Dark Matter used by third party publishers

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PsiSeveredHead	Dark Matter used by third party publishers	Lead	[-]
Posts: 180 (06/20/06 19:16:02) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Tags : None www.enworld.org/showthrea...539&page=2 From the above thread, there was an interesting quote by a game publisher: 2WS-Steve (Second World Simulations) "I was surprised to discover that the d20 system trademark license actually allows third party publishers to say (and advertise) that their books require Urban Arcana, in addition to an amazing amount of arcana material being in the SRD (including things like organizations and NPCs, which are almost always kept out) -- so maybe there's some small hope that they'll do likewise for DarkMatter. If so, I'm certain there will be a bunch of DarkMatter stuff coming out from all kinds of publishers -- enough to keep us happy for years." Is that possible? Does this mean third party publishers could actually publish Dark Matter material? Including using things like kinori? PS replies here are kind of ... slow. **************** Quote:** There are no Prestige Classes in the Book of Iron Might - Monte Cook That's just what I was looking for - me
effrenatus	Re: Dark Matter used by third party publishers	#1	[-]
Posts: 563 (06/20/06 23:06:30) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	My understanding: Some UA material was added into the Modern SRD (all the files starting with "Arcana"). If you use that material, you can refer to UA as the source, sending readers to it for additional information. It's odd, but they added d20 Future material as well, but didn't update the d20 Guide to allow use of that product name. Either case may be true for DarkMatter* when it emerges, or perhaps a third (not adding to the SRD at all). It's up to WotC to decide what material gets added to the two SRDs and when, and then to set up rules for its use. But I don't believe they've been very aggressive about adding to the SRDs lately. BTW, the Future Player's Companion refers to d20 Future, but we noticed the omission in the d20 Guide and sought permission to reference the book. The word "future" does not appear in the d20 Guide (v 5.0). --Marc Schmalz Web Manager, The Game Mechanics, Inc.
ShadoStahker	Re: Dark Matter used by third party publishers	#2	[-]
Posts: 18 (06/21/06 06:03:06) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Also realize that only mechanical information is included in the SRD. So, while someone could reference the Techno Mage class, or the Incantations mechanic, they can not reference the actual UA setting material. Since most of the DM book is supposedly setting material, if it is put into the SRD we could only reference the mechanical material there. Things about the Hoffman institute, or any other setting information would not be allowed (I don't believe). While you might be able to say that DarkMatter is required, it wouldn't do you a lot of good if you can't reference the setting, as I don't see a lot of new mechanics (such as Incantations, Cybernetics, or Mutations) being introduced in D*M (the main reason to say something is required). It would also be the first trade paperback Modern book added to the SRD, so I don't see it as being very likely.
NSpicer	Re: Dark Matter used by third party publishers	#3	[-]
Posts: 273 (06/21/06 06:31:05) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I would agree that it's highly unlikely you'll see specific campaign elements from DarkMatter included in the MSRD. However, you previously asked: Quote:* Does this mean third party publishers could actually publish Dark Matter material? Including using things like kinori? Currently, the Kinori...or at least, the description of them that appears in the Menace Manual...are already part of the MSRD. So you could definitely produce a D20 product using the Kinori. But making full-fledged references to the actual Hoffmann Institute, the background information on their activities in the actual campaign setting, adjusting them to more fully match the original Kinori description from DarkMatter, etc. would still be off-limits. Of course, I don't see any reason why you couldn't craft a "generic" D20 Modern adventure using the Kinori with a plotline that resonates with DarkMatter's campaign setting. And then, if you can also refer readers to the D20 DarkMatter campaign setting, you should be good to go. Provided, of course, Wizards makes that option available, a la Urban Arcana...or via special permission, a la D20 Future*. Why not just ask them and see? Just my two-cents, --Neil
PsiSeveredHead	Re: Dark Matter used by third party publishers	#4	[-]
Posts: 180 (06/21/06 10:20:37) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	There's more: "I understand that, currently, there's no DarkMatter material in the SRD -- however, WotC has made the surprising move of allowing publishers, via the d20 STL, to say that their books require Urban Arcana, and put much of the Urban Arcana material into the SRD -- including organizations and characters names. There's still at least hope that they might do the same for DarkMatter after release." **************** Quote:** There are no Prestige Classes in the Book of Iron Might - Monte Cook That's just what I was looking for - me