The Systems Reference Document (SRD) contains guidelines for publishing content under the Open-Gaming License (OGL). The Dungeon Masters Guild also provides self-publishing opportunities for individuals and groups.

The OGL and Dungeon Masters Guild offer different kinds of publishing opportunities. Below is an overview of the programs.

Download the V5.1 Systems Reference Document (including the OGL) here.

Last updated on 05-04-16. See below for a list of updates and the FAQ.

Activity

OGL

DMs Guild

I want to design content using the fifth edition rules for D&D

X

X

I want to publish my original campaign world using fifth edition rules

X

—

I want to publish content using the Forgotten Realms

—

X

I want to print and sell my fifth edition D&D product on my own

X

—

I want to sell my product in the D&D online marketplace

—

X

I want my content rated by the largest network of D&D players

—

X

I want my content considered for additional publication by Wizards

—

X

I want my content considered for inclusion in digital games

—

X

I want my content considered for inclusion in Wizards marketing

—

X

SRD 5.1 Update

In response to feedback from the D&D community, we've updated the 5th edition SRD. Here's a summary of the changes:

  • Various key spells used by classes, magic items, and monsters have been added to the spells section. For example, the eldritch blast cantrip is essential for many warlock abilities, and is now part of the SRD.
  • References to any archetypes (and similar choice-based class features like cleric domains) that aren’t in the SRD (like wild magic for sorcerers) have been removed from the text to avoid confusion.
  • References to “chapters” are gone, as the SRD isn't organized by chapters.
  • Bookmarks have been added for the most important and frequently-referenced topics.
  • A few text corrections have been made (such as a few references to "DM" instead of "GM," some typographical errors from importing the text from its original source, and incorporating errata from the Player's Handbook, Dungeon Master's Guide, and Monster Manual).
  • All appendices have been moved to the end of the document. For example, the Conditions appendix from the Player's Handbook used to appear in the middle of the SRD, but now it's at the end. To avoid confusion between appendices taken from the Player's Handbook and the Monster Manual, the appendices now have a PH- or MM- prefix as appropriate.
  • Rules for magic item attunement, activating items, and wearing and wielding items are now in the SRD.

SRD 5.1 FAQ

Why does the SRD only have one background and one feat? Why do the PC races not include all of the subraces? The goal of the SRD is to allow users to create new content, not to replicate the text of the whole game. We encourage players, DMs, and publishers to come up with their own backgrounds and feats.

Why is the SRD missing some spells, magic items, and monsters? In general, the criteria for what went into the SRD is if it (1) was in the 3E SRD, (2) has an equivalent in 5th edition D&D, and (3) is vital to how a class, magic item, or monster works. For example, the 3E SRD has the delay poison spell, but in 5th edition that's handled by the protection from poison spell, so protection from poison is in the SRD.

Why do the bookmarks not have spaces in them?

The SRD is built in Microsoft Word and converted to a PDF. The bookmarks are created in Word and translated into the PDF (which means we don't have to manually add all the bookmarks into the PDF every time). Word's bookmark function doesn't allow spaces, so the bookmarks in the PDF don't have spaces.

Will more content be added to the SRD? The full 5th edition game and its expansions are available for use via the DMs Guild. New material will be added to the SRD if it is necessary to keep this document and its contents updated to the latest D&D rules.