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Cassirin · #1 (**permalink**) 02-28-2008, 02:57 AM

It's something the staff has to deal with every term... people who want to RP as a canon character or the immediate offspring of a canon character. Aside from the fact that canon characters are DEFINITELY no longer around during our timeline and their children and grandchildren probably aren't either, there are other issues to consider:

* How do you deal with 2, 3, 4, etc. people who say they're all related independently to the Weasleys or some other character? We might not have this issue at this moment, but we've had situations in the past (pre-HBP), where we had one person the great-granddaughter of Harry Potter and one person, and someone else was the granddaughter of HP and someone else entirely.

* Is it fair to make most of the people create a character from scratch and let a select few capitalize on canon characters or should only non-canon characters and character offspring be allowed?

* If we let people be related to canon characters, how do we regulate it? How do we decide who gets to be related to Harry or Hermione or Neville? If someone is ALREADY related to them, do we care if someone else says they are too? What do we do if someone insists they're the great-grandchild of Harry and Hermione, when that is clearly not canon?

I'm sure there are other issues connected to the use of canon characters in the RP, and we'd love to hear your thoughts on them. Do you like RPing as or with someone who has a canon connection, or does it bother you? What should the solution be in your opinion? What other issues does this raise?

*PhoenixRising* · 02-28-2008, 03:06 AM

Personally I do not like RPing as someone with that canon connection, as in a sense it takes away from the uniqueness of the character. Every person is different though, and I think one of the main things to remember is that the character you RP should be one you are comfortable with. If you're not comfortable with the character, then you're not going to have fun - which ruins the whole point of RP.

Rather than say have a "Weasley" or a "Potter", perhaps it might be more appropriate that if someone insists on being a relative of a canon character, they could be a distant relative. Clearly the character has never met the selected canon person, but they could obviously have heard stories of their fame from their family members.

The point is that selecting a character should be done with care. If you have a rough history, then things will run smoother and I don't think it would be much a problem. The more distant the charrie is from the canon one, the less likely to run into conflicts with others.

ErinElizabeth · 02-28-2008, 03:16 AM

RPing with a character who is related to real character of the novels does bother my slightly. It always just seems unnecessary to me. Like, WHY do they need to have their character be related to someone that Jo created, rather than make someone new up on their own. It almost seems to me like the person thinks that giving their charrie a 'famous' relative will make them more popular amongst other charries in the RP.

It's not fair to pick and choose who can have characters that are the offspring of canon characters, but at the same time, what if this continues until eventually, EVERYONE decides that they aren't creative enough to come up with their own heritage, so they use someone from the novels as their charrie's greatgrandparents? And then we'd all be cousins and everything would be much too confusing to get any actual RPing done.

So what I want to happen is for everyone to just take action and be creative. Rules shouldn't have to be pushed on people, telling them what they can and can't do regarding their character's heritage. I just want SS to be a lovely place where we all have HUGE, overactive imaginations so we can create things on our own rather than rely on using the wonderful characters that J.K. Rowling has created for us.

A girl can dream, right?

relly1611 · 02-28-2008, 07:26 PM

Personally, I don't mind if people RP as a canon character's relative as long as no one else has the same relative. I admit it's awkward if three different people claim they are Harry's grandchildren or so . I agree that everyone here on SS must use their imagination and creativity, but also I don't consider it a problem if someone chooses to RP as a relative of some not so importnat characters in HP books. For example, a member of the Shacklebolt family or Oliver Wood's grandson. ( These are just examples I made up

)

Droo · 02-28-2008, 11:50 PM

*blushes*

The reason why I am using a character related to a cannon character is because Trel's a purebloods. Granted, I do not know if the Trelawneys are in fact purebloods as Rowling did not mention it, so its my interpretive licence.

I agree about people who say they are the sister, brother, or cousin of Hermione, Harry or Ron. That makes no sense timeline wide, but some of us, have laid out a Family Tree, that shows where the cannon people are.

