Nightwatch
Open Content License 

Nightwatch Open Content License 

(NOCL) 1.0

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1. Purpose

The Nightwatch Open Content License (NOCL) 1.0 allows creators to develop and publish compatible material for the Nightwatch TTRPG while protecting the intellectual property and brand identity of Radio Retrofuture.

By using Open Content, you agree to the terms of this license.

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2. Definitions

2.1 Nightwatch System Reference Document (NSRD)
The official document released by Radio Retrofuture that explicitly designates which content is Open Content.

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2.2 Open Content

Game mechanics, systems, rules, and other material explicitly identified as Open Content in the NSRD.
No content is Open Content unless clearly designated as such.

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2.3 Product Identity (Restricted Content)
All intellectual property not designated as Open Content, including but not limited to:

• The Association of Ishtar

• Named characters, organizations, and factions

• Storylines, lore, and narrative elements

• Locations and historical events specific to Nightwatch

• Artwork, visual assets, and STL files

• Logos, trademarks, trade dress, and branding

• The name “Radio Retrofuture”

2.4 Licensed Work
Any work created using Open Content under this license.

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3. Grant of License

You are granted a perpetual, worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to:

• Use, modify, and distribute Open Content

• Create original works compatible with Nightwatch

• Publish such works commercially or non-commercially

This license terminates automatically if you fail to comply with its terms.

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4. What You May Do

You may:

• Create adventures, campaigns, supplements, and tools

• Design new mechanics and expansions

• Publish digital or printed works

• Sell your Licensed Works commercially

• Reference the Nightwatch system for compatibility

5. What You May Not Do

You may NOT:

• Use Product Identity without explicit written permission

• Reproduce or redistribute core rulebooks or NSRD content, except for limited excerpts necessary for compatibility, and not exceeding fair use or equivalent legal standards.

• Copy large portions of text verbatim from official publications

• Use official logos, branding, or trade dress

• Present your work as official Nightwatch content

• Imply endorsement by Radio Retrofuture

• Create confusingly similar branding or titles​

5.1 Use of Product Identity by Permission

Certain elements of Nightwatch Product Identity, including but not limited to factions, organizations, and locations, may be used only with explicit written permission from Radio Retrofuture.

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Such permission:

• Must be granted prior to publication

• May include limitations on scope, depiction, or usage

• Revocation applies prospectively and does not affect previously published works, provided they complied with the terms at the time of publication.

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Unless permission is granted, creators must not reference, depict, or expand upon Product Identity elements in their Licensed Works.

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5.2 Reference vs Use

You may reference Nightwatch as a system for compatibility purposes.

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You may not reference, describe, or imply Product Identity elements in a way that:

• Recreates or substitutes official setting material

• Derives from or closely resembles protected lore

• Suggests canonical inclusion in the Nightwatch setting

Content shall be considered derivative of Nightwatch Product Identity if it reproduces or closely imitates identifiable elements of the setting, as reasonably determined by Radio Retrofuture, including but not limited to:

• A clandestine and decentralized organization structurally or thematically similar to the Association of Ishtar and its aesthetics. Example, beak-masks, and symbolism.

• The use of horned-owl symbolism, numeric identifiers, ritual markers, or internal hierarchies characteristic of said organization.

• Narrative framing that presents such elements as part of an established, coordinated global effort tied to anomalous phenomena.

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Any such use constitutes use of Product Identity and requires permission.

Creators are encouraged to seek written permission from Radio Retrofuture when making substantial use of Nightwatch Product Identity, including recurring factions, extended narrative use, or prominent placement within a Licensed Work.

Projects that receive such permission may be eligible for additional support, visibility, or designation as approved content.

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5.3 Non-Specific Setting Elements

Creators may include, without additional permission, original organizations inspired by similar themes, provided they are not identifiable as Nightwatch Product Identity.

• The existence of anomalous portals or “rifts” .

• Acknowledge the existence of canonical factions, characters, creatures, and anomalies.

• The concept of organizations tasked with containment or investigation.

• A late 19th-century alternate history setting

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These elements must be presented in an original manner and must not reproduce or derive from specific Nightwatch lore.

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5.3.1 Permitted Setting Framework

Creators may develop original content within a framework inspired by the general themes of Nightwatch, including:

• A fragmented or decentralized international response to anomalous phenomena

• The existence of overlapping jurisdictions, secrecy, and limited coordination between agencies

• The presence of unexplained events that resist full understanding or control

• A world in which technology, science, and the unknown intersect in unstable ways

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Such frameworks must remain non-specific and must not replicate identifiable Nightwatch Product Identity.

5.3.2 Book Publishing

Creators may design and distribute original/non-official books and supplements compatible with the Nightwatch system, subject to the following conditions:

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• Such publications must be original in content and presentation

• They must not reproduce or duplicate official books.

• They must not include complete rules or instructions sufficient to replace the Nightwatch official rule books, such as the Nightwatch core rulebook and player guide.

All such content must require reference to the official Nightwatch core rulebook to be fully understood and used as intended.

