Blood Hunter (2020) Revised Module Version

[Kentarion]

Hello everyone!

So this is my first offical post in Fantasy Grounds! I love D&D and always wanted to play it! Fortunately due to the Steam Summersale I could afford it and bought it on the whim.

While I was at the peak of my excitement I wanted to test the waters and add a Class which is beloved in the Community, the Blood Hunter. Two years ago another FG player, spite, created the Blood Hunter module and I instantly took that version and wanted to use it for one of my campaigns. Unfortunately it was the old version of the Blood Hunter and since then it was recently revised and rewritten by Matthew Mercer. Spite wrote in his thread, that he won't continue updating his module which I can understand.


So I sat down with my measly knowledge of FG and started building the Revised Blood Hunter module.
I have taken spites module and edited and rewrote most of it. It took me a whole evening and the night, since it was the first endavour I have done in FGC. I made a fully revised 2020 version, which you could almost use without any other modules. Almost, since I implemented the items, tools, weapons, armor and warlock spell list into it (only the phb lists).

Now I have a small problem. I really wanted to add images. Sure they are the icing on the cake but still, it would be really nice since I made alot of an effort to bring that module on par with the other classes.

My problem is... if I use the images of Matthew Mercer's PDF would that infringe on copyright? I would like to ask for his blessing and upload it here on the forum but since I don't know whether I can or not...I wanted to ask you guys!

Would the images be a problem? Is there someone who can share some blood hunter art which I could use? I would be really happy if you guys can help me out so that I can upload the module here on the forum! :D

[LordEntrails]

You can do anything for your own personal use.

You can not distribute the class or the images without Matt's permission. The class, as well as the artwork, is copyrighted.

edit: Oh, and welcome, and thanks for wanting to contribute!

[Kentarion]

So you are saying that I should contact Matthew Mercer somehow to ask for his permission right? My optimism cannot be beaten! At least I will try that out!

[LordEntrails]

Yes :)

Matt did give his permission for his very early versions. So it's not that he is unfamiliar with FG etc. Good luck :)

[Miridarna]

I very much look forward to updates on this. Good luck, friend!

[SmackDaddy]

Has there been any progress in getting Matt's permission? An updated Blood Hunter is definitely preferable (especially since it's been revised and improved)!

[LordEntrails]

Has there been any progress in getting Matt's permission? An updated Blood Hunter is definitely preferable (especially since it's been revised and improved)!
Nothing anyone has posted. You can always try to get his permission yourself. Or you can just create the class for your own personal use. It's not too hard and I'm sure you can learn how. There are guides on YouTube and in the wiki to get you started.

[SmackDaddy]

So you are saying that I should contact Matthew Mercer somehow to ask for his permission right? My optimism cannot be beaten! At least I will try that out!

Had you heard anything back? I just sent a message to them via the CR site in case no one had yet....

[bmos]

I tried to contact him via Critial Role right after it released and never heard back about it, either.
He's a very busy guy, obviously. I think Twitter might be the most likely way to get in touch, but I don't have that.

[DrakosDJ]

I believe that permission for this would have to come through WotC not Matt. The reason is because it was posted on the DM's Guild ownership it with them now. Matt still has the copywriter and it is his IP but they own publishing.

[LordEntrails]

I believe that permission for this would have to come through WotC not Matt. The reason is because it was posted on the DM's Guild ownership it with them now. Matt still has the copywriter and it is his IP but they own publishing.
In part you are correct. Once published on the Guild, it can only be distributed there. But, with only Matt's permission a FG conversion of it could be created and published on the DMsGuild. (Unless he has another agreement with WotC or OBS.)

[Kentarion]

I am trying to contact Matt over Twitter and his contacts from his own website. Unfortunately I have not received anything yet. I am still waiting for his or his assistance's response. I created an imageless version of the mod but since I don't know whether I have permission or not I do not want to risk it and post it here directly.

[Swooded]

Out of curiosity - can the module just be posted without all the Images etc that everyone is checking for permission on? Not sure if that would also somehow be a problem or not. I just came accross this thread because I'm running a game with a player who wants to use the 2020 version and we just realized the module we had is out dated.

[LordEntrails]

Out of curiosity - can the module just be posted without all the Images etc that everyone is checking for permission on? Not sure if that would also somehow be a problem or not. I just came accross this thread because I'm running a game with a player who wants to use the 2020 version and we just realized the module we had is out dated.
No it can not be posted, because all the text is copyrighted.

Because of the DMsGuild's Community Content Agreement, Matt could only authorize any version of it to be released on the DMsGuild as well.

[Kentarion]

Hey folks,

I tried to contact Matt Mercer through Twitter and his Agency but with no luck at all. I doubt I will ever get a response. I am a little bummed out.
Maybe you guys have an idea for contacting him or the DMsGuild?

[SmackDaddy]

Hey folks,

I tried to contact Matt Mercer through Twitter and his Agency but with no luck at all. I doubt I will ever get a response. I am a little bummed out.
Maybe you guys have an idea for contacting him or the DMsGuild?

I've attempted to reach out to him and any one of his design team who could speak for him twice now - to no avail. This is just something Matt has zero interest in dealing with as he has enough on his plate (at least that's how it would appear).