How to deal with it? You make it part of the application process, give a small family tree (I'm a Nerd) and deny the ones who don't follow the rule.

Is it fair to make someone create a character from scratch? Yes...

Regulating it? Well, you could have the mods & prefects look out for that kind of RPing online and PM the culprits letting them know their error.

Prongs999 · 02-29-2008, 12:01 AM

I agree that people shouldn't use cannon character names. I mean like 10 people all being Ron's grandchildren. But if you lay out a timeline, like SeerCassandraTrelawney, than it is definitely alright by me. Not that that matters...anyhow...

Droo · 02-29-2008, 01:03 AM

Harry would be, what? 85, 86 by 2065... I guess he could be someone's grandad, but then you can't tell 10 people (I'm being generous here) that they can be his grandchildren and deny everyone else. I think the relation needs to be indirect, if there is.

Antwone Thomas · 02-29-2008, 02:19 AM

Dean Thomas is very much underplayed and I knew he had a huge storyline bit cut from Chamber of Secrets where we would learn a lot more about his father whom he didn't know was a wizard who was killed by Death Eaters so I figured ... why not. Plus, never saw another Thomas and I hope I don't see any soon! Haha! I think having canon characters of minor characters are fine. Trelawney for instance is very safe, same as the Abbot name, or Brown, characters like that. But Potter is very hard to get away with. Weasley I can see people getting away with if they wouldn't say they were directly related to Ron and Hermione. There are A LOT of Weasleys who aren't related to the family we were familiar with in The Burrow.

Anna Banana · 02-29-2008, 04:09 AM

Well, this is what's going on right now.

There are 5 of us that we put our hands on that are ACTIVELY portraying a Weasley offspring. We all come from 3 different houses, and we all know of one another. We actually role-play as cousins throughout the site.

We have fun with it, and no one we ever role-play with seems to mind. The five of us only bring up our relationship when we are RPing with one another, so it never really comes into play anywhere else. Everywhere else, we are just another kid at Hogwarts.

The five of us that are actively portraying Weasley's are:

1. Anna Greingoth = Rose Weasley's daughter
2 and 3. Monica Black and Excelsior Black, who are related obviously from the Black family
4. Jason Weasley = Hugo Weasley's son
5. Barry Weasley = I think he plays some distant Weasley cousin.

Anyway, we seem to enjoy it. =] I understand what you guys are saying, but the 5 of us have spent a good deal of time developing our characters and really developing the cousin relationship, and it would be kinda weird to just randomly "kill off" that relationship. Cause...you know what I mean...once you develop your character, in a weird sort of way, you ARE that character, and it would just feel weird now not having them as my cousin and not having that family line. So, if you must make it a rule, please consider not making it a rule for the ones who have already established their characters. Thanks! =]

*There may be MORE Weasley offspring, but we are the ones from Slytherin, Gryffindor, and Ravenclaw that RP together as cousins.

Cassirin · 02-29-2008, 04:20 AM

I am in no way saying that someone is right or wrong... I'm trying to initiate discussion. I do want to ask you, CT, what you think the FAIR thing to do is if someone comes along and wants to play another Trelawney offspring... and the same question goes to Antwone. I honestly don't have a course of action I'd like to pursue, aside from telling people they can't be a canon character of even the immediate offspring of one because of the timeline issue.

To be blunt, though, we will NOT require someone to draw up a family tree just for the right to play canon. I'm happy to hear from those of you who DO play canon relatives and have put thought into it.

Anna Banana · 02-29-2008, 04:27 AM

I understand what you are saying, Cassarin. Not sure how to regulate it unless you do a family tree sort of thing like Cassandra suggested. But then again, I guess that would be rather difficult.

Someone asked earlier why someone would want to be related to a canon character: I did mine because in real life, I am soooo much like Hermione. My personality is like her mirror image. Because of that, I thought it would be fun to have a character play off that personality. So then I had the idea to more or less make her a "Little Hermione Granger." Like, her spunky, know-it-all granddaughter.

