Character Permissions Guide

This page contains a short--and hopefully enlightening guide--on when and how you should gain permission from Another Player when writing fanfic and other stories based on this or any other shared environment. If you're in doubt which category below applies, it is always best to talk to the player before writing or when realizing one of their characters is involved.

Mentions and Cameos

Since these types of character uses often occur without much planning, it's a good idea to simply speak to the player at the time of occurrence. While most players (at least at our site) may give blanket permissions for this type of thing, it's still always best to let them know. This is a one-time deal, whether a short story or novel-length work.

Template

"Hey, I'm working on [this story] and your character [name] is mentioned/appears briefly. Are you comfortable with that?"

Examples

Mention: "Hey, did you get to ask Matsuo about that old bit of pottery you found at the dig?"

Brief Appearance: Matsuo shows up to examine the pottery. (1 paragraph through a few pages.)