Rise of the Runelords Example Realm

[brennan998]

Hello!

While I was a GenCon, I bought a copy of Realm Works. One of the things I was shown on the 10 cent tour of the program was a very robust Rise of the Runelords. Is that file available? I was hoping to take a look at it as a tutorial file since it had a great deal more depth then the simple tutorial realm that comes bundled in.

Thanks!

 

[filnari]

Last I saw, they were still in talks with Paizo for licensing, etc. Since I'm running this campaign right now (in Book 3), I would love to have this file when it becomes available too, but we have to wait for all the legal wrangling to happen.

 

[jkthomsen9]

Hey Rob,

We know the first talks of licensing started at the end of Paizocon 2014. Can we get an update as to what has happened in the last two and a half months?

 

[liz]

Hello!

While I was a GenCon, I bought a copy of Realm Works. One of the things I was shown on the 10 cent tour of the program was a very robust Rise of the Runelords. Is that file available? I was hoping to take a look at it as a tutorial file since it had a great deal more depth then the simple tutorial realm that comes bundled in.

Thanks!

As filnari alluded to, we'd need a license from Paizo to make their content available to our users in any format. We're in discussions with them, but nothing is formally announced. If you haven't already, check out our Tutorial series on YouTube. We've had a lot of positive feedback from users on the videos when it comes to first approaching Realm Works. Asking questions about approaches and styles is another option I'd advise for any new user.

Hey Rob,

We know the first talks of licensing started at the end of Paizocon 2014. Can we get an update as to what has happened in the last two and a half months?

I'm not Rob, but I'll pipe in. We talked to Paizo at Gen Con as well, and we're still in discussions. However, I'll be honest and say that we can't really share beyond "we're talking with them" until something is or is not signed. We're still optimistic that it will be the former of the two options, but nothing's official until something is signed.

 

[Jaynay27]

I have a question that may not be specifically related, but at least in the same ballpark - Has there been any further news on the input/availability of the (PF) OGL rules within RW?

I know I have brought this up before and the indication was that this was likely to happen. Given these rules are freely available elsewhere and covered by the OGL itself I would assume (perhaps incorrectly?) that the inclusion of these rules does not require an agreement with Paizo? Is there any update you can give?

Cheers

 

[AEIOU]

Is there any reason the community could not do the PF OGL entry? Once marketplace is set up, we should be able to share material. If we could organize a group that decides on standard presentation and integration, that would be really spiffy. Volunteer for entering a section and then have one person merge it all together. Edits and updates could be discussed in the forums.

 

[Exmortis]

Are adventure Paths released as OGL? I only thought rules were?

So yes we could have a community updated PF rules, like Shadow has done with HL, as long as there was no charge for the material, but I believe Adventures and the like are not OGL, much like the campaign setting, it uses the OGL released rules but essentially the game world is IP not open.

 

[Jaynay27]

Is there any reason the community could not do the PF OGL entry? Once marketplace is set up, we should be able to share material. If we could organize a group that decides on standard presentation and integration, that would be really spiffy. Volunteer for entering a section and then have one person merge it all together. Edits and updates could be discussed in the forums.

I tried to gauge interest in that some time ago and there was some interest, but Rob chimed in at the time and said something to the effect of 'your time would be better spent entering campaign data' hinting at there being some sort of 'official' version of the PF rules in the future.

*Edit* here is the post from a different thread.

 

[AEIOU]

@Jayjay27: I thought I'd read something like that before. It's all becoming a blur. While the official version may cost a few dollars, it will be consistent and everyone is working from the same ruleset. I'll sit tight and see what Santa brings me.

 

[ShadowChemosh]

Are adventure Paths released as OGL? I only thought rules were?

So yes we could have a community updated PF rules, like Shadow has done with HL, as long as there was no charge for the material, but I believe Adventures and the like are not OGL, much like the campaign setting, it uses the OGL released rules but essentially the game world is IP not open.

I can release the rules as that is bound to OGL and allowed. The adventure itself is not covered by OGL and is 100% copy right protected as IP. So in example the Community Bestiary supplies Encounter Files for an adventure. Really I should not be using the "Real" name of a NPC as that is IP. But its so small its not noticed. And you can't run say RotRL (Rise of the Runelords) adventure from the encounter files I provide.

But RW will be giving away "everything" you would need to run RotRL. That is wrong and theft. No different if you copy/pasted all of the RotRL text from the pdf into a word document and started sharing it with everyone.

With a "license" in place with restrictions then RW maybe allowed to share the adventure stuff.

That is what I understand of stuff at least for Paizo.

 

[jkthomsen9]

I'm not Rob, but I'll pipe in. We talked to Paizo at Gen Con as well, and we're still in discussions. However, I'll be honest and say that we can't really share beyond "we're talking with them" until something is or is not signed. We're still optimistic that it will be the former of the two options, but nothing's official until something is signed.

