Dungeon Masters Guild Community and Content Guidelines.
More than a platform, Dungeon Masters Guild is a license of Wizards of the Coast’s Dungeons & Dragons. Because titles published under the DMsGuild license are strongly associated with Wizards of the Coast, they must follow content guidelines intended to protect the Dungeons & Dragons brand. Please read below for specific guidance for all Community titles added to our catalog. If you have questions or concerns about these guidelines, please e-mail dmsguild-help@roll20.net
This license does not allow:
- Racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic, discriminatory, or other bigoted views or hate speech.
- No mentions or implications of rape or other forms of sexual assault as defined by RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network). Content warning: This link details definitions of assault, rape, force, etc.
- Mentions of overt real-world political organizations or individuals. For example: A parody of a politician is ok, but the exact likeness and name of that politician is not.
- Gratuitously explicit depictions or descriptions of harm being done to children, especially such descriptions that cannot be distinguished from real life. For example: A scene that details how a human bandit tortures a child after kidnapping them is not ok. A reference to monstrous hags luring children into a forest is ok with no “on-screen” depictions of harm. A scenario involving a human bandit restraining but not harming a young prince to abduct him for ransom is acceptable.
- Explicit descriptions of sexual acts. Any reference to sex or suggestive behavior by or targeting creatures under the age of consent in their respective fantasy cultures.
- Sexually-derived or excessive profanity.
- Illegal and Infringing content. It is the content creator’s responsibility to ensure that their content does not violate laws, or copyright, trademark, privacy, or other rights.
- Create, don’t copy. We reserve the right to stop publishing and selling your work if we think it goes against the spirit of the Dungeon Masters Guild program. All authors should respectfully use the content originally created by Wizards of the Coast or other Dungeon Masters Guild creators. For example, if a Dungeon Masters Guild author releases a trilogy of adventures, and another author takes those three adventures, compiles them, and republishes them as a single collection, without substantive original additions or changes, then we would stop publishing and selling that collected work because it adds no value to the Dungeon Masters Guild community content. It’s simply one author copying another author’s work and looking to make a royalty on it.
This license does not allow artwork that depicts:
- Real or simulated sexual acts (including manual, oral, anal, vaginal, etc.).
- Full nudity or exposed genitals. Artwork included on the cover or in the files of a product should have any human figure (or semi-human or humanoid figure, in the case of fantasy or science fiction products) be covered at least to the extent of the Miss Universe or Mr. Universe candidates in the linked photos. It's recommended to keep artwork to a "PG" standard on DMsGuild, products with suggestive or otherwise inappropriate imagery of any kind will be deactivated. Use recently published official Dungeons & Dragons products as a guide to what is acceptable on DMsGuild.
- Extreme gore, mutilation of body parts, and intense violence. Some fantasy and unrealistic violence allowed. For example: Bloodless dismemberment is acceptable.
D&D historically has touched on dark or mature themes. To help you navigate the boundaries of what is listed above, here are just a few examples of what is allowed:
This license allows:
- Alcohol use, tobacco use, and fantasy drug references. For example: A phosphorescent mushroom that produces hallucinatory effects when eaten is allowed. A reference to a real-world drug like cocaine is not allowed.
- Suggestive themes, including references or non-explicit depictions of sexual behavior in written material and any same-sex or gender-queer expressions of said behavior.
- Depictions of disease, physical illness, and mental illness that are respectful of the dignity and personhood of real-life individuals with similar illnesses.
Please keep in mind that your DMsGuild customers will have varying degrees of comfort with these themes and others. When in doubt, we highly recommend including a Content Warning in your product description to list any mature or controversial themes and always treating such themes with thoughtfulness and respect. This resource gives some instructions on how to give an effective content warning.
If a creator violates one of the guidelines above, a DMsGuild staff member will contact them to address changes, potentially deactivating the title from sale until necessary changes are made or working with the creator to move their title to another platform if applicable. Violations identified by our internal team or reported by customers are reviewed by Dungeon Masters Guild employees. Questionable violations are reviewed by the Roll20 team and discussed with the author.
