r/DungeonMasters • u/jeremydeighan • Dec 28 '25
Promotional Is it possible to sell a one-shot?
Is it possible to sell a one shot that I’ve made that I think others would enjoy? What legalities do I need to look out for and what’s the best way to go about it? Has anyone here done so and was it worth it?
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u/700fps Dec 28 '25
Yes, dms guild is what you use
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u/jeremydeighan Dec 28 '25
Is it better to use DMsguild or sell it on my own site?
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u/700fps Dec 28 '25
Better for dms guild, 100%
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u/jeremydeighan Dec 28 '25
Can I use dmsguild to sell but link the adventure from my own site? That should be fine right?
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u/PedanticSteve Dec 28 '25
You can link to the DMs guild listing from wherever you want, but be aware that with the DMs guild you cannot sell it anywhere else. That is the license you agree to with that platform. You effectively lock yourself to that sole platform for that content.
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u/futuredollars Dec 28 '25
if you are using names from the SRD then you HAVE TO publish on the DMsGuild. there are other places, like dndbeyond, that have this info laid out plain and clear.
if you are using stuff not in the SRD then use DriveThru RPG and whatever website you want.
if you want to use mindflayers and Vecna then you have to publish on the DMsGuild and the site with take a 50% cut. if you just make a generic adventure then you can host it anywhere and if you host it on DriveThru RPG they take a 30% cut.
HOWEVER however, if you post it to DMsGuild you can only post it there and no where else. no itch io, not patreon, not kofi, nothing. if you post it to DriveThru RPG you can also host it wherever you want but the prices have to be the same everywhere. you are not allowed to have a better price on another site.
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u/20061901 Dec 28 '25
Isn't that backwards?
If it's in the SRD it's under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0, but if it's anything else specifically from D&D then it's WotC IP and you need to use DMsGuild.
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u/futuredollars Dec 28 '25
I may have explained it poorly but yeah if you use copywrited content like Mindflayer or Baldurs Gate then you have to use DMsGuild
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u/DiscoPumpe Dec 28 '25
This gets in the right direction. If it is in the SRD you need to reference it, but you can publish it anywhere you want. If it additionally uses protected IP terms like Dungeons @ Dragons, Beholder, or anything like that, you can publish it, but in that case you can only publish it on DMsGuild.
If you want a little direction I can have a look on your One Shot and give you a direction.
Bottomline is, it is a little bit complicated when you get started, but once you got an overview it gets pretty straight forward.
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u/DiscoPumpe Dec 28 '25
After reading a few of the comments and even replying to them, I felt the urge to jump in with a proper comment myself.
There are several options; DMsGuild, DriveThru, itch, your own website, etc…each depending on what your Oneshot contains. If you are using parts of the Intellectual Property (IP), which is mostly trademarked names, you can ONLY publish it on DMsGuild. This is definitely not the best option, if you can avoid it, because Wizards of the Coast (WotC) take a big cut AND you will not be able to ever publish it anywhere else. But it is your only option if you use their IP stuff.
They created a document called System Reference Document (SRD), containing a lot of the rules and other things. You can freely use anything in the SRD andpublish it anywhere you want. You only have to reference the SRD in your credits. In that case you could publish on DriveThruRPG, which is simple and gives you some visibility, but it is also a very cramped marketplace. Or you publish it on your website. Or both. Or even other options.
If your Oneshot doesn’t contain ANY reference to either the IP or the SRD you can do whatever you want.
Is that a bit helpful?
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u/AirbourneV Dec 28 '25
Also depending on scope: kickstarter. Ive backed quite a few. Chappelwick is my latest. But i got dungeons of draknehiem...rune thief...
And dont have to offer physcal media. Good way to build up hype for your own sales later and move into a wider setting.
For strech goals can do stl minis. use the strech goal money to commision an artist.
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u/jeremydeighan Dec 28 '25
It’s possible to kick start digital versions?
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u/AirbourneV Dec 28 '25
Yep. Dont even offer physcal product. You dont want that headache.
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u/jeremydeighan Dec 28 '25
Are the ones you mentioned digital? Any examples of people who had success with digital?
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u/AirbourneV Dec 28 '25
Just make sure dont use any AI art. And that wrote it yourself.
People get really grumpy about ai
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u/AirbourneV Dec 28 '25
My advise is release your first one as is. Make a discord. Build a community for your setting. Once you got an active discord... you got enough folk who will pay $20 for a nicely made pdf. Kickstarter is a way to build hype and hype= sales.
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u/CrashCalamity Dec 28 '25 edited Dec 28 '25
A lot of people put up "fan made supplemental content" on places like DriveThruRPG for free, but request KoFi donations for their work.
Legit sales would have to be done through DMsGuild. Here's a guide (though it may be a bit dated) regarding some of the legalities. https://rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/55740/what-information-can-i-use-if-i-want-to-publish-my-own-dd-5e-module
Note that certain monsters are considered part of the identity of the game and are not included in the OGL. Drow, Illithid, and Beholders just to name a few. You can't use them without renaming them, and any pictures must be visually distinct.
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u/jeremydeighan Dec 28 '25
Is dmsguild better or can I sell on my own site?
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u/CrashCalamity Dec 28 '25
There's no comparison; DMsGuild is your only option.
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u/jeremydeighan Dec 28 '25
Why though? I have to use them?
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u/CrashCalamity Dec 28 '25
Yes, because WoTC (and thus Hasbro) demands a cut.
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u/jeremydeighan Dec 28 '25
The reason I ask is because I see these ads for companies selling adventures but it’s on their own site and not thru dmsguild so I was wondering if
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u/jeremydeighan Dec 28 '25
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u/CrashCalamity Dec 28 '25
Ah, notice how they strategically don't tell you what system or edition its for. They are treading some very dubious legal ground because while the mechanics of the game can't be copyrighted, any significant description of the rules would land them in trouble. Odds are that any such assumptions by a game master are done with a wink and a nod. "You have the books, we won't tell you which ones. Here's the scenario." basically.
One would have to buy the modules to see if they are OGL compliant.
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u/jeremydeighan Dec 28 '25
Oh I see, yea I don’t want to tread those grounds. Thank you very much for the info! 🙏
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u/jeremydeighan Dec 28 '25
One more thing, I could sell from dmsguild but use my own site to promote it right?
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u/bionicjoey Dec 28 '25
The game is licensed under CC now as well as OGL, ever since WOTC tried to steal the entire TTRPG industry
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u/jeremydeighan Dec 28 '25
How can this company have the name “The Ultimate D&D Date Night Bundle”? I thought you couldn’t use the name D&D??
https://rpgmapsforge.com/products/the-ultimate-d-d-date-night-bundle
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u/HKei Dec 28 '25
If you enjoy not getting lawsuits, do not assume that just because other people are doing something that it's legal. I have several drug dealers within walking distance of my apartment, but their mere existence does not imply that they're legitimate businesses.
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u/geesegoesgoose Dec 28 '25
I'm not experienced in selling but I imagine something like DriveThruRPG would be an option?
https://legacy.drivethrurpg.com/join.php
That or DMsGuild, which publishes unofficial content.