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Creators may not present their Fortune Cards as a standalone system or as a substitute for the official rules.​

5.3.3 Fortune Card Creation

Creators may design and distribute original/non-official Fortune Cards compatible with the Nightwatch system, subject to the following conditions:

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• Such cards must be original in content and presentation

• They must not reproduce or duplicate official Fortune Cards

• They must not include complete rules or instructions sufficient to replace the Fortune Card system as presented in the Nightwatch core rulebook

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All such content must require reference to the official Nightwatch core rulebook to be fully understood and used as intended.

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Creators may not present their Fortune Cards as a standalone system or as a substitute for the official rules.

5.4 Requesting Permission

Requests to use Product Identity may be submitted to Radio Retrofuture via official contact channels.

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Radio Retrofuture:

• Is under no obligation to grant permission

• May approve, deny, or request modifications

• May impose additional terms or agreements

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Permission granted under this clause does not transfer ownership of Product Identity.

Creators who wish to integrate their original factions or narratives more closely with established Nightwatch elements are encouraged to seek permission for deeper integration or recognition within the broader setting.

Radio Retrofuture may, at its discretion, recognize certain Licensed Works as “Approved Nightwatch Content”.

Such recognition is granted separately and may include additional permissions regarding the use of Product Identity.

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5.4.1 Collaboration and Creator Opportunities

Radio Retrofuture welcomes collaboration with creators who wish to contribute more directly to the Nightwatch setting.

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Creators who demonstrate a strong understanding of the tone, themes, and structure of Nightwatch may be invited or approved to:

• Develop expanded works featuring Nightwatch Product Identity

• Contribute to official or semi-official content

• Receive additional permissions beyond those granted under this license

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Creators are encouraged to reach out with proposals, concepts, or completed works for consideration.

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5.5 Exceptions: Community Use of Product Identity

Notwithstanding the restrictions above, members of the official Radio Retrofuture Discord community are permitted to use Nightwatch Product Identity, including the Association of Ishtar and other factions, within the confines of that online community, subject to the following conditions:

• Such use must be non-commercial

• Content must be shared exclusively within the Discord community and not distributed elsewhere

• No claim of official status or canon may be made

• Content must comply with the community guidelines and this license

Creators who develop content within the Discord community may request permission to expand or publish such content under a separate agreement.

Content developed under this clause may not be adapted or republished outside the Discord community in substantially similar form without permission.

Any use of Product Identity outside of the Discord community, including publication, distribution, or commercial use, remains subject to the restrictions of this license and may require explicit written permission.

Radio Retrofuture reserves the right to remove or restrict such use at its discretion.

Content created under this clause may not be republished, distributed, or adapted for use outside the Discord community without permission. Such use is further governed by Appendix C, which forms part of this license.​

6. Compatibility Statement

You must include the following statement:

This product is compatible with the Nightwatch TTRPG by Radio Retrofuture, but is not affiliated with or endorsed by Radio Retrofuture.

Compatibility statements may not be used in a manner that suggests the Licensed Work replaces or functions as a core rulebook.

This statement may not be altered in a misleading way.​

7. Attribution

You must include:

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“This work uses content from the Nightwatch System Reference Document © Radio Retrofuture, used under the Nightwatch Open Content License (NOCL).”

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8. Open Content Declaration

You must clearly designate which portions of your work are Open Content.

Example:

All game mechanics in this document are Open Content except for proper names, story elements, and artwork.

You may not reproduce the structure, organization, or comprehensive system of the NSRD in a manner that substitutes for the original work in a manner that substitutes for or competes with the original NSRD as a core rulebook

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You are not required to designate your original content as Open Content.

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9. Ownership

• You retain full ownership of your original content

• Radio Retrofuture retains ownership of all Nightwatch Product Identity

• This license does not transfer ownership of any intellectual property

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10. Trademark and Branding

This license does not grant any rights to:

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• Use trademarks, logos, or branding

• Use the Nightwatch name in a way that implies official status

• Replicate the visual identity of official products​

11. Digital Distribution and Platforms

You may distribute Licensed Works through:

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• Digital and physical storefronts (e.g., itch.io, DriveThruRPG, Amazon)

• Print-on-demand services

• Virtual tabletop platforms

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All such distributions must comply with this license.​

12. Artificial Intelligence

and Data Use

Open Content may not be used to:

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• Train machine learning or AI models, including but not limited to training, fine-tuning, dataset generation, or embedding in automated (content) generation systems without explicit written permission from Radio Retrofuture.

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13. Physical Goods and Manufacturing

This license does not grant rights to:

• Manufacture or sell physical goods derived from Product Identity

• Use or distribute official STL files or 3D assets

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This includes, but is not limited to:

• Modifying or creating derivative works from official STL files

• This includes reproductions derived from physical prints, scans, or digital reconstruction methods.

• Reverse engineering or extracting geometry

• Using official STL files as a basis for new models

• Selling or distributing 3D prints derived from official assets

• Offering print-on-demand services using official assets, unless separately licensed.

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14. Content Standards

You may not use this license to create content that is:

• Unlawful

• Defamatory or fraudulent

• Designed to harm the Nightwatch brand as reasonably determined by Radio Retrofuture.

Violation of this clause constitutes a breach of this license and may result in termination under Section 16.

