SherbyNet - /page/wikibook/entry.mu

Micron Document

`:top

In the `F33f`_`[open gaming`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Open_gaming]`_`f movement, a `!System Reference Document`! (`!SRD`!) is a reference for a `F33f`_`[role-playing game`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Role-playing_game]`_`f's mechanics licensed under a `F33f`_`[public copyright license`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Public_copyright_license]`_`f to allow other publishers to make material compatible with that game. In 2000, `F33f`_`[Wizards of the Coast`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Wizards_of_the_Coast]`_`f pioneered this by releasing a SRD for `F33f`_`[Dungeons & Dragons 3rd edition`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Dungeons_&_Dragons_3rd_edition]`_`f under their `F33f`_`[Open Game License`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Open_Game_License]`_`f (OGL).

`*`F33f`_`[Dicebreaker`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Dicebreaker]`_`f`* described a SRD as a "handy guide on how to use, hack and implement an existing game system for your own purposes".`:cite-ref-1[`F5bf`_`[1`#cite-note-1]`_`f]

>>Contents

• `F0af`_`[History`#history]`_`f

• `F0af`_`[Wizards of the Coast`#wizards-of-the-coast]`_`f

• `F0af`_`[Other publishers`#other-publishers]`_`f

• `F0af`_`[References`#references]`_`f

-─

>>History

>>>Wizards of the Coast

The first SRD was published in 2000 by `F33f`_`[Wizards of the Coast`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Wizards_of_the_Coast]`_`f (WotC) and is based on the third edition of `*`F33f`_`[Dungeons & Dragons`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Dungeons_&_Dragons]`_`f`*; it was released under their `F33f`_`[Open Game License`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Open_Game_License]`_`f (OGL).`:cite-ref-11-2-0[`F5bf`_`[2`#cite-note-11-2]`_`f]`:cite-ref-38-3-0[`F5bf`_`[3`#cite-note-38-3]`_`f]`:cite-ref-39-4-0[`F5bf`_`[4`#cite-note-39-4]`_`f] it was revised following the release of `*D&D`* version 3.5 in 2003. That SRD allowed for third-party publishers to freely produce material compatible with `*D&D`*. It also formed the basis for independent role-playing games from other publishers, such as `*`F33f`_`[Mutants & Masterminds`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Mutants_&_Masterminds]`_`f`* and the `*`F33f`_`[Pathfinder Roleplaying Game`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Pathfinder_Roleplaying_Game]`_`f`*, among others.

The `F33f`_`[4th edition`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=D&D_4E]`_`f of `*D&D`*, released in 2008, was not licensed under the OGL, but under the more restrictive `F33f`_`[Game System License`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Game_System_License]`_`f. Subsequently, the 4e System Reference Document is quite different. Instead of the full texts of the OGL-licensed rules, the 4e SRD presents only lists of concepts and tables from the 4e rulebooks that may be used in a compatible product.`:cite-ref-gsl-text-5-0[`F5bf`_`[5`#cite-note-gsl-text-5]`_`f]`:cite-ref-6[`F5bf`_`[6`#cite-note-6]`_`f]`:cite-ref-1-7-0[`F5bf`_`[7`#cite-note-1-7]`_`f]`:cite-ref-escapist-8-0[`F5bf`_`[8`#cite-note-escapist-8]`_`f]

The `F33f`_`[5th edition`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=D&D_5e]`_`f of `*D&D`* was released in 2014. A new OGL-licensed SRD based on 5th edition was released in January 2016, and updated to version 5.1 in May 2016.`:cite-ref-9[`F5bf`_`[9`#cite-note-9]`_`f]`:cite-ref-10[`F5bf`_`[10`#cite-note-10]`_`f] In January 2023, Wizards of the Coast announced that the full `*D&D`* System Reference Document 5.1 (SRD 5.1) would be released under the `F33f`_`[CC-BY-4.0`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=CC-BY-4.0]`_`f license.`:cite-ref-35-11-0[`F5bf`_`[11`#cite-note-35-11]`_`f]`:cite-ref-34-12-0[`F5bf`_`[12`#cite-note-34-12]`_`f]`:cite-ref-332-13-0[`F5bf`_`[13`#cite-note-332-13]`_`f]

>>>Other publishers

Some other game systems, such as `*`F33f`_`[FATE`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Fate_(role-playing_game_system)]`_`f`*, the `F33f`_`[Mongoose Publishing`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Mongoose_Publishing]`_`f editions of `*`F33f`_`[RuneQuest`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=RuneQuest]`_`f`*, `*`F33f`_`[Traveller`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Mongoose_Traveller]`_`f`*, and `*`F33f`_`[Zweihänder Grim & Perilous RPG`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Zweihänder_(role-playing_game)]`_`f`* have also released their own mechanics under distinct OGL-licensed "System Reference Documents".