Thank you Liz. Although it is not the response I was hoping for, it is very reasonable. Could you possibly elaborate, based on past experience with Paizo, how long the process is to get the lawyers to agree and sign a contract?

 

[Romaq]

/me's lower lip quivers with a sigh, and the ferret continues copy + paste from his LEGAL PDF RotRL and plodding along.

 

[Exmortis]

I can release the rules as that is bound to OGL and allowed. The adventure itself is not covered by OGL and is 100% copy right protected as IP. So in example the Community Bestiary supplies Encounter Files for an adventure. Really I should not be using the "Real" name of a NPC as that is IP. But its so small its not noticed. And you can't run say RotRL (Rise of the Runelords) adventure from the encounter files I provide.

But RW will be giving away "everything" you would need to run RotRL. That is wrong and theft. No different if you copy/pasted all of the RotRL text from the pdf into a word document and started sharing it with everyone.

With a "license" in place with restrictions then RW maybe allowed to share the adventure stuff.

That is what I understand of stuff at least for Paizo.

That's is how I took it as well, so either we are both wrong or you have validated my thought.

How ever, LWD and Paizo have yet another revenue stream here. Imagine being able to buy the AP from here or Paizo, and being able to "add" the RW component all ready done as an additional download? awesome.

I really hope they go this route for all APs like Kingmaker or RotRL.

 

[AEIOU]

I agree, Exmortis. While I want everything in RW, the formatting of printed adventures allows for easy reading. And to really run an adventure well, you need to have read it and absorbed it. I want the PDF to read and the RW files to modify and run. I don't think there is an either/or anytime soon.

 

[rob]

On the subject of Pathfinder rulebooks, they definitely will be coming from us for use through Realm Works. A license is already in place for that material.

For adventure content, we're still working through the details. I believe we have a basic agreement in principle and are working through all the niggly bits, but it's likely to take some time and we're still many steps short of having anything inked - so this is anything but a done deal. This is uncharted territory for Paizo (and any other publisher) due to Realm Works being such a major shift in how digital content is delivered, and they are understandably assessing all aspects - and the implications of those aspects - during the process. As such, it's not something for which history can really serve as a good guide.

 

[ShadowChemosh]

I agree, Exmortis. While I want everything in RW, the formatting of printed adventures allows for easy reading. And to really run an adventure well, you need to have read it and absorbed it. I want the PDF to read and the RW files to modify and run. I don't think there is an either/or anytime soon.

This I agree with also. The AP is formatted for nice reading but not the best layout in RW or running at the game. So I am on the same side where I could see benefits to both the PDF and RW data.

 

[Viking2054]

This I agree with also. The AP is formatted for nice reading but not the best layout in RW or running at the game. So I am on the same side where I could see benefits to both the PDF and RW data.

Why not sell them both together through LWD at a slightly higher price then other places that sell just the PDF's?

 

[Parody]

Why not sell them both together through LWD at a slightly higher price then other places that sell just the PDF's?

Probably for the same reason they don't do that with Hero Lab. (The Advanced Class Guide PDF and the Hero Lab ACG add-on both cost $10.)

 

[Silveras]

Probably for the same reason they don't do that with Hero Lab. (The Advanced Class Guide PDF and the Hero Lab ACG add-on both cost $10.)

It may eventually get there, but that is likely years out if at all. RealmWorks is intended as a new medium, an additional option with Print and PDF... but it will take time to be accepted, and it may be hard for publishing houses to put resources into creating the files until it is.

PDFs for direct sale can be made from the same source files as the PDFs used for the print books (though they are *not* the same PDFs). RealmWorks is not like that.. the organization is different.. so there would be significant additional work required to create RealmWorks Realms for published products. That's a cost that would need to be recovered in the price of the product. So there's a lot that would go into making such decisions, and there would need to be a large enough population of people using RealmWorks for it to be worth the publishers' efforts to do it.

 

[jkthomsen9]

On the subject of Pathfinder rulebooks, they definitely will be coming from us for use through Realm Works. A license is already in place for that material.

For adventure content, we're still working through the details. I believe we have a basic agreement in principle and are working through all the niggly bits, but it's likely to take some time and we're still many steps short of having anything inked - so this is anything but a done deal. This is uncharted territory for Paizo (and any other publisher) due to Realm Works being such a major shift in how digital content is delivered, and they are understandably assessing all aspects - and the implications of those aspects - during the process. As such, it's not something for which history can really serve as a good guide.

Well damn you Rob for being so innovative. I love the way you guys think outside the box. We will have to wait and see if Lisa Stevens can see the huge pile of money at the end of this. Just remind her of her own words "If you give your customer a product they want, they will reward you with money."