It is always our goal for the guidelines above to be all encompassing of all content produced for all time. However, we must recognize the possibility a future title could shed light on a guideline we had not considered. As such, these guidelines are subject to change, and such changes are made with serious consideration and external feedback/consultation. Creators are expected to adhere to the most recent version of these guidelines found above.
Information on using logos and artwork in DMsGuild products.
The artwork (such as illustrations, maps, symbols, etc.) that is included in a DMsGuild title CANNOT be used by other DMsGuild creators without permission.
The types of artwork you can use in your DMsGuild titles:
- Art and Maps Provided by Wizards of the Coast. The "Resources for DMG Creators" category contains several art packs that are owned by Wizards and that can be freely used in your DMs Guild titles. The artwork can be cropped to fit your PDF but may not be altered or changed in other ways. NO OTHER ARTWORK from Wizards of the Coast titles can be used. Some of the many available art packs include:
- Public Domain Art. Art that you are certain is in the public domain can be used.
- Stock Art. Usage of stock art depends on the license associated with that stock art. Most of the stock art sold under the "Publisher Resources" category on DriveThruRPG includes a license that would allow it to be used in your DMsGuild titles.
- Commissioned Art. Usage of art that you commission from an artist depends upon your terms with the artist. You must have the rights or license to use the art in your title. The artwork does not become owned by Roll20 or by Wizards; you simply must have rights to use it in your commercial work.
- Creative Commons. This depends on the type of Creative Commons license. Some allow commercial use, others do not.
Magic: The Gathering Artwork
Though you can use the MtG settings of Ravnica, Theros, and Arcavios(Strixhaven) in your DMsGuild products, creators CAN NOT use artwork from ANY Magic: The Gathering card or product, including set symbols.
AI Content Policy
Wizards of the Coast follows DriveThruRPG Guidelines in regards to AI-Generated Writing, Editing, and Images.
Update July 24th, 2023: The following policy applies to DriveThru Marketplaces, including Community Content Programs and Supported Marketplaces. DriveThruRPG defines “AI-Generated art” as images created through the use of artificial intelligence algorithms and techniques trained on pre-existing data sets. (Examples: Midjourney, Artbreeder).
- At this time, DMsGuild does not accept standalone artwork products that utilize AI-generated art. This includes stock art, token packs, maps, portraits, miniatures, etc.
- AI-generated art is permitted for use in rulebooks and adventures, but it must be tagged as such. See Creation Method Filter below.
Titles that do not comply are subject to removal from the marketplace. Repeat offenders may have their publishing permissions revoked. A full statement of intent regarding our policy update can be found here.
AI-Generated Text
While we value innovation, starting on July 31st 2023, DMsGuild will not accept commercial content primarily written by AI language generators. We acknowledge enforcement challenges, and trust in the goodwill of our partners to offer customers unique works based primarily on human creativity.
Creation Method Filter
If your Game, Rulebook or Adventure product contains AI-generated content, you are required to indicate this using the Creation Method filter. In order to enable this filter, find the Category Assignments section under Filters when you Set Up a New Title or Edit a Title Listing. Under Format near the bottom of the filters list, find the box labeled Creation Method. Click the black triangle and it'll expand the dropdown list, where you can then select AI-Generated.
Using Dungeons & Dragons Roll20 token/map/creature art in your DMsGuild product.
Artwork from Wizards of the Coast official D&D books cannot be used in your Roll20 Connected titles, including tokens and maps.
To help with that limitation, we've created some tokens from allowed older edition art for DMsGuild creators to use in their Roll20-connected titles. You can get them by clicking HERE.
This token pack contains the DMsGuild Creator Art Packs in token form. These tokens are licensed to use in Roll20 VTT content sold via the Dungeon Masters Guild program and published under the Community Content Agreement.
The tokens are not licensed to be used for any other purpose. All art owned by Wizards of the Coast.
Additionally, Artwork from Wizards of the Coast's official D&D Compendiums cannot be used in your Roll20 Connected titles, including Token and Journal entry artwork attached to the Compendium entries you add to your games.
Selling Map Packs on DMsGuild.
Creators are allowed to sell maps that they have created as stand alone products.
Many DMsGuild creators make supplemental map packs for official Dungeons & Dragons books, or create their own unique locations or battle maps.
