Tactical Dice Open Content License
A modern, permissive license for game content, rules, and creative works.
Overview
The Tactical Dice Open Content License exists to support modern game creation.
Game systems today are no longer isolated books. They are ecosystems. Rules, lore, characters, and worlds are reused across tabletop play, digital tools, software implementations, community content, and AI-driven systems. Existing licenses often force creators to choose between excessive restriction and complete loss of clarity.
TDOCL was created to remove that tradeoff.
Why TDOCL Exists
A License for Shared Worlds
TDOCL is designed to make game rules and narrative content easy to share, adapt, and build upon—including for commercial use.
Anyone may reuse content licensed under TDOCL. Forking, remixing, and reinterpretation are expected. No permission is required. No contribution back is demanded.
At the same time, the license preserves a clear distinction between use and authority. Content may be reused freely, but only the original licensor defines what is official or canonical for their project.
Canon is editorial, not restrictive.
Built for Modern Creation
TDOCL explicitly supports modern workflows.
It permits use with AI systems, automated tools, large-scale analysis, and content generation without ambiguity. These uses are not edge cases. They are part of how games are made today.
The license is intentionally plain language so it can be understood by humans, software, and AI alike.
Content, Not Identity
TDOCL governs content, not branding.
It does not grant trademark rights or permission to present derivative works as official. This protects players and creators from confusion while allowing ideas to move freely.
Projects retain control of their identity while sharing their worlds.
Stewardship as a Default
TDOCL reflects a stewardship mindset.
Open systems last longer when trust, attribution, and clarity matter more than enforcement. The license assumes that healthy ecosystems are built through shared ownership of ideas and clear responsibility for what is official.
TDOCL exists to make collaboration easier, not to impose control.
Why Use TDOCL?
Use TDOCL if you want your rules or world to be:
- ✓Freely reusable
- ✓Safe for commercial and AI use
- ✓Clear about canon and authority
- ✓Easy for others to build on
- ✓Part of a shared ecosystem
TDOCL is permissive by design and durable by intent.
License Text (v1.0)
Tactical Dice Open Content License (TDOCL) v1.0
Copyright © [YEAR] [LICENSOR]
Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of this material, including all associated rules, mechanics, lore, characters, histories, settings, and documentation (the “Content”), to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and sell copies of the Content, and to permit others to do so, subject to the following conditions.
1. Attribution
You must provide reasonable attribution to the Licensor or Project as the source of the Content. Attribution must not imply endorsement, sponsorship, or canonical status unless explicitly granted in writing by the Licensor or designated Maintainers.
2. Derivative Works and Canon
Derivative works, reinterpretations, forks, and adaptations of the Content are explicitly permitted, including for commercial purposes.
Only content published or explicitly designated as canonical by the Licensor or designated Maintainers is considered official or canonical. Use of the Content does not grant the right to claim canonical status, official designation, or endorsement.
Non-canonical use is permitted and does not require permission.
3. No Obligation to Share
You are not required to publish, disclose, or open source any modifications or derivative works created using the Content.
4. AI and Automated Use
Use of the Content with artificial intelligence systems, machine learning models, automated tools, or similar technologies is explicitly permitted. This includes training, fine-tuning, generation of derivative content, analysis, and transformation.
No restrictions are placed on the methods or tools used to work with the Content.
5. Trademarks
This license does not grant any rights to use trademarks, service marks, logos, or branding associated with the Licensor, Project, or related works.
Use of names, logos, or marks in a way that implies official status or endorsement is prohibited unless separately authorized.
6. No Warranty
The Content is provided "as is," without warranty of any kind, express or implied, including but not limited to warranties of fitness for a particular purpose, accuracy, or non-infringement.
7. Limitation of Liability
In no event shall the Licensor or Maintainers be liable for any claim, damages, or other liability arising from the use of the Content.
8. Irrevocability
The permissions granted under this license are irrevocable for any copy of the Content released under it.
9. Scope
This license governs only the Content. Separate licenses may apply to software, tools, services, or trademarks.
10. Acceptance
Use of the Content constitutes acceptance of this license.
Using TDOCL for Your Project
To license your content under TDOCL, include the license text with your project, replacing the placeholders:
Copyright © [YEAR] [YOUR NAME OR ORGANIZATION]
You may include the license in your project's documentation, repository, or alongside your published content.
Note: TDOCL is designed for game content, rules, lore, and creative works. For software source code, consider using a standard software license (MIT, Apache 2.0, etc.) alongside TDOCL for your game content.