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alessandrofranzen
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USING OGL IN PRODUCT - Text restrictions

Mon 03 Aug 2020, 09:34

Hello, I´m about to start a new journey to create my first RPG using FL YZE OGL licence. I read all the document but had doubts about how to use the text in my product... The question is kind silly, but I will release my game in another language (brazilian portuguese) and I want to know this:

1 - The original OGL text when explain concepts (not rules) must be as it is, word by word, or can be adapted to explain the same concpet naming my game etc?
Example 1: DICE
As a character in a Year Zero Engine game, you will have to take risks. Sooner or later, you will end up in situations where the outcome is uncertain, no matter how skilled you are. It’s time to break out the dice. Regular six-sided dice (also called D6) are required to play Year Zero Engine, preferably 10-15 in three different colors.
Certain rules variations (see the Skills chapter) can use more types of dice, including D8, D10 and D12. This part can be changed as "In my game, we will use other type of dice, including (...)

Example 2: SKILLS
Your skills are the knowledge and abilities you have acquired during your life. They are important, as they determine, along with your attributes, how effectively you can perform certain actions in the game. There are twelve basic skills, and they are all described in detail in the Skills chapter.
Some Year Zero Engine games have different or additional skills. this last phrase can be changed to "In my game, we will use a total of 16 skills to capture the essence of the settings.

2 - There is any restriction to use the panic mechanic, pushing rules and the alien behavior table from Alien RPG with slight changes to reflect my game settings and special monsters on it? I ask this because in grey boxes had many sugestions about using some of these rules... as you can read here:

Here are some examples of different push effects: Each time you push, you get a Stress Die. Stress Dice are added to any skill roll you make, but if you roll a bane on a Stress Die, a panic roll is triggered. This version, optimized for high-tension play, is used in the ALIEN roleplaying game. Each time you push, you get a named Condition. Each Condition gives you a -1 modification to all skill rolls, but it’s also a cue for roleplaying. This version, great for rules-light narrative games, is used in Tales from the Loop. Each time you push, the GM gets a point of narrative plot points that she can use to introduce new threats and obstacles to the game. This version is used to simulate the Dark Between the Stars in Coriolis.

Thanks in advance,
Alesssandro Franzen
 
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lupex
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Re: USING OGL IN PRODUCT - Text restrictions

Mon 03 Aug 2020, 15:17

From my dealings with Free League it has been clearly explained that you can use mechanics from other games systems but cannot use the exact text to describe the effects in play.

However the effects are spelled out in the SRD, which can be used verbatim in any new YZE game, as per the OGL.

I would either add a comment to the SRD to get this clarified or send Free League an e-mail asking for guidance on this if they don't respond to this post.
YZE Bestiary - https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/320924/The-Servants-of-Memory

My Blog - https://is-it-a-monster.blogspot.com/

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alessandrofranzen
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Re: USING OGL IN PRODUCT - Text restrictions

Tue 04 Aug 2020, 00:26

Thanks a lot, Lupex! This will really help new gamedesigners trying the YZ OGL as their base ruleset. Like I said, I want to publish my game setting with YZ OGL that win a competition in one of the events of GEN CON in portuguese and need to twist and create new modular rules to work with my underwater steampunk world. The panic rule is perfect to emulate the growing tension to live in a deep ocean death trap. Had many ideas to use with YZ OGL.

Thanks twice for your help.
All my best regards,

Alessandro Franzen
Brazil
 
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Konungr
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Re: USING OGL IN PRODUCT - Text restrictions

Fri 25 Dec 2020, 22:35

From my dealings with Free League it has been clearly explained that you can use mechanics from other games systems but cannot use the exact text to describe the effects in play.

However the effects are spelled out in the SRD, which can be used verbatim in any new YZE game, as per the OGL.

I would either add a comment to the SRD to get this clarified or send Free League an e-mail asking for guidance on this if they don't respond to this post.
I just want to clarify based on your dealings. As long as you do not use any of the language verbatim you can use anything from any of the other games. Like I can rename the Peddler to Merchant and rewrite the peddlers talents to do the same thing but with different words. This is your understanding?
 
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lupex
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Re: USING OGL IN PRODUCT - Text restrictions

Sat 26 Dec 2020, 13:31

Yes, that is my understanding. I had even planned to do this for the Bestiary until we were given permission to add the Forbidden Lands disclaimer.
YZE Bestiary - https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/320924/The-Servants-of-Memory

My Blog - https://is-it-a-monster.blogspot.com/

Instant Session - https://perchance.org/fl-session-generator

Monsters - https://perchance.org/fl-monster-generator
 
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silverfoxdmt73
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Re: USING OGL IN PRODUCT - Text restrictions

Mon 19 Jul 2021, 10:40

Sorry if I'm going over old ground again, but I just wanted to see if I could get clarification on using rules from specific games...

I'm writing a fantasy setting to use with the OGL, so the map, background and all the 'fluff' is my original content. Based on the above conversation, am I correct in thinking that I can rename professions and use them in my setting? How about the talents and rules on Journeys and Strongholds? Can I simply rename them to things like 'Expeditions' and 'Sanctuaries' and re-word the rules?

I've added some new professions and additional general talents and some new rules for Willpower Point use and other additional rules, but the main issue is using general talents and Journey rules as they are presented in terms of game mechanics.
 
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alessandrofranzen
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Re: USING OGL IN PRODUCT - Text restrictions

Fri 06 Jan 2023, 17:28

Hello. After the OGL 1.1 leaking from WoTC, i want to know what will be the official position of Free League about this issue, because de YZE use the OGL 1.0a as based reference document to authorize new product with the Fria Ligan's system.
Thanks in advance.
 
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Tomas
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Re: USING OGL IN PRODUCT - Text restrictions

Fri 06 Jan 2023, 17:55

Hello. After the OGL 1.1 leaking from WoTC, i want to know what will be the official position of Free League about this issue, because de YZE use the OGL 1.0a as based reference document to authorize new product with the Fria Ligan's system.
Thanks in advance.
Hello. We are monitoring the situation and will get back to you as soon as things clear up a bit. :)
Fria Ligan
 
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alessandrofranzen
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Re: USING OGL IN PRODUCT - Text restrictions

Fri 06 Jan 2023, 18:13

Thanks again, Tomas. I am realy worried about what could happen if the OGL 1.0a is cancel because my rpg book using YZE is about to be finished and goes to print in march to be delivered to my backers in April/2023. My book (Muito Abaixo do Oceano / Far Bellow the Ocean) made a good fund raise via Catarse (a kickstarter platform) back here in Brazil.
 
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lupex
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Re: USING OGL IN PRODUCT - Text restrictions

Sat 07 Jan 2023, 22:05

Has the YZE SRD been taken down?
YZE Bestiary - https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/320924/The-Servants-of-Memory

My Blog - https://is-it-a-monster.blogspot.com/

Instant Session - https://perchance.org/fl-session-generator

Monsters - https://perchance.org/fl-monster-generator

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