Here are a few examples of map pack products:
https://www.dmsguild.com/browse.php?author=Heroic%20Maps
https://www.dmsguild.com/browse.php?author=Tessa%20Morecroft
Sell stock art/maps on DMsGuild for commercial use.
Fantasy stock art/maps that can be used by other DMsGuild community creators is allowed to be sold on DMsGuild.
Stock art/maps that are inspired by but does not directly copy Dungeons & Dragons IP can be sold on DMsGuild.
You cannot copy and paste/trace a symbol, map, or image from an existing piece of D&D art into your product.
You may draw your own version of something to use in your product that is distinguishable from the original. This does not apply to trademarked symbols, Admins reserve the right to ask for any artwork to be removed for trademark/copyright violations.
Artwork of Creatures or Characters from Dungeons & Dragons can be sold on DMsGuild for commercial or private use. Be aware that any Wizards of the Coast D&D IP cannot be used outside of DMsGuild without the express permission of WotC. Be aware of the Fan Content Policy if using artwork found on DMsGuild outside of the platform.
Personal Branding, Logos and Trademark Guidelines.
The following guidelines on logo and personal branding must be followed on DMsGuild
- The DMsGuild Square Emblem must appear on your title’s cover image. This logo should be easily visible at a glance. The logo CANNOT be altered in any way except for size. It is the only logo allowed on non-Adventurer's League, non-Fantasy Grounds, non-Roll20 titles. You can find the DMsGuild logo here:
- Logos for your websites/socials. Here you will find some images that you can use to establish links to us on your own web sites. These cannot be used on your cover images on DMsGuild.
- Covers. No personal branding images (logos, trademarks, etc.) can be displayed on your product’s cover. However, you can include these images in the product’s interior.
- Personal Branding. Any personal brand, logo, or trademark used within your title must be original to the creator. These branding images cannot violate existing copyright or trademark laws, nor can they be derivations of Wizards of the Coast branding, such as the D&D logo and the Dungeons & Dragons logo. No personal branding or logos may appear on PDF covers or cover image thumbnails on DMsGuild. You may put these logos inside the PDF, in your purchase note or in your product description.
- Best-Seller Metals. If your title earns a best-seller metal, you may display it on your cover. You can read more about earning metals in our Help Center here. You can find the metal badge artwork here.
- Charity Logos. If your title donates proceeds to a charity organization, you can include the charity's logo on your cover IF the charity gives you permission to use their artwork.
- Fantasy Grounds. Titles using the Fantasy Grounds VTT Connection should display the Fantasy Grounds logo on its cover. Content for Fantasy Grounds must also have the DMs Guild logo on its cover.
- Roll20 VTT. Titles using the Roll20 VTT Connection should display the Roll20 Virtual Tabletop badge. Below you will find links to a Light and Dark PNG of the badge.
- Guild Adepts. The use of this logo is discontinued at this time.
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Adventurers League Dungeoncraft. Titles created using the Adventurers League Dungeoncraft guidelines and using the Dungeoncraft filter on DMsGuild can use the AL Dragon Logo on their covers. This logo is used with permission from Wizards of the Coast and the size may be changed but cannot otherwise be altered in any way. The AL Community Logo can be found here:
What are the rules for using DMsGuild logos to advertise my titles? Advertising your DMsGuild Product Online
If you are creating graphics or videos to advertise your DMsGuild titles, you can use your cover image with the required DMsGuild square logo. You also can use this "Available at DMsGuild" logo: https://www.dmsguild.com/images/site_resources/DMsGuild-AvailableAt.png.
As well some more logos found here:
https://help.onebookshelf.com/hc/en-us/articles/12780801527831-Website-Logo-Assets
DMsGuild has provided a Promotional Graphics pack here:
https://www.dmsguild.com/product/468652/DMsGuild-Promotional-Graphics
If using the above images please include the following for DriveThru sites:
[Site name ie DMsGuild or DriveThruRPG] is a registered trademark of Roll20, LLC.
You may not use the DMsGuild site logo or square logo as standalone elements.
DMsGuild creators may pay a third party for advertising their product as long as all trademark and design guidelines above are followed.