Is it wrong to want to take unused chars?

[Verbatim]

All,

I know this may seem like an odd question, but with all the games that form and then die, as well as all the members that show up then fade away, is it wrong that I sometimes go through the Rogues Gallery and think "Man, this would have been a fun char for me to play."

I have seen all manner of great ideas that now collect dust and I am just curious to see what others think.

Thanks for your time in advance...

Verbatim

 

[Bobitron]

I certainly have no problem with that, but I know some people are really picky about someone else playing a character they created. I would be happy to see a character used rather than be stagnant in an unused game.

 

[Bront]

That's no different than taking a concept from a book, movie, legend, or other reference. I would use it as a base and not copy it point for point (At least change the name and rewrite the background in your own wording), or ask for permition from the member if it's a dead game but live poster.

I know I come up with so many ideas, that others in my gaming group will ask me for help with the background and/or numbers crunching. And since I love to do that anyway, I usually try to help (I bounce ideas off them till they like one, and we both run with it, I try to avoid creating characters flat out for people unless specificly asked and given very good guidelines.) BTW, this does mean feel free to take any ideas of characters you see me play. I wouldn't mind a shout out though saying "Hey, XXXX character was cool, and I want to use (something like) it somewhere else." Makes me happy when my work inspires someone else.

 

[Brother Shatterstone]

Verbatim, I would try to contact them... I know I would be both honored and annoyed if it happened to me. (Mechanics not a big deal. Names and background would be.)

 

[Isida Kep'Tukari]

I wouldn't mind, as long as someone asked me first.

 

[Verbatim]

I do apologize if it seemed I meant straight stealing, ie name, exact history, and items, but I meant the theme of the char. Take my love of dwarves, I was following a Cauldron game that started and one of the chars was a partially deaf dwarven bouncer. I was like, what a neat idea. Now it seems the game has folded and the person who ran the char hasn't been around in like two months. So, I was thinking since I liked the concept if I altered it some, would it make me seem like I was losing my "creative edge" by altering a concept to fit what I wanted it to be.

*Wonders does it show that it is a slow day at work*

 

[Jdvn1]

Yeah, it'd be nice if the person at least warned me. Even if it's just the theme -- it's nice to know, at least. "Wow, I inspired someone else to make a cool character? I wanna see what he did with it!"

 

[Brother Shatterstone]

Wonders does it show that it is a slow day at work*

I despise you.... I've had a horrible day so far.

No if your idea of borrowing a character is to make a dwarf bouncer I think you safe…

 

[Rystil Arden]

I do apologize if it seemed I meant straight stealing, ie name, exact history, and items, but I meant the theme of the char. Take my love of dwarves, I was following a Cauldron game that started and one of the chars was a partially deaf dwarven bouncer. I was like, what a neat idea. Now it seems the game has folded and the person who ran the char hasn't been around in like two months. So, I was thinking since I liked the concept if I altered it some, would it make me seem like I was losing my "creative edge" by altering a concept to fit what I wanted it to be.

*Wonders does it show that it is a slow day at work*

If all you take is the basic concept and play with it, I think that it can hardly be considered stealing the character. Take that from someone who has actually taken over a character for a player who dropped a game

 

[Thanee]

Taking some ideas from existing characters and using those for your own is absolutely ok.

Maybe shouldn't be done in the very same game the character is in, tho, just because.

Bye
Thanee