 logo if you do. For example, look at Arcana Unearthed by Monte Cook. It's OGL, but not d20, so it can (and does) include char-gen rules and an xp chart (which doesn't follow the standard current level * 1000 xp formula).

Again, separate licenses and separate rules. Neither of which may actually mean what they look like at first glance.