But when I was creating my character, this is what I did:

Quote:

Aside from the fact that canon characters are DEFINITELY no longer around during our timeline and their children and grandchildren probably aren't either

It's 2058 if it's 60 years after 1998. So Harry, Ron, and Hermione are currently 78 and 79 (which is more or less grandparent age).

If 19 years later, happened in 2017, then Rose was born in 2006 (since she was a first year in 2017), and Hugo around 2007 or so.

So that would put Rose 17 in 2023 and Hugo 17 in 2024 or so.

So for my character Anna to be 11 at the present time (2058), she was born in 2047. That would have been when Rose was 41.

Did I do that right or is my brain fried? LOL.

What I am trying to say is that mathematically it is possible for Rose and Hugo (and Albus, James, and Lily) to have kids currently at Hogwarts.

DalekDeatheater · 02-29-2008, 04:28 AM

As one of the Characters in question I feel that we should have the right to play whomever we choose, provided that we follow the rules. Since I and many of the other Cannon characters that I know have not knowingly broken any rules, I feel that if something is going to be implimented to control it, then yes, make it part of the application process, but it would be unfair for those of us who are already established characters to be forced to change.

Droo · 02-29-2008, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cassirin

I am in no way saying that someone is right or wrong... I'm trying to initiate discussion. I do want to ask you, CT, what you think the FAIR thing to do is if someone comes along and wants to play another Trelawney offspring.

I understand, and I love discussion.

I don't know who, before I joined, played a Trelawney. So I came into this blindly as most will. So what's the fair thing to do? I say, let them play a Trelawney. If I'm on the board still playing Cassandra, then I may ask them where in the family tree would they fall (so I can be EXTRA geeky and update my chart.) But if I've moved onto another character, I would treat them like any other student.

I was talking to a friend over the phone yesterday and I really enjoy discussing this topic, so I asked her her opinion as she is not playing a cannon name. She said to me, "Just because people are playing Cannon descendants, doesn't mean they can't be creative writers."

Look at how many descendants of the Black family are on SS, when we all know from OotP, that the Black family name ended with Sirius' death. A lot of them have enhanced my role playing experience.

Shakespeare once said "What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet." So really I think that if the character is well thought out, and the rper doesn't dwell on the name in his post, like "I spoke to Uncle Severus yesterday." I think it'd be fine to let them play their cannon descendants.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MuggleBornWitch3

It's 2058 if it's 60 years after 1998. So Harry, Ron, and Hermione are currently 78 and 79 (which is more or less grandparent age).

It's 2065 I believe, they'd be 85 or 86.

Slytherin Fox · 02-29-2008, 04:01 PM

I came up with the idea to play my character, Excelsior, last year. This was my first experience in the school and I didn't have that many people I knew to RP with so I just went blindly, from scratch, but I did want to show ties to the Black family (even though we all know that the line is extinct). I made him the son of Romulus Black, a cousin to Sirius, Regulus, Bellatrix, Narcissa, Andromeda, et al, and not even that closely related to them. Through RPing with Monica (DalekDeatheater) who was already a Black, we decided to change the story around and make our parents Galaxian and Minerva Black (being we are siblings), which is a whole different story but it developed quite nicely. (In any case, Galaxian is the brother of Romulus). Jason and Anna are all cousins of ours, from the Weasley side (yes, our side of the Black family has Weasley ties!), each being the offspring of one of Ron and Hermione's children. Barry is another cousin, there may be more that will turn up at some point down the road, no big deal. We love discovering these relationships and I think it only enhances the RP. All five of us are now great friends and love to RP together, but the only time we delve into our family ties is amongst each other. We all love to RP with anyone and everyone and very much enjoy making new friends (you can never have too many, especially at Hogwarts). Three different houses are represented amongst us, so we do get along with everyone (we just don't have a Hufflepuff cousin yet!) We are RPing this 50 years down the road from today, and that means it's about 60 years past the time when Harry and company were in school. A lot of people don't even remember who any of the key players were from those days, and they are rarely mentioned, if at all. I personally haven't found that my story hinders anyone or gets in the way or leaves anyone out. Developing bonds with your fellow students is great, and this is a really good way to do it.

