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Forums > Home› Neverwinter Discussion › The Foundry

RE: Using Fearun-related names

chriskuvchriskuv Member, Neverwinter Beta Users Posts: 0 Arc User
edited May 2013 in The Foundry
Well met, creators!

Preparing to dive into some first attempts, i've been toying with the idea of using some characters from other games, ie Eye of the Beholder or Baldur's Gate. I've been wondering if that's considered "meddling" or using copyrighted material from other published works.

Would a Quest be reported if using characters from other Forgotten Realms games?
"You can not win, if someone lost."
Post edited by chriskuv on

Comments

  • hercul33thercul33t Member, Neverwinter Beta Users, Neverwinter Guardian Users Posts: 190 Bounty Hunter
    edited May 2013
    chriskuv wrote: »
    Well met, creators!

    Preparing to dive into some first attempts, i've been toying with the idea of using some characters from other games, ie Eye of the Beholder or Baldur's Gate. I've been wondering if that's considered "meddling" or using copyrighted material from other published works.

    Would a Quest be reported if using characters from other Forgotten Realms games?

    I think it would be considered infringement. I wanted to use Tomb of Horrors module from 1978 and was told no. :/
    Dr. Herc trilogy NWS-DHDPDVTMA
  • tilt42tilt42 Member Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    Characters like Xanathar and Khelben Blackstaff, while appearing in the Eye of the Beholder games, are part of the official Forgotten Realms canon and can be used as much as you like. However, you should keep in mind that such quests will never be Featured. Having said that, you can refer to them if you wish. I do so myself, for example by letting the player find a biography of Blackstaff in one of my quests. As long as he doesn't show up in person and starts tossing magic around, it's fine.

    Characters made specifically for a video game and who are not part of the official canon, such as Dran Draggore, should probably be avoided altogether. It's probably okay to refer to them (as in mentioning the history of Darkmoon, for example), but you might not want to take the chance.
  • chriskuvchriskuv Member, Neverwinter Beta Users Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    hercul33t wrote: »
    I think it would be considered infringement. I wanted to use Tomb of Horrors module from 1978 and was told no. :/

    My god, excellent module.
    But who told you it's a "no-no"?
    Do we have, a crystal-clear announcement from Cryptic or PW, what constitutes infringement and what can be used or not?

    That Blood & Sand arena-quest got the axe, sadly, but hey, it makes *some* sense.
    In a Forgotten Realms setting, can't we use Forgotten Realm heroes?

    And no, i'm not talking about a great saga around the great and might DRIZZT. I'm talking about 100% new and original adventures, but with some careful use of some NPCs, some lore, some hints or winks at other Faerun adventures.
    "You can not win, if someone lost."
  • chriskuvchriskuv Member, Neverwinter Beta Users Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    tilt42 wrote: »
    Characters like Xanathar and Khelben Blackstaff, while appearing in the Eye of the Beholder games, are part of the official Forgotten Realms canon and can be used as much as you like. However, you should keep in mind that such quests will never be Featured. Having said that, you can refer to them if you wish. I do so myself, for example by letting the player find a biography of Blackstaff in one of my quests. As long as he doesn't show up in person and starts tossing magic around, it's fine.

    Characters made specifically for a video game and who are not part of the official canon, such as Dran Draggore, should probably be avoided altogether. It's probably okay to refer to them (as in mentioning the history of Darkmoon, for example), but you might not want to take the chance.

    Exactly that. I'm talking about minor references in middle-range NPCs, just to tie it in, in some way, with the canon. I'm not talking about Elminster, Drizzt, Khelben, The Seven Sisters. More in the lines of say Kyristan or Tabra or some mid-range NPCs that could just, happen to be by and have a line or two.
    "You can not win, if someone lost."
  • hercul33thercul33t Member, Neverwinter Beta Users, Neverwinter Guardian Users Posts: 190 Bounty Hunter
    edited May 2013
    chriskuv wrote: »
    My god, excellent module.
    But who told you it's a "no-no"?
    Do we have, a crystal-clear announcement from Cryptic or PW, what constitutes infringement and what can be used or not?

    That Blood & Sand arena-quest got the axe, sadly, but hey, it makes *some* sense.
    In a Forgotten Realms setting, can't we use Forgotten Realm heroes?

    And no, i'm not talking about a great saga around the great and might DRIZZT. I'm talking about 100% new and original adventures, but with some careful use of some NPCs, some lore, some hints or winks at other Faerun adventures.

    I don't think it was anyone from Cryptic who said no. When I first heard about the game I had asked on Reddit I think if recreating these old modules would be ok, the general consensus was no.

    As it is now I wouldn't be able to fully recreate the experience because of the combat. I do use inspired trap and reward elements in my map though. I don't outright kill a player but I may have a genie trample you with ponies for a bit ;)
    Dr. Herc trilogy NWS-DHDPDVTMA
  • zekrallmizzrymzekrallmizzrym Member, Neverwinter Beta Users, Neverwinter Guardian Users Posts: 101 Bounty Hunter
    edited May 2013
    I couldn't find a defiant answer to referring to famous names from the forgotten realms either. Just removed all references to a certain sarcastic Drow wizard from war of the spider queen series.

    Would be nice to get an answer from Cryptic about the exact rules, I don't want to have major lore characters appear in person. Just have dialogue related to them (like finding lore books or referencing a famous event they might have been involved with).
    Resurrection of Xunvrae - NWS-DNNZST5FJ
    House Arken'etts' power is shattered, to restore this once proud house Xunvrae must return.
  • hercul33thercul33t Member, Neverwinter Beta Users, Neverwinter Guardian Users Posts: 190 Bounty Hunter
    edited May 2013
    zekrallmizzrym wrote: »
    I couldn't find a defiant answer to referring to famous names from the forgotten realms either. Just removed all references to a certain sarcastic Drow wizard from war of the spider queen series.

    Would be nice to get an answer from Cryptic about the exact rules, I don't want to have major lore characters appear in person. Just have dialogue related to them (like finding lore books or referencing a famous event they might have been involved with).

    I imagine it will be pretty strict. I remember you couldn't have a character with claws and pointy ears in Champions Online because a lawyer might argue you're stealing wolverine. lol
    Dr. Herc trilogy NWS-DHDPDVTMA
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