There are right ways to do things and there are wrong ways to do things. White Box Light does it the wrong way. And than does it wrong again. And again.
First, its the logo. The Swords & Wizardry graphic is obviously a screenshot.
Notice the fuzziness to the lettering? I don't think you can title your product as shown. But they didn't, kinda. Its listed as White Box Light on RPGNow.
But wait, here's the copyright claim in the OGL:
I'm pretty sure you can't claim trademark to Swords & Wizardry White Box Light. Not only is Swords & Wizardry trademarked by Frog God Games / Matt Finch, but so is Swords & Wizardry White Box and Swords & Wizardry Light. Also, they are laying claim to the logo for such. Which logo is that? The Swords & Wizardry logo? Or the cover page itself? Is THAT the logo?
Actually, I enjoy this from the RPGNow product listing. Its quotes praising the product. Guess what? No one is credited...
This was brought to my attention as it was questioned if myself or FGG was involved in said product. Obviously, the answer is no, we are not.
But hey, at least they fixed fighters:
Spells are listed for clerics and magic-users but are not explained or described.
Now, either this is an AC chart where classes improve in AC per level, or its a to hit chart where its harder to hit as you gain level:
Fuck it. My head hurts. If imitation is the better part of flattery, this is simply painful.
Who is "Gaiden"? Does anyone really claim this as their own?
ReplyDeleteRPGNow must have some sort of contact info.
DeleteFGG and OBS were notified
That name does sound awfully familiar...
DeleteIf Nintendo taught me anything, he's a ninja
DeleteEN429 wins @ teh internet.
DeleteThis is someone messing with you
ReplyDeleteI don't think it's anything we need to respond to legally. He claims copyright on part of the title, but that's just a nonstarter under the law. He doesn't claim trademark on Swords & Wizardry unless it's in a logo that I can't see. That would be an issue, but it doesn't appear to have been done. He doesn't use Swords & Wizardry in the title (maybe, if the bottom part is title, I suppose). In general he's followed the license to mention compatibility, but there are at least 10 other games based on the S&W rules and I'm totally cool with that, it was part of the plan to bring OD&D based games into the mainstream. The big thing is that your book, Erik, is titled as Swords & Wizardry because you have my permission to do that, and no one can use it in the title without that permission. So I really don't think anyone's going to confuse this thing with the real S&WL.
ReplyDeleteWell at least you know one person it couldn't be — Ken Whitman. Because apparently this product actually came out. Thank you, I'll be here all night. Don't forget to tip your DM.
ReplyDeleteNyuck, nyuck, nyuck!
DeleteHah!
DeleteMost of the, um, stuff "Gaiden" puts out is utter rubbish anyway.
ReplyDeleteOddly written, overpowered, extremely hand-wavey. I'm not a fan (in case that needed clarification).
I like how Fighters' great weakness is hordes of weak sub-1 HD monsters so they don't get to use their machine-gun-like 3 attacks per level per round. At tenth level laying down thirty attacks per round on that dragon will sure ruin its day.
ReplyDeleteI needed a good laugh this morning!
ReplyDeleteI think we need a Light box white now. A white Box set with a single piece of paper inside and a set of hollow dice.
ReplyDeleteCan we get a S&W White Box Lite Black Hack next?
DeleteLame!
ReplyDeleteGaiden was the legendary founder of the fighters guild in Tamriel wasn't he?
ReplyDelete