John Dallman
Hero
A few weeks ago, my friend Damon, who has been playing TTRPGs since the mid-1970s, found himself with a quandary. His former girlfriend from the 1980s and 1990s. Jill, had passed on. While they were together she'd been an enthusiastic and skilful player (one of the most entertaining I've gamed with), and some of her characters had become significant NPCs in Damon's long-running D&D setting. They had parted company, but remained friends, and Jill was happy with Damon continuing to use the characters. Damon was not sure if he should continue this after her death; the Monday night group where I play with him reckoned he should. Jill was not routinely around for his games, those of us who'd seen the characters played by both parties reckoned he did a good job, and they were memories of Jill.
Then he had a more interesting question: what if he gives the setting to someone else, when he passes on? We batted that around a little, and concluded that the characters could continue to be played by people who had memories of Jill, but when living memory of her was lost, the characters should be retired.
Opinions? This may seem strange or morbid to newer players, but first-generation players are now mostly in their sixties or seventies, and we're fond of our long-running settings and characters.
Then he had a more interesting question: what if he gives the setting to someone else, when he passes on? We batted that around a little, and concluded that the characters could continue to be played by people who had memories of Jill, but when living memory of her was lost, the characters should be retired.
Opinions? This may seem strange or morbid to newer players, but first-generation players are now mostly in their sixties or seventies, and we're fond of our long-running settings and characters.