We have not received any submissions. We are live and waiting if you have something you'd like to see published with your name credited. Don't get me wrong, we are not waiting on anyone to submit to finalize the product, just offering the community a chance to participate. We have a lot of creatures already thanks to Ben and Zachary.
You're wrong about just changing the name of another company's IP. You also have to tweak the appearance and the abilities. The description is considered IP no matter what the wording. Change something up besides the name or it remains their IP. A creature that looks like a Beholder and has the same abilities is still a Beholder. But a creature that looks like a beholder, but has snakes instead of eye stalks and casts OS instead of turning a creature, then it is no longer a Beholder unless it retains the same name. (A different type of "Beholder" is still a Beholder.)
You can let up on the abilities a little. As long as the creature is completely different in name and appearance, you can use the ability suite of a carrion crawler for any other creature except one that looks like a centipede or of the beholder as long as it doesn't look like a floating ball with eyes.
The Beholder to Eye Fiend is still very close in description to a Beholder, so needs some changes. A lack of detail doesn't make it different, just incomplete. (The gaseous escape is an ability, not a description of its appearance.) You need something in the description and an ability or two that the D&D beholder doesn't have. You have the abilities covered, but the description isn't unique from the original, just not as complete. The stonegaze is still a bit close to "flesh to stone", so I suggest "petrifying gaze". It also has the effect of capturing the "fear", "slow" and "sleep" abilities of the Beholder without getting too close. (It's always best to avoid raising the eyebrows of the IP-holder, especially when they're as financially secure as WOTC.)
Eye Fiend
This wondrous creature is the bane of many an adventurer. A floating ball of flesh and bone with eyes on all sides and a circular mouth with layers of razor sharp teeth. A defense mechanism, the eye fiend can turn gaseous and slip through cracks when in danger.
Rank: 5
STR: 50 DEX: 70 LOG: 80 WIL: 75
BP: 8D INI: 2D DR: 4 MOV 4 (fly)
Skills: Scout 6/Spellcaster 5/Scholar 4
Moral Code: Often somewhat cruel, totally focused, totally honorable, somewhat selfish and totally brave
Gas Form - duration 3D turns
Bite - 45% 4D
Gazing Eyes roll D00 each turn, does not work in gas form.
00-25 Petrifying Gaze - range 10, resist STR, duration continuous, effect paralyzed. If target is paralyzed twice in the same encounter he is petrified.
26-50 Dispel - sight, effect 90% to cancel any one spell effect created by another caster.
51-75 Shadow Touched - creature rolls all its eyes backwards, effect immune to cold, heat, transform and charm. Half damage from non-magical weapons.
76-99 Lightning - range 10, resist DEX (for half damage), effect 4D electrical damage
Submitted by Neolithicwolf on Thu, 03/14/2013 - 11:00pm.
Larry Moore wrote:
We have not received any submissions. We are live and waiting if you have something you'd like to see published with your name credited. Don't get me wrong, we are not waiting on anyone to submit to finalize the product, just offering the community a chance to participate. We have a lot of creatures already thanks to Ben and Zachary.
Honestly, I was wracking my brain and couldn't think up anything they hadn't already done, but then again, I'm a traditionalist in regards to monsters. I like orcs and trolls and elementals and "stock" undead. I don't make up too many monsters because I just don't really see a need. About the only "standard" critter I add in is an actual boogey man.
Submitted by skathros on Fri, 03/15/2013 - 7:03am.
Ascent wrote:
You can let up on the abilities a little. As long as the creature is completely different in name and appearance, you can use the ability suite of a carrion crawler for any other creature except one that looks like a centipede or of the beholder as long as it doesn't look like a floating ball with eyes.
Castles & Crusades (Troll Lord Games) did this admirably in their Creature & Treasures book. The managed to have a carrion-crawler like critter as well as a beholder like critter. I've yet to see a mind-flayer like critter though.
You can let up on the abilities a little. As long as the creature is completely different in name and appearance, you can use the ability suite of a carrion crawler for any other creature except one that looks like a centipede or of the beholder as long as it doesn't look like a floating ball with eyes.
Castles & Crusades (Troll Lord Games) did this admirably in their Creature & Treasures book. The managed to have a carrion-crawler like critter as well as a beholder like critter. I've yet to see a mind-flayer like critter though.
That's probably because WOTC wisely doesn't chase after every minor infringement. They have probably drawn the line at the name. But legally, they could pursue it if they wanted to if the appearance and abilities are identical to those in D&D. WOTC has proven very lax and accommodating in many ways. They don't seem quick to look like the bad guys. Occasionally a seemingly frivolous case may appear, but that may be simply to remind people of the legal boundaries and/or knock them down a peg.