Jason Potter Weasley · 03-01-2008, 03:43 AM

I decided to play my Chaaracter Jason Potter Weasley because it would relate to the future story at Hogwarts I chose to have Ron and Hermoine as my grandparents. then Hugo Weasley ,my father and Orinda Evans * who is Lily's greatniece. See this is how I createdd my character. It took time. Harry Potter is a great cousin. I think Canon characters make the roleplay. I roleplay with all who rolepaly with me and if they do not want to roleplay with me for any reason, that is their choice. Again why would anyone get mad at Canon characters unless all five of us beat them to it.
No rules were broken and if I am correct, we can choose the characters who we want to play in this roleplay.

Anna Banana · 03-01-2008, 04:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeerCassandraTrelawney

It's 2065 I believe, they'd be 85 or 86.

I thought it was 60 years after 1998? Or is a little more than 60?

Antwone Thomas · 03-01-2008, 04:10 AM

It's Fall 2064 so that would make Harry 84 cause 2064-1980=84. And wizard live much longer than humans so he's probably still alive during our time even though SS Hogwarts, A History still claims he's dead.

SlytherinSistah · 03-01-2008, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cassirin

It's something the staff has to deal with every term... people who want to RP as a canon character or the immediate offspring of a canon character. Aside from the fact that canon characters are DEFINITELY no longer around during our timeline and their children and grandchildren probably aren't either, there are other issues to consider:

* How do you deal with 2, 3, 4, etc. people who say they're all related independently to the Weasleys or some other character? We might not have this issue at this moment, but we've had situations in the past (pre-HBP), where we had one person the great-granddaughter of Harry Potter and one person, and someone else was the granddaughter of HP and someone else entirely.

* Is it fair to make most of the people create a character from scratch and let a select few capitalize on canon characters or should only non-canon characters and character offspring be allowed?

* If we let people be related to canon characters, how do we regulate it? How do we decide who gets to be related to Harry or Hermione or Neville? If someone is ALREADY related to them, do we care if someone else says they are too? What do we do if someone insists they're the great-grandchild of Harry and Hermione, when that is clearly not canon?

I'm sure there are other issues connected to the use of canon characters in the RP, and we'd love to hear your thoughts on them. Do you like RPing as or with someone who has a canon connection, or does it bother you? What should the solution be in your opinion? What other issues does this raise?

I, personally do not mind the tie-ins to the canon character names. I find it more enjoyable, however when that person has a good sense of plausibility about how their character is related. It makes it easier for me to believe, thus enjoy. I think it was Walt Disney who said "A good fantasy is a believable fantasy.". It also makes logical sense to me, because the percentage of people living at the time of the Rowlings story who had the ability to practice magic was pretty small and rare, with the pureblood pool being even smaller still. How much it could have weakened or strengthened within the 70 years spanning from the 90's to the 2060's is something that would be very hard to predict.

In going back to your original questions, Cassarin, I find myself dealing with people who claim to have similar lineage by playing along as best I can. Usually that involves me having my character ask them about the other character, if my character has met them, ("Oh, you must know ....?") to see if they are aware of one another and see if they've worked out any sort of story between them as Mugglebornwitch3, DalekDeatheater and Slytherin Fox have done.
I don't think it would be fair to your rping participants to mandate a rule that says that absolutely no canon names could be used in the creation of a character without exception or that only a select few may. I think it might be a bit like outlawing candy to some, but not others, or altogether. Sure, it can make some people hyper and give them cavities, but not all who eat candy are hyper with cavities in their teeth. It's a matter of moderation.

