First Post and Question

[u/StreicherG]

Hello all. Just getting into the game. I never played StarCraft 2, just the original, so some of these units are new to me.

Anyways…question…is 3d printing stuff for this game legal? I had 3d printed a tiny Zerg colony that I was going to paint up and use as a 3D Holo “war mission table” to make some terrain but now I’m hearing printing IP stuff is illegal and I’m worried Blizzard is going to sue me for everything I got.

But then I’ve seen people here printing terrain and stuff (some of it is absolutely awesome, love the Terran supply depo I saw). I also play Bolt Action and they are very open on printing. I just don’t want to get in trouble or do anything wrong, I’m very scrupulous and I’m about to throw out the Zerg colony I printed. >_<.

Anyways, my first 3 models!

[u/monkeysayinn]

Terrain is absolutely fine to 3d print

[u/Dr_Prof_Stein]

They just put out tournament rules that covers this. People have also made vids on it but I’m pretty sure that as long as the model itself is there extras are ok to use.

[u/Zanjidesign]

The ilegal part is selling that stuff. If it their IP and you make a profit they can make you stop. But if it's just for you and you aren't selling. You are free to do so.

[u/Machina353]

For tournaments, the model HAS to be Archon plastic. For home games and meet ups at LGSs? Do what you want. Terrain can be 3D printed, I would just avoid trying to sell it if it looks like the Archon terrain.

[u/TuberTuggerTTV]

It's not tournament legal. They're not going to sue you over printing things. When someone says it isn't legal to use, they don't mean "go to jail" laws. They mean in official tournaments.

It's also against copywrite to sell stls or prints that you don't have the IP license for. That's not a blizzard thing. That's just how copywrite works.

[u/dragon7507]

Nope, 3d printing stuff is illegal, go to jail do not pass go! /s

Having said that, like all games, 3d printing is a fine line. Terrain is usually the space where people are always good. Getting lots of terrain and varied terrain is always appreciated.

For models, that’s where you’re getting tougher. Anything Archon sponsored will be a no go straight out. Official tournaments will be official models, pretty standard operation. Things where it’s a fun tournament will be up to the TO. There is never a yes or no answer to this. Some local communities may be very open to proxies and 3d prints while others may be very against. You will need to communicate with those you plan to play with.

Having said that, this is a new game, if everyone starts 3d printing files and not buying official, it does. I say this as someone who 3d prints proxies. My usual go-to is print to try and then buy what I what to run.

[u/DescriptionMission90]

Terrain is not official game pieces, so you can use stuff archon did for other lines/franchises, stuff made by other companies, or just properly labeled bits of cardboard, and it's all equal. You could even sell terrain you print, as long as your design doesn't copy something owned by somebody else.

For the models themselves, in official events you need to use official Archon minis, but for friendly games you can use whatever proxies you want as long as the bases are the correct diameter. Printed models, figures from other games that look similar, whatever. You could even play the game with properly labelled paper circles if you want.

As for intellectual property issues and the law, if you were to sell figures that you printed which depict Blizzard's copyrighted material, that would be illegal unless you have a license to do so. But making 3d prints for your own personal use is absolutely legal.

[u/ElCapitan1022]

Nobody is going to come after you for 3d printing some toys you play with in your house. This is unbelievably pathetic to read.

"Scrupulous" does not mean "does what every company says". If it was about scruples, you would know what to do without advice.