Submitted by skathros on Fri, 03/15/2013 - 10:56am.
Yes, sir...that's the book. I made a mistake, Monsters and treasures is the name I was looking for. Creatures and treasures is Rolemaster's critter book. But yes, that the link to the C&C critter book.
Let me know if you're curious as to how they stated their version of the critters.
Yes, sir...that's the book. I made a mistake, Monsters and treasures is the name I was looking for. Creatures and treasures is Rolemaster's critter book. But yes, that the link to the C&C critter book.
Let me know if you're curious as to how they stated their version of the critters.
I'm very interested, that's why I linked - so I could buy a copy. Should I get this?
Submitted by skathros on Fri, 03/15/2013 - 1:31pm.
Your first link is definitely fun to check out if you wanna see how another company used/changed some of the "signature" D&D critters. The Rolemaster book...maybe not so much. I happen to love RM, but it really is its own thing.
The IP in the SRD is only fair game if you include the modified (stricken) license and reference the license in the book information in the front pages of the book.
Submitted by Jwhalen on Sun, 03/24/2013 - 12:50pm.
Just getting caught up on this thread and while I agree it is wise to avoid the focused gaze of financially secure IP owners let's be clear about the difference between copyright law and copyright enforcement. Our (USA)legal system allows for lawsuits over all sorts of things and it is up to the judge to decide if an infringement has actually occurred. However long before you get to that point you have either capitulated to the IP owners cease and desist letter or ran up thousands of dollars in legal expenses. As I don't think anybody in the indie RPG scene is willing to spend that kind of scratch to stand on principle that reduces this equation to a "polite" conversation between the aggrieved party and the alleged infringer.
Just to be crystal clear this only represents my understanding and opinion of how these things work. I am not a lawyer and this is not legal advice.
You're right. Legal procedure requires that they send a cease and desist letter before pursuing further legal action, (so as not to clog the legal system and in order to fulfill the "reasonable effort" clause of the law to strengthen their infringement case,) though often they simply send a polite message or make a casual phone call. (For both economic and time management reasons.)
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"After submitting your creature, fill out this form. When both conditions are met your creation will be considered"
Larry, do you want me to send 1 form for each individual critter I posted on the beastiary page?
Larry, do you want me to send 1 form for each individual critter I posted on the beastiary page?
Does the forms allow multiple entries? If not I'll fix.
We have not received any submissions. We are live and waiting if you have something you'd like to see published with your name credited. Don't get me wrong, we are not waiting on anyone to submit to finalize the product, just offering the community a chance to participate. We have a lot of creatures already thanks to Ben and Zachary.
You're wrong about just changing the name of another company's IP. You also have to tweak the appearance and the abilities. The description is considered IP no matter what the wording. Change something up besides the name or it remains their IP. A creature that looks like a Beholder and has the same abilities is still a Beholder. But a creature that looks like a beholder, but has snakes instead of eye stalks and casts OS instead of turning a creature, then it is no longer a Beholder unless it retains the same name. (A different type of "Beholder" is still a Beholder.)
Thanks Ascent, Ben, Zachary and I missed that!
I updated the doc and provided an example.
You can let up on the abilities a little. As long as the creature is completely different in name and appearance, you can use the ability suite of a carrion crawler for any other creature except one that looks like a centipede or of the beholder as long as it doesn't look like a floating ball with eyes.
The Beholder to Eye Fiend is still very close in description to a Beholder, so needs some changes. A lack of detail doesn't make it different, just incomplete. (The gaseous escape is an ability, not a description of its appearance.) You need something in the description and an ability or two that the D&D beholder doesn't have. You have the abilities covered, but the description isn't unique from the original, just not as complete. The stonegaze is still a bit close to "flesh to stone", so I suggest "petrifying gaze". It also has the effect of capturing the "fear", "slow" and "sleep" abilities of the Beholder without getting too close. (It's always best to avoid raising the eyebrows of the IP-holder, especially when they're as financially secure as WOTC.)
For example:
Eye Fiend
This wondrous creature is the bane of many an adventurer. A floating ball of flesh and bone with eyes on all sides and a circular mouth with layers of razor sharp teeth. A defense mechanism, the eye fiend can turn gaseous and slip through cracks when in danger.
