Currently our rules state that the only player made AUs allowed are ones that allow a character to come to Blackstaff with extremely limited changes. However we're considering expanding this rule to consider more possibilities. Conditions would be as follows:
Applications for these AUs would be under more scrutiny.
Characters from the canon would not have to acknowledge the greater line of events as being their own.
As with CRAUs, they would be marked on the taken list.
This could especially come in valuable later as there will be potential to change timelines/courses of history through future plots in the game, and apping from those altered timelines or canon updating to them could possibly be an option. If you have any significant arguments for or against, please don't hesitate to put them below.
Thank you for all your help in building this game.
I swing both ways on it. Like I don't like obligating other players to other canon interpretations, and I've seen people get really aggressive for how they interpret other characters in other games even without AUing being allowed.
But I've also seen them work out fine in very chill games where there's not a lot of conflict, and this one has been pretty subdued so far (it is also very tiny and we can communicate).
I would be fine with opening the game up to more types of AUs. I have no strong opinions on it either way.
Maybe with a rule that if someone apps a fan-made AU, if other players currently play from the canon, it has to be run by them to make sure that there's nothing that'll break their own character or make their character strongly nope out?
It sounds like a good idea to me. The game mechanics easily allow for the existence of multiple universes, so why not let potential applicants exercise that creativity if they like? Also, I could see some degree of AUing being a good way to allow people to bring in characters who are less likely to choose to come based on regular canon events.
Thirding the idea of requiring OU canonmate check-ins before the app is accepted, but I'm ...hesitant? I guess. There comes a point with AUs where it might as well be an OC. Which, like clearly I can't criticize the idea of playing OCs, but call it the thing that it is?
As someone who used to play a lot of AUs, I'm pretty biased so I'm gonna be jumping up and down in the "YAY PLAYER-MADE AUs" corner.
I know that AUs tend to make people nervous because there are a lot of bad ones out there, or a lot of good ones that are handled badly, but... If the AU makes the character unrecognizable, then, well. That's what the app process is for, right?
I do really like the idea of the OU canon mates check-ins, though. Speaking from experience (Animus, where I used to play ages ago, allowed for player-made AUs), the introduction of an AU character can really do a number on the OU characters depending on the AU. Sometimes this is fun, but it could very easily be not, depending on the nature of the AU and who the character is.
Also relatedly -- in reverse of the check-ins, if someone apps in an AU from a canon we don't have yet, we should make sure that they have their AU information available somewhere on their journal. I mean, their app could be fine, but I know there are people who like to lock their apps once they're into a game. But having it easily accessible somewhere for potential canon mates (and, hell, people who might be interested in playing from the AU) to check in to see if they wanna play alongside it would be handy, too.
I'm all for it. This is a creative hobby and with the 'many universes' thing going on it could work out fine. I love seeing what people do with AUs.
One thing though that might be an issue: Would we be allowing the canon version to be apped as well by someone at a later date, or would the rule be just one version per character?
As long as there's a decent amount of scrutiny and (ideally) check-ins, I think I'm okay with it? I mean, you can bring folks in with pregame history, right? So idk, would it really be that different?
The only reason I'd be hesitant is out of having come across some...... less than stellar examples in the past. But it'd be a ridiculous generalisation to say that meant anything, really?
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guest_list2015-02-04 11:19 am
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But I've also seen them work out fine in very chill games where there's not a lot of conflict, and this one has been pretty subdued so far (it is also very tiny and we can communicate).
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Maybe with a rule that if someone apps a fan-made AU, if other players currently play from the canon, it has to be run by them to make sure that there's nothing that'll break their own character or make their character strongly nope out?
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Anyway. Within reason, I'd be fine with it.
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I know that AUs tend to make people nervous because there are a lot of bad ones out there, or a lot of good ones that are handled badly, but... If the AU makes the character unrecognizable, then, well. That's what the app process is for, right?
I do really like the idea of the OU canon mates check-ins, though. Speaking from experience (Animus, where I used to play ages ago, allowed for player-made AUs), the introduction of an AU character can really do a number on the OU characters depending on the AU. Sometimes this is fun, but it could very easily be not, depending on the nature of the AU and who the character is.
Also relatedly -- in reverse of the check-ins, if someone apps in an AU from a canon we don't have yet, we should make sure that they have their AU information available somewhere on their journal. I mean, their app could be fine, but I know there are people who like to lock their apps once they're into a game. But having it easily accessible somewhere for potential canon mates (and, hell, people who might be interested in playing from the AU) to check in to see if they wanna play alongside it would be handy, too.
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One thing though that might be an issue: Would we be allowing the canon version to be apped as well by someone at a later date, or would the rule be just one version per character?
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The only reason I'd be hesitant is out of having come across some...... less than stellar examples in the past. But it'd be a ridiculous generalisation to say that meant anything, really?
Count me as another 'within reason'.