NEWS 08/20/09: UNLESS REQUESTED BY THE GUARDIAN LEAVING FA'E/GAIA WE WOULD PREFER TO NO LONGER REHOME/CO-GUARDIAN/FADE FA'E. WE WILL SIMPLY PUT THEM IN INACTIVE STATUS. IF THIS SCREWS WITH YOUR GRAND RP SCHEME WE ARE SORRY BUT WE ARE TRYING TO AVOID DRAMA B/C IT WILL INEVITABLY HAPPEN AS HISTORY HAS SHOWN. --- ANYA
First of all, about co-Guardianship. This is something that should only be entered into in times of major crisis in a Guardian's real life, when they just can't get to the computer for some reason or another, or if their free time is severely curtailed. At that time they may select a co-Guardian to assist them, pending approval by the GMs. Please keep co-Guardianship as a last resort, as it should be - it is NOT to be used as a way to let a friend "get in on Fa'e!" It is for keeping a Fa'e active so that plotlines can continue and so that the Fa'e's life, and the lives of those involved with it, can go on when there is no other way.
Ideally, co-Guardianship should be temporary. Once you are not busy any more or your life situation improves, you should take up full Guardian duties once again to avoid the confusion that almost inevitably results when two people play one character.
When choosing a co-Guardian, please try to select another good roleplayer (who can get a good grasp on your Fa'e's character and play them correctly) and someone who will have time to roleplay faithfully in your absence - it's happened too many times that a co-Guardian is just as absent as the original. Also, if your Fa'e is involved in a long-term relationship with another, it's a VERY good idea to talk to the other Guardian before deciding on a co-Guardian so that you can figure out together who would be the best choice, simply because the roleplay can deeply affect other people's characters as well.
A Guardian change is a more serious matter, both OOCly and ICly. This should only be done as an absolute last resort, if you are leaving Gaia or are in a similar situation where you simply CANNOT continue roleplaying your Fa'e. A Guardian change is permanent - there is no changing your mind should you happen to come back. ICly, this means that the Guardian of the Fa'e needs to die or in other ways vanish, breaking the bond between themselves and their Fa'e. So keep that in mind.
All Fa'e owners should to write down what they want to have happen to their Fa'e in the event that they leave Gaia, in the sticky made in the guild for this purpose. That way if you happen to vanish for months and months on end without notifying us beforehand (it does happen), we will know what your wishes were for your Fa'e. Again, please choose potential people to inherit your Fa'e VERY CAREFULLY. Or, if you wish, you can have your Fa'e revert to GM control for metaplot use should you leave. It is up to you.
Fa'e who are abandoned without this information may revert to shop control and may be rehomed. (With this note, please do NOT PM asking for control of Fa'e who have been inactive - if there is pestering on this issue, we will have to take action, but we'd rather not have to do that. Okay?)
Currently, we do not rehome or fade Fa'e who are inactive. It is the decision and responsibility of the owner to decide what to do when a situation arises that leaves them unable to roleplay their Fa'e, whether for their own sake or the sake of the community. Even so, it is better for everyone if you have thought carefully about what you would do in such a situation.