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15. Indemnification and 3rd Party Intellectual Property.

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Radio Retrofuture from any claims, damages, or liabilities arising from your Licensed Work.

You may not include third-party intellectual property in your Licensed Work without the necessary rights or permissions.

16. Termination

This license is irrevocable provided you comply with its terms. This license terminates automatically if you fail to comply with its terms

Upon termination:

• You must cease distribution of the Licensed Work

• Existing customers may retain previously purchased copies

17. Disclaimer of Warranty

Open Content is provided “as is” without warranty of any kind.

Radio Retrofuture is not liable for any damages arising from use of this license.

18. Versioning

Radio Retrofuture may release updated versions of this license.

You may use any authorized version, provided you clearly state which version applies.

19. Governing Law

This license is governed by the laws of the Netherlands and applicable EU regulations.

20. Severability

If any provision of this license is held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

21. Entire Agreement

This license constitutes the entire agreement between the parties regarding the use of Open Content and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous agreements, understandings, or representations.

22. No Partnership or Agency

Nothing in this license shall be deemed to create any partnership, joint venture, or agency relationship between the parties. You may not represent yourself as acting on behalf of Radio Retrofuture.

23. Assignment

You may not assign, transfer, or sublicense this license, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from Radio Retrofuture.

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Appendix A:

Example Open Content Declaration

Open Content: All rules and mechanics in this document
Product Identity: All names, story elements, artwork, and setting lore.

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Appendix B:

Design Philosophy (Non-Binding)

Creators are encouraged to align with the tone of Nightwatch:

• Industrial-era alternate history (c. 1869 baseline)

• Bureaucratic horror and containment fiction

• Plausible retrofuturism over fantasy

• Minimal exposition and action-driven storytelling

Appendix C:

Nightwatch Discord Creative Guidelines

Radio Retrofuture Community Standards

1. Purpose of This Community

Welcome to the official Nightwatch Discord.

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This server is a creative sandbox where members can:

• Share stories, ideas, and concepts

• Experiment with the Nightwatch setting

• Collaborate with other creators

• Develop content that may later evolve into published works

Within this space, members are granted expanded creative freedom compared to the public license—with limits.

2. Use of Nightwatch Setting (Community Exception)

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Within this Discord server, you may:

• Use the Association of Ishtar and other factions

• Reference existing lore, themes, and structures

• Create stories, characters, and scenarios within the setting

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However:

• All content is considered non-canonical

• You may not claim your work is official

• Your work does not override or define Nightwatch canon

3. Non-Commercial Use Only

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All content shared within this Discord must be:

• Free

• Non-commercial

• Not monetized in any way

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You may NOT:

• Sell content created here

• Use it in paid products

• Upload it to storefronts (DriveThruRPG, itch.io, etc.)

• Use it in crowdfunding campaigns

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 If you want to publish something, see Section 6.

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4. No External Distribution

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Content created under this community exception must remain inside the Discord.

You may NOT:

• Repost full content on external platforms

• Publish it as a blog, PDF, or product

• Share it outside the server as a finished work

You MAY:

• Share snippets or teasers, provided they do not reveal full content or imply publication rights

5. Respect the Setting

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You are encouraged to explore Nightwatch, but do not break it.

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 Not allowed:

• Redefining the core nature of the Association of Ishtar

• Creating “official” origins, truths, or explanations

• Contradicting established tone and themes

• Turning Nightwatch into a fundamentally different genre

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✔ Encouraged:

• Local stories

• Field reports

• Unreliable accounts

• Conflicting perspectives

• Mystery over certainty

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 Think: you’re observing the world, not rewriting it

6. From Discord to Publication

If you want to turn your idea into a product:

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You MUST:

• Request permission from Radio Retrofuture

• Comply with the Nightwatch Open Content License

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You MAY:

• Use your original ideas

• Rework your concepts into publishable form

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You MAY NOT:

• Directly publish Discord content as-is

• Use Product Identity without permission

7. Path to “Approved Content” (Optional Program)

Some creators may be invited or approved to create expanded works.

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Benefits may include:

• Permission to use factions more extensively

• Increased visibility

• Possible collaboration opportunities

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 Participation is not automatic and is granted at discretion.

8. Ownership of Your Work

• You retain ownership of your original creations

• Radio Retrofuture retains ownership of all Nightwatch Product Identity

• Sharing content here does not transfer ownership

9. Community Conduct

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All members must:

• Be respectful to others

• Provide constructive feedback

• Avoid harassment or gatekeeping

• Follow Discord platform rules​

10. Moderation and Enforcement

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Moderators may:

• Remove content that violates these guidelines

• Restrict use of setting elements

• Revoke community privileges

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Repeated violations may result in removal from the server.

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11. Design Philosophy (Creative Direction)

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Nightwatch thrives on:

• Industrial-era alternate history

• Bureaucratic horror

• The unknown resisting explanation

• Institutions struggling to maintain control

•  Tone matters more than accuracy​

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12. Final Note

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This Discord is a workshop, not a publishing platform.

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It exists to:

• Experiment

• Collaborate

• Build ideas

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If you want to take the next step, talk to us.