[RPG] ny objective reason to favour d20PFSRD over the Paizo PRD

Throw anything in Pathfinder reads:

Benefit: You do not suffer any penalties for using an improvised ranged weapon. You receive a +1 circumstance bonus on attack rolls made with thrown splash weapons.

Normal: You take a –4 penalty on attack rolls made with an improvised weapon.

So, a character with this feat can throw improvised weapons (things that are not intended as weapons) e.g. a purse, a rock, a stuffed moose head, a water melon and so on, without taking -4 on attack rolls.

This feat does not bestow upon a character the proficiency to throw actual weapons (ranged or melee), e.g. a shuriken, a javelin, a longsword, a mace and so on. Thus, a character with the Throw Anything feat will still get the regular -4 non-proficiency penalty when throwing a shuriken. Unless that character has the Exotic Weapon (Shuriken) feat, or is a monk.

As a side note, the only type of character who usually jumps at this feat is the alchemist, because of the +1 bonus to thrown splash. But a barkeeper with this feat and a +2 Seeking Corrosive Moose Head of Returning (corrosive because of the bad breath, you see) would sure be material for a memorable character!

The are rules for throwing melee weapons read as follows:

It is possible to throw a weapon that isn't designed to be thrown (that is, a melee weapon that doesn't have a numeric entry in the Range column on Table: Weapons), and a character who does so takes a –4 penalty on the attack roll. Throwing a light or one-handed weapon is a standard action, while throwing a two-handed weapon is a full-round action. Regardless of the type of weapon, such an attack scores a threat only on a natural 20 and deals double damage on a critical hit. Such a weapon has a range increment of 10 feet.

This is pretty severe, and with the RAW going against, I'd be extremely reluctant to let a medium creature with the Throw Anything feat toss scimitars with the scimitar damage and crit threat and without the -4 non-proficient penalty.

Based on the above, I'd reason as follows: Since Hill Giants, who are both Large and accomplished rock throwers do 1d8 with their rocks, an improvised medium thrown item should do 1d4 points of damage. If the character had the Throw Anything feat, I'd let the -4 penalty go, but still say that throwing a scimitar was a standard action and the crit range was 20x2 (instead of 1d6 and 18-20x2).

(usual disclaimer that I'm not a professional lawyer and that you should consult one)

You're quite right to question the PRD as being 100% open content, as there are indeed some PI terms used within it. The PRD's Open Content declaration only specifies that rules included within are open (in similar wording to many printed products that state the same thing), at no point does it actually state the entire text of PRD is Open Content. In addition, PI falls under the implicit terms of the OGL as being protected in section 1(e) of the License. In that way, the PRD cannot be considered as 100% Open Content in the same way as the d20 SRD can.

Your best bet is to pick out those terms, and email Paizo directly to query whether it is okay to use them under the OGL.

One notable example is the Prestige Class "Pathfinder Chronicler", which is a specific term used within Paizo's Golarion setting background and not a generic name such as "Loremaster", "Wizard", or "Fighter", as well as containing the term "Pathfinder" which is protected as PI as the product name itself. In this example, you can create a prestige class in an OGL product using the rules of the Pathfinder Chronicler (or simply reproduce the class itself), but would have to call it something different. To borrow a little from Mxyzplk's answer, you could probably call it "PF Chronicler" ;)

Note that the advice I'm giving is based upon the interpretation of Paizo's OGC declaration, not the intent. It may well be that they intend all terms within the PRD to be Open, but they have not specifically said that in their declaration. Obtaining permission/clarification from Paizo is a simple matter of sending an email, so there's really no reason not to ask them to be 100% sure on the matter. Assuming it is okay because other products have used those terms (and they have) is not good practice - it only means you'll also be in violation if the OGL if they are.

Paizo contact emails can be found at http://paizo.com/paizo/about/contact - my guess is the Licensing Coordinator would be a good place to start asking.