I think as long as they aren't specifically called "illithids" and "slaadi" in the text, it should be okay. I'm assuming the lesson from the first module was learned, and these are termed "mind rippers" and "grey salords" or some such.

I think for the most part WotC is interested in protecting creatures and the names of creatures that were coined by people working for TSR/WotC at the time of original publication (hence their work product was TSR intellectual property). The name "illithid", though the creature is clearly a Cthulhu rip-off, was created by EGG. The "beholder" by T. Kuntz, etc. I assume the "umber hulk" was devised by someone at TSR as well, rather than borrowed from mythology or folklore.

I doubt they'd have much luck prosecuting on the basis of someone publishing a creature nearly identical to an illithid with a different name, since the concept wasn't particularly original, but the name was. As far as the Fiend Folio creatures, for one who'd care? Secondly, the majority had already been published in White Dwarf, so the IP ownership is probably somewhat fuzzier. Third, some of the names of creatures in the FF were already stolen from other IP sources. The "githyanki" for instance (the name, nothing else) was stolen by Stross from a George R. R. Martin novel (The Dying of the Light).

I'm hardly an expert on this sort of thing, but I can certainly understand why in clear-cut cases of TSR/WotC ownership, they'd want to at least try to protect their rights.

I just picked them up from the printers - they are fantastic.  I do not know if having the mind flayer and Slaad in the mod violates anything but the mods themselves are very cool.  They have some real bulk to them at 40 pages.  Devon and Shawn's production work is wonderful.  The full color map really gives it an old school feel.

Those of you coming to the NTRPG.con are going to be amazed.

Martin

Prufrock wrote:I just picked them up from the printers - they are fantastic.  I do not know if having the mind flayer and Slaad in the mod violates anything but the mods themselves are very cool.  They have some real bulk to them at 40 pages.  Devon and Shawn's production work is wonderful.  The full color map really gives it an old school feel.

Those of you coming to the NTRPG.con are going to be amazed.

Martin

Can't wait to acquire one.

Started reading mine last night. Nice job, Martin!

Looking forward to giving John aka kingofpain some more crap next year.

You ex-military guys sure are mean.  Oops.  Sorry, I mean "ex-Army".  I promise your secrets are safe with me.  Don't ask, don't tell!  

Prufrock wrote:...Last game of the con was a game of Aliens DMed by Allan Grohe.  Started about 11 pm Sunday night and ended about 1:30 am Monday morning.  Myself, Ryan Simm, Bill Webb, Mr. Herschberger (sp?), resident Canadian Jeff Imrie and a few aothers were eaten by the Aliens.

Great Time.
Martin

Until Sunday night, I had never played Aliens before.
I was running the machine gunning Vasquez and Hudson the scared pistol packer.

Vasquez decided to follow Ripley who found the Queen in the second room she entered.
Ripley was taken out fast, but Vasquez Managed to wound the Queen four times in a row before the queen took the trouble to eiliminate Vasquez.
Soon after loosing Vasquez, I was done as Hudson too (who was on the other side of the board) as he was taken out by Acid Spray from a dying alien.

As far as I know, Vasquez was the only Marine who even wounded the queen.
But with no guns in the game, I said my goodbyes and drove home before the game was totally done (The aliens had just started an alien 3x3 wave, Hudsan saying "That's it man, game over man, game over! What the fuck are we gonna do now? What are we gonna do?").

I fell asleep twice at the table during the Aliens game (no reflections on the game or Allan's awesome handmade board setup, but the fact I had four hours of sleep a night for four nights in a row). I still haven't gotten around to reading your adventure, Martin, but I am looking forward to it!!!

Mike B.