Though, if I were in a position where I was charged with the responsibility of having to monitor the quality of the sites activities I might find it bothersome, as, in some cases, it could be an indication that everyone is not on the same page timewise. I'd personally, not mind seeing some sort of regulation of cases where it pushes the laws of probability, whether from the admins, mods, super mods, etc... or from the rpers themselves working out their story kinks together. It would help lesson confusion and keep us all on the same page.

SilverTiger · 03-01-2008, 08:25 AM

I can't say that this really has a lot to do with Rhiannon, since I never considered her a log lost descendant of a canon character or anything (unless someone else wants to add to my existing history for her

). But I personally don't have a problem with it as long as the current timeline remains under consideration. I know I had an issue once related to the timeline in Arithmancy class where it seemed like there were first years and fifth years being born in the same year . . . but I'm digressing.

Anyway, I think being descendants of canon characters is perfectly okay, as long as it remains on the sidelines of the storylines. And, as others have mentioned, people that are supposed to be related organize it amongst themselves so the plots remian plausible.

Harry_Potter_Fanatic · 03-01-2008, 02:19 PM

I Don’t particularly like RPing with some descendant of a cannon charrie. I find it quiet annoying and also that may people are the same descendant. I don’t understand why they all can’t just be unknown charrie’s and then make them selves known as the years go on. I have found that people who are ‘descendants’ also find themselves knowing very advanced magic for the years the are RPing. This also ruins the authenticity, but I am not blaming it on only them.

Prongs999 · 03-01-2008, 02:28 PM

I also agree with SlytherinSistah.

Droo · 03-06-2008, 06:15 PM

Someone PMed me, and giggled that Trel was related to Draco Malfoy... I just wanted to say this: This proves that when you are a pureblood, you will non doubtedly end up related to one another.

When I put my family tree together (on paper) it was during Trel's first term because I wanted to figure out where she lay in the timeline. She wasn't related to Draco Malfoy then as the seventh book was not out yet.

I was always fascinated with both the Greengrasses and the Notts, Purebloods that weren't mentioned in the books much. I figured Theodore Nott and Daphne Greengrass were going to end up together which is why She was in my original version and he wasn't. Draco wasn't on my radar as I thought he and Pansy would wed.

When I updated Trel's family tree (for purposes of this thread,) I remembered JK mentioned Draco did NOT infact marry Pansy, but Daphne's younger sister Asteria (or Astoria, the Lexicon was unclear.) So it really was a pleasant coincidence she's related to Draco.

Danny Boy · 03-06-2008, 06:36 PM

Hey everyone I like cannon charecters for me it actuallly helped me roleplay you know when I first joined I was nervous about people and I slowly found out how it was orginised so I played with it now I found out Jascon potter weasly was related to the blacks so I found him as a coson who I had not talked with for a while and the blacks fell into ittheres also an othe one who is also related to us I forget her name but in the end it helped me become freinds with these people and it was great and I don`t think I`ve met very active people who claim they are related to these desendents so I thought it was ok and if someone else pops up let them we`ll add him to my familly of cosins. I didn`t want Barry to be really closely related he`s just from Albus`s side somewhere

Lissy Longbottom · 03-06-2008, 07:26 PM

As for RPing with cannon characters, I really don't mind it. I myself would probably never make a character who is a descendant of an HP character (with the exception of Neville...

I have no plans to make a future Longbottom but you never know

) When I began RPing, I made a new family...the Cobblestens. I made them a nice Muggle-born family with two magical parents (both muggle born's who met at Hogwarts) and then their children. So far, I've only played one child and that is Jackie. I could have played her brother Jacob, but I chose to use the baby of the family, Emma, as my next character. Making up a whole family was great because now I have all these characters already made up that I can play.

The only point where I get bothered by cannon characters is by people who make their character EXACTLY like them. I've seen SO many Weasley descendants who are just like Ginny, or countless Hermione's, it just gets annoying and I end up ignoring them. Thankfully this term I haven't run into any of those

I applaud all you guys for being original with your character's personalities.