Chase Carter, for `*`F33f`_`[Polygon`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Polygon_(website)]`_`f`* in 2022, highlighted that the `F33f`_`[indie game design`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Indie_role-playing_game]`_`f scene "has moved toward extremely permissible SRDs and the open plains of collaboration. [...] When SRDs do pop up in indie games, they read more as political statements about art and creation under capitalism".`:cite-ref-0-14-0[`F5bf`_`[14`#cite-note-0-14]`_`f] Carter commented that "independent designers are looking toward a future divested from the weight of D&D. [...] SRDs, or whatever their next form might look like, may provide fledgling artists waystones through an open field instead of fence posts around private property".`:cite-ref-0-14-1[`F5bf`_`[14`#cite-note-0-14]`_`f]

>>References

`:cite-note-1`!1.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-1]`_`f `:citereftam2022`aTam, Kyle (March 14, 2022). "How to make a roleplaying game". `*`F33f`_`[Dicebreaker`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Dicebreaker]`_`f`*. Retrieved May 7, 2024.

`:cite-note-11-2`!2.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-11-2-0]`_`f `:citerefdancey2002`a`F33f`_`[Dancey, Ryan`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Ryan_Dancey]`_`f (2002-02-28). "The Most Dangerous Column in Gaming". `*Interview with Ryan Dancey`*. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original (Interview) on April 4, 2002. Retrieved 2008-02-26.

`:cite-note-38-3`!3.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-38-3-0]`_`f `:citerefcook`a`F33f`_`[Cook, Monte`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Monte_Cook]`_`f. "The Open Game License as I See It". Archived from the original on 2007-05-01. Retrieved 2007-03-15.

`:cite-note-39-4`!4.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-39-4-0]`_`f `:citerefleonard2000`aLeonard, Andrew (March 10, 2000). "Dungeons & Dragons to go open-source?". `*`F33f`_`[Salon`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Salon.com]`_`f`*. Archived from the original on December 22, 2022. Retrieved December 22, 2022.

`:cite-note-gsl-text-5`!5.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-gsl-text-5-0]`_`f "Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition Game System License" (PDF). `F33f`_`[Wizards of the Coast`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Wizards_of_the_Coast]`_`f. 2008-06-17. Archived from the original on 2008-09-20.

`:cite-note-6`!6.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-6]`_`f "Interview with Scott Rouse, Part 1". `*icv2.com`*. April 25, 2008. Archived from the original on January 7, 2010. Retrieved 2021-09-17.

`:cite-note-1-7`!7.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-1-7-0]`_`f "WotC to Revise 4th Ed. GSL". `*`F33f`_`[ICv2`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=ICv2]`_`f`*. August 11, 2008. Archived from the original on December 22, 2022. Retrieved December 22, 2022.

`:cite-note-escapist-8`!8.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-escapist-8-0]`_`f `:citereftito2011`aTito, Greg (28 December 2011). "The State of D&D: Present". `*The Escapist`*. Archived from the original on January 29, 2012. Retrieved 1 October 2013.

`:cite-note-9`!9.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-9]`_`f "Systems Reference Document (SRD)". `*`F33f`_`[Wizards of the Coast`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Wizards_of_the_Coast]`_`f`*. Archived from the original on 2016-05-23. Retrieved 2020-10-06.

`:cite-note-10`!10.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-10]`_`f `:citerefd-amato2023`aD'Amato, Lee (2023-01-09). "Dungeons & Dragons: What SRD & OGL Actually Mean". `*ScreenRant`*. Archived from the original on 2023-01-22. Retrieved 2024-05-07.

`:cite-note-35-11`!11.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-35-11-0]`_`f `:citerefbrink2023`aBrink, Kyle (January 27, 2023). "OGL 1.0a & Creative Commons". `*`F33f`_`[D&D Beyond`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=D&D_Beyond]`_`f`* (`F33f`_`[Press release`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Press_release]`_`f). Archived from the original on January 27, 2023. Retrieved January 27, 2023.

`:cite-note-34-12`!12.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-34-12-0]`_`f "Dungeons & Dragons Scraps Plans to Update Its Open Game License". `*Gizmodo`*. January 27, 2023. Archived from the original on January 27, 2023. Retrieved January 27, 2023.

`:cite-note-332-13`!13.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-332-13-0]`_`f `:citerefhall2023`aHall, Charlie (January 27, 2023). "D&D won't change the OGL, handing fans and third-party publishers a massive victory". `*Polygon`*. Archived from the original on January 27, 2023. Retrieved January 27, 2023.

`:cite-note-0-14`!14.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-0-14-0]`_`f `:citerefcarter2022`aCarter, Chase (2022-09-12). "The fork in the road facing third-party tabletop RPGs". `*Polygon`*. Archived from the original on 2024-01-27. Retrieved 2024-05-07.

`c`F0af`_`[↑ Back to top`#top]`_`f`a