Do You Also Have To Own The Book For Legal Play?

[JHale1966]

If I buy the various data packages and create a character, it lists the 'books' that the information came from on the character sheet. If I want to use this character at, say, a convention or something and the GM requests to see ownership of the materials used to create my character, do I still need to own the actual books (PDF or Physical) before I can use that character?

 

[Minous]

For PFS play yes. Paizo doesnt get any of the money you pay LW. Also dont trust HL 100% there are still bugs and issues that crop up. Having a copy of the source ensures that you have the correct wording and functionality. (Please dont take this as an insult to LW/HL its a good product just requires validation)

 

[CedarDog]

Welllllllll, it is a gray area, according to Paizo:

In order to use additional resources for your character, you must bring a physical copy of the book with you or printouts of the appropriate pages detailing cost (if any) and explanations for each feat, item, spell, prestige class, and so on that you use. One need not prove ownership of said material but they must be from a legally obtained PDF or book printed by Paizo Publishing; content reproduced in other sources under the Open Gaming License (such as an online reference document or a homemade omnibus) is not legal with regard to use in sanctioned Pathfinder Society play.

So, I have copies of almost all the PDFs that Paizo has put out. Are these "legal"? According to Paizo PFS FAQ quoted above...yes!

Am I going to rely on that fact in my first PFS session in a few weeks? Probably not. I created my first Hero in HL and then saw what Sourcebooks were used, and then I bought the PDFs myself...just to be sure! But I am going to ask my PFS GM what his stance on it is.

You can read the whole Pathfinder Society FAQ at the link.

CedarDog

 

[JHale1966]

Gotcha - just wanting to keep everything 'above table'. I use OneNote and have a page that has all my HL and Paizo licenses together so if anyone asks they're all in one spot.

 

[Minous]

Gotcha - just wanting to keep everything 'above table'. I use OneNote and have a page that has all my HL and Paizo licenses together so if anyone asks they're all in one spot.

That is not sufficient, if asked to verify ownership you need to provide either a physical hard copy of the work or a water marked PDF.

 

[JHale1966]

That's what I meant - I have screenshots of all licenses on the one page showing the watermarks and the books are also available on the same device if they want to scope out the actual PDF.

 

[Minous]

As long as you have a copy of the PDFs with your watermarked email you will be fine. I am a PFS VA so if you have any questions feel free to email me.

 

[JHale1966]

Perfecto - thanks.

We don't have much in the way of conventions in my area (SE Missouri) but they sometimes have stuff in Cape Girardeau (about an hour and a half away from me).

 

[Colen]

Paizo doesnt get any of the money you pay LW.

This is not correct - we have a license with Paizo and we pay them for every Pathfinder package we sell. However, Minous is correct that you need to have the book or PDF to use content in Pathfinder Society - you need the official rules to show someone else who might ask "Wait, what does that ability do?"

 

[Minous]

This is not correct - we have a license with Paizo and we pay them for every Pathfinder package we sell. However, Minous is correct that you need to have the book or PDF to use content in Pathfinder Society - you need the official rules to show someone else who might ask "Wait, what does that ability do?"

Colen, sorry about that, I had not seen any reference to that licensing deal before. Assumed that independent companies wouldn't just share profit.

 

[qstor]

You can print a page from the pdf with the watermark on it too. I'm a VC.