Glossary
Shared language for open-rules literacy
Working definitions so your table argues about choices, not vocabulary.
License vocabulary changes when publishers revise terms. Treat this glossary as orientation—verify current primary text before commercial work. Not legal advice.
- SRD
- System Reference Document—the open rules subset.
- OGL
- Open Game License historically used with many SRDs.
- Product Identity
- Closed names and lore carved out of open text.
- Attribution
- Credit lines required by some licenses.
- Compatible statement
- Marketing language rules for third parties.
- Rules reference
- Citing mechanics without copying closed fiction.
- CC-BY SRD
- Creative Commons flavored open rules releases.
- Designation of Open Content
- Publisher declarations of what is reusable.
Related desks in this neighborhood
SRD sibling desks cover epics, fast reference, and extended reading—plus fifth-edition crate neighbors.
Terms evolve. If your table uses a different gloss, write it into your house doc and tell newcomers which dictionary you are using. Shared language beats winning an etymology fight mid-scene.
When a word is edition-specific, say so out loud. Borrowing vocabulary across systems is fine; silent assumptions are what cause arguments.