I am actually surprised how forthcoming everybody has been about the info a month in advance, and I've seen one or two things I didn't like, but for the most part it has been extremely positive. People already have the book, so they are enjoying the rules... but I'm of a different mold. I care most about the geography chapter.
So can someone open up the geography chapter and give me this little spoiler? What nations exist on Krynn? A list would be extremely nice.
I've been searching the web for any more scanned pages. Also been checking kazaa. I don't know about the whole argument of downloading a song from an album prompting you to purchase the album. (Instead of just downloading the rest of the album for free) But I do know of the few sources of pdf scanned D&D books I have seen, have prompted me to buy the real thing. It is almost impossible to utilize a pdf book from your computer adequately in a D&D game. And I'd be a fool to print the whole book out. It would almost cost as much as buying the book, and the book is a much better form to have them in. So for now, at least for me, this kind of "advertising" works well. I buy stuff that I like and leave things I don't like alone. Maybe for ones that live in towns that carry D&D supplies they don't have to worry about this, they can flip through the books there. But since I have to order all my supplies online, this works as a great alternative for me.
I do like having pdf versions of books I own though. The original DL modules are a prime example. I can print out the maps from it and anything else I use and get those all marked up in games and leave my originals in pristine condition.
Anyone know the laws behind this? Am I allowed to used pdf versions of a book or game I already own. What about books I have on order .. that haven't freakin got here yet!!
Oops .. didn't mean to let that slip out. I am very grateful to have the chance to receive these a month earlier than they come out.As for the legalities of it, if you don't own a copy of it and you download it, that's just as illegal as going to a photocopier and copying your friends book.
Of course, if you already have a copy of it, I doubt they'll get you for anything unless you're distrituting that copy around.
-Robert
Originally posted by themeecer
Am I allowed to used pdf versions of a book or game I already own.
I'm a bit rusty on this, but generally speaking, you cannot copy/reproduce any material without breaking copyright, even if you own the material. If you bought the 3.5 PHB and scan it to your hard drive or painstakingly copy it to your 3-ring notebook, you are technically breaking copyright law. Much to the RIAA's chagrin, there is an exception in the music industry, which has ultimately led to the Napster/Kazaa/Grokster situation.
In short:
I can buy Tool's album Lateralus and copy it for my own personal use without breaking copyright.
I cannot buy the DLCS and scan the images for my own personal use without breaking copyright.
Anyone want to chime in?
I would be the last person to intentionally hurt DL sales. I want them to be extreemly succesful. I want the company to be going strong 15 years down the road. I just don't see making copies of things I own and not distributing them, as hurting them. But then again .. the law isn't about people getting hurt. I like the way music, software, and roms(video games) are handled. I feel if I have bought something, that I own the license to do with it what I will unless this is distributing it to other people.
But anyway. It isn't like the police are going to be breaking down your door because you printed a picture of Tas to put on your character sheet folder. Well as long as you aren't stupid enough to claim doing that on a message board.
It's a civil offense, not a criminal one.
In addition, if it is for non-profit, non-public useage, what damages are they going to claim?
hehe
-Robert
Originally posted by themeecer
If that's the case .. that really sucks.
I don't disagree - and it's highly unlikely that you'd actually be charged for such a thing, but it's still against the law - like recording presentations from the National Football League without their express written consent.
Originally posted by ferratus
So can someone open up the geography chapter and give me this little spoiler? What nations exist on Krynn? A list would be extremely nice. [/b]
The Nations are:
Abanasinia
Balifor (the Desolation)
Blood Sea Isles
Estwilde
Goodlund (the Desolation)
Hylo
Icereach
Kharolis
Khur
Neraka
Nightlund
Nordmaar
Northern Ergoth
Plains of Dust
Qualinesti
Sancrist
Schallsea
Silvanesti
Solamnia
South Ergoth
Teyr
Thoradin
Thorbardin
Throtl
Originally posted by kgmiller
The Nations are:
Balifor (the Desolation)
...
