D&D General Is it bad to make your version of another player's character? (My mental hangup.)

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

How about this: All of these Kelsons are the same guy. Or, rather, they're all memetic copies of the same original person (never seen by anyone, including by Kurtz). The original Kelson has a unique psionic ability where they're able to replicate themselves by taking over the brains of other people when they're in mortal danger.

All of these copies are walking around, thinking they're the real Kelson, while the original is out there, somewhere. Ideally, they aren't replicating themselves on purpose and don't have any influence over them. Or maybe they do and the PCs are unusual for (probably) being independent entities, rather than puppets under the real Kelson's control.

 

[Cordwainer Fish]

Kuntz

Kurtz.

 

[Dragonhelm]

I'd go through these questions:

1.) If this friend knew about it, do you think it would bother him? If the answer is yes, just change the name, but play the character. A rose by any other name... If the answer is no ...
2.) Are you comfortable asking him if it would bother him? If yes, ask for his blessing. If he gives it, use it. If the answer is no, or the blessing is not given, play the character but use a different name.

If you need an alternative name, Bester (the character from B5 or the author that inspired the character with his work) is nice.

It is just not worth the anguish or a strained relationship to use a name - even if you think the anguish is unjust.

I finally worked up the nerve to ask him, and he's absolutely fine with me using the name. Whew!

Also, I love Bester and Psi-Corps. Babylon 5 for the win!

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Kurtz.

I've got some watery allergy (?) eyes that are making it hard to read. Thanks.

 

[aco175]

30 years ago when I was in the Army a friend played in my game and he used the same name for all his PC; Carados Shadowsiege. I have not forgotten it for some reason, but I never wanted to use it. So, on one hand go ahead and use it since flattery is cool and the player is not in the game and how many people in the world are named John Smith. On the other hand, c'mon come up with a cool name for yourself.

 

[Dragonhelm]

30 years ago when I was in the Army a friend played in my game and he used the same name for all his PC; Carados Shadowsiege. I have not forgotten it for some reason, but I never wanted to use it. So, on one hand go ahead and use it since flattery is cool and the player is not in the game and how many people in the world are named John Smith. On the other hand, c'mon come up with a cool name for yourself.

Just over 30 years ago, back in my college days, we had a guy join our group named Jim. He was ex-army. He was injured in a training accident.

Jim once played an elven mage/thief named Jim the Flim-Flam Man (aka Jim Mann), and once had a monk NPC named Brother Jim. See a pattern?

He eventually left the group and I lost touch with him. I found out a few months ago that he had passed away about 10 years ago.

 

[Corinnguard]

Is it bad to make your version of another player's character? I don't think so because you could always design your character to be an alternate reality version of that other character. You could then explore what it would be like for your version to take a different path in life. One that the original could have taken but didn't for various reasons.

 

[Yaarel]

I finally worked up the nerve to ask him, and he's absolutely fine with me using the name. Whew!

This is the answer. Ask your friend.

If today your friend had been difficult to reach, I would do a character in homage, like a descendant or longliving ancestor related to the character, possibly a cousin, with the same name or similar.

 

[jasper]

No, it is very common to steal from fiction. And common not to even scrub the serial numbers off. you take inspiration where you get it.

 

[Tonguez]

Not to be dismissive but Im not sure what the hang up is.
The only person with any proprietary in the name Kelson Haldane is Katherine Kurtz. If youre not playing in the same group as your friend then you have as much right as any other fan to use it.

If its an issue name your version Kelsyn Heldaynne or something