Category: The Dungeon World Tavern: Discussion

I’m working on what I hope will be a booklet of monsters. While I anticipate releasing my work for free, I’d like to at least leave open the option of charging a buck or two in the future. I had some questions about what creatures might (or might not) be permissible to use. 

I note that the DW rulebook includes a lot of monsters that were specifically created for D&D, including some that were introduced in 3E (e.g. girallon, gray render). I also note that all D&D monsters used appear in the d20 SRD, even though DW–as far as I know–isn’t published under the OGL. 

Is the presumption that as long as a creature isn’t considered WOTC product identity (e.g. beholder) it’s fair game? Could I, for example, include the darkmantle?

Also, what’s the status of the Cthulhu Mythos monsters? While they’re not in the d20 SRD, they are in the Pathfinder SRD, which further includes some that were not derived exclusively from Lovecraft (e.g. Hound of Tindalos). I don’t see any attribution given to Arkham House or Chaosium in the Paizo legalese.

I know, I know, the easiest way to avoid any problems to make up original monsters, but just as the original D&D “borrowed” from every book, comic, movie and plastic toy available at the time, it’s fun to stat up pre-existing critters.