Rank: 5
STR: 50 DEX: 70 LOG: 80 WIL: 75
BP: 8D INI: 2D DR: 4 MOV 4 (fly)
Skills: Scout 6/Spellcaster 5/Scholar 4
Moral Code: Often somewhat cruel, totally focused, totally honorable, somewhat selfish and totally brave
Gas Form - duration 3D turns
Bite - 45% 4D
Gazing Eyes roll D00 each turn, does not work in gas form.
00-25 Petrifying Gaze - range 10, resist STR, duration continuous, effect paralyzed. If target is paralyzed twice in the same encounter he is petrified.
26-50 Dispel - sight, effect 90% to cancel any one spell effect created by another caster.
51-75 Shadow Touched - creature rolls all its eyes backwards, effect immune to cold, heat, transform and charm. Half damage from non-magical weapons.
76-99 Lightning - range 10, resist DEX (for half damage), effect 4D electrical damage
Honestly, I was wracking my brain and couldn't think up anything they hadn't already done, but then again, I'm a traditionalist in regards to monsters. I like orcs and trolls and elementals and "stock" undead. I don't make up too many monsters because I just don't really see a need. About the only "standard" critter I add in is an actual boogey man.
Hey Larry. I'll be filling out the required forms later today. I'll see if it can handle multiple entries, otherwise, it's one form per critter.
Now, I really hope others do the same. We've got a really kick-ass community here and i'd love to see others flash their fiendish foes!
Castles & Crusades (Troll Lord Games) did this admirably in their Creature & Treasures book. The managed to have a carrion-crawler like critter as well as a beholder like critter. I've yet to see a mind-flayer like critter though.
Sent! Let me know if you got it.
Castles & Crusades (Troll Lord Games) did this admirably in their Creature & Treasures book. The managed to have a carrion-crawler like critter as well as a beholder like critter. I've yet to see a mind-flayer like critter though.
That's probably because WOTC wisely doesn't chase after every minor infringement. They have probably drawn the line at the name. But legally, they could pursue it if they wanted to if the appearance and abilities are identical to those in D&D. WOTC has proven very lax and accommodating in many ways. They don't seem quick to look like the bad guys. Occasionally a seemingly frivolous case may appear, but that may be simply to remind people of the legal boundaries and/or knock them down a peg.
Neolithicwolf,
Understood, I may not use the more exotic creatures but it's always fun reading about them. :-)
skathros,
Does this have the IP creatures you mention?
http://www.rpgnow.com/product/65657/Castles-%26-Crusades-Monsters-%26-Tr...
Also, got your submissions! :-)
Yes, sir...that's the book. I made a mistake, Monsters and treasures is the name I was looking for. Creatures and treasures is Rolemaster's critter book. But yes, that the link to the C&C critter book.
Let me know if you're curious as to how they stated their version of the critters.
Let me know if you're curious as to how they stated their version of the critters.
I'm very interested, that's why I linked - so I could buy a copy. Should I get this?
http://www.rpgnow.com/product/88655/Rolemaster-Classic%3A-Creatures-%26-...
Your first link is definitely fun to check out if you wanna see how another company used/changed some of the "signature" D&D critters. The Rolemaster book...maybe not so much. I happen to love RM, but it really is its own thing.
C&C's Prysmal Eye = D&D's Beholder
C&C's Fleshcrawler = D&D's Carrion Crawler
Plus ALL OF THESE are fare game!
d20srd was an awesome inspiration for the creatures in the core book. :-)
The IP in the SRD is only fair game if you include the modified (stricken) license and reference the license in the book information in the front pages of the book.
Sent a few more your way!
Just getting caught up on this thread and while I agree it is wise to avoid the focused gaze of financially secure IP owners let's be clear about the difference between copyright law and copyright enforcement. Our (USA)legal system allows for lawsuits over all sorts of things and it is up to the judge to decide if an infringement has actually occurred. However long before you get to that point you have either capitulated to the IP owners cease and desist letter or ran up thousands of dollars in legal expenses. As I don't think anybody in the indie RPG scene is willing to spend that kind of scratch to stand on principle that reduces this equation to a "polite" conversation between the aggrieved party and the alleged infringer.
Just to be crystal clear this only represents my understanding and opinion of how these things work. I am not a lawyer and this is not legal advice.
You're right. Legal procedure requires that they send a cease and desist letter before pursuing further legal action, (so as not to clog the legal system and in order to fulfill the "reasonable effort" clause of the law to strengthen their infringement case,) though often they simply send a polite message or make a casual phone call. (For both economic and time management reasons.)