Goodlund (the Desolation)
Well then, it seems the Desolation realms were not shrunk then... well shoot. shoot, filly, furzy feathers. ;)
Oh well, at least I'll know what Kharolis looks like. I got some thinking to do though.
What maps are in the DLCS? Geography and (to a lesser extent) timeline were among my greater reasons for getting it.
Originally posted by Eidolon
I don't disagree - and it's highly unlikely that you'd actually be charged for such a thing, but it's still against the law - like recording presentations from the National Football League without their express written consent.
Plus, if you want more of this stuff to get written and published, settling on scanned versions distributed by peer-to-peer software isn't the way to go about it. Support the companies who make the books.
Cheers,
Cam
Originally posted by The Soulforged
*so tempted to get that TotL box set...*
Don't bother. The DLCS and Age of Mortals will have everything in it that Totl did, only better. The "War of the Lance" sourcebook next year will include more information about the time period in its first chapter thanTotl did in the whole boxed set.
Anyway, I'm done thinking and I've made my decision. I'm gonna stick with it and shrink the desolation realms myself through time-tweaking. Heck, I'm not even going to destroy any dragon overlords to do it. Did you know that lightning strikes enrich the soil with nitrogen? Looks like some blue dragons are going to make a pact with some worshippers of Chislev or Branchala. Did you know that Glacial Ice pushes dirt and grinds down rock to mineral silt, creating a fertile deposit? Did you know that swamplands, when drained are rich with nutrients? Did you know that silt deserts, when you add water, are actually very fertile?
The Dragon Overlords should have known better before they picked a fight with me. ;)
Of course, going with canon means that there will be no great kingdoms or cities for me. The ruins will outnumber populated villages, the villages and hamlets will be small, and survival will be difficult. However, as myself and dragonlance grow older together, Ten years in the campaign world will pass, then twenty, then thirty, then more, for each campaign with my PC's will move the timeline forward ten years. Kingdoms, city states, and more will bear the names I give them. Players will worship my goddesses, celebrate my festivals, die in my street brawls, yet with the new ideas and perspectives I couldn't get on my own. Part of the pleasure of designing your campaign world is having only your way. The pleasure of a shared campaign world is the depth that only multiple perspectives can bring.
You know, I'm beginning to wonder if I would have it any other way. Maybe I like the empty, unused spaces on the map because it is a place where I can build my own vision. Of course, that means I'll never have a good map of Ansalon. Unless I can draw one up as good as James O'Rance's and get it printed on poster paper.
Oh, one more thing though. Where is Blode, Kern, Enstar, Nostar, Crystine? What of the dragon realms? Is Iyesta still kicking around in the Missing City? Does Fume control the Woods of Larue?
Originally posted by ferratus
Looks like some blue dragons are going to make a pact with some worshippers of Chislev or Branchala.
Or you could always go with bronze dragons. They're lawful good, which makes it a little more likely that they'd have anything to do with Branchala and Chislev and repairing the damage of Malys. And they breathe lightning.
Cheers,
Cam
Originally posted by The Soulforged
My biggest worry about creating custom campaign is not knowing the geography of certain places. I don't want to even begin writing anything until I get the DLCS, because I'm hoping there will be some detailed maps of places to base adventures around.
It might be worth starting in an area that doesn't need much information, say Solamnia. Its pretty much open plains and grassland for the most part and you could place whatever small settlements or ruins/sites you want in it without disrupting the setting or needing to know too much detail.
Originally posted by Cam Banks
Or you could always go with bronze dragons. They're lawful good, which makes it a little more likely that they'd have anything to do with Branchala and Chislev and repairing the damage of Malys. And they breathe lightning.
Cheers,
Cam
Actually, I was thinking of Northern Solamnia which was turned into the Plains of Dust for... some reason. There are blue dragons aplenty there that used to serve Skie.
But good point about the bronze dragons.