Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-24302820-20140822221301/@comment-4701109-20140908001751

I have attempted to type a response to this topic a few times. Each time I get part way through my response and then decide to begin again because I am struggling to put my feelings on the topic into words.

I feel very strongly about retaining the "rights" to my old PCs, that is not to say that I do not want them in other people's games but I want them respected and if possible I would like to know and take part in their roles in the game. The biggest example, for me, is Lucien, a character that I played in tabletop for many, many years. Lucien has since become a forum character, mostly retired from tabletop play. He is often the character I use to introduce world building concepts to Midian, and in a way I have him set-up to be used as an NPC in others' games because the aspects of the world that I introduced require it. Lucien has a key role in Infernus (the under-city of Citadel), in Lil'Caerwyn in Citadel proper, and the Brotherhood of the Pact. It would be difficult for me to not allow him to be an NPC if a GM wanted to use those parts of the Game World that I helped build.

So in my opinion PCs can become NPCs but we should respect the player and their intentions for the PC and the game. Some basic rules should apply for non-abandoned PCs.

1. If possible contact the player and ask permission to use the PC as an NPC. Speak with them about what they envisioned for the character.

2. Repsect the known wishes of the Player in regards to the N/PC.

3. Avoid actions with the N/PC that would damage the character for furture play, unless given specific permission from the player.

For me, Abandoned PCs are a little more "free game" but we need to define abandonded first. Abandoned PCs are those that have players with no intention to return to game nor care what actions are taken with said character.