Okay, I've been watching this topic all morning closely, weighing in each point and argument for or against the application that EBJ put forth, and I've come to a decision.
While I don't feel EBJ was really invalid in thinking he could apply for a Nightwing without his historical ties to Bruce Wayne and Batman, there are rules that have been established for this particular RPG. One such rule is, as follows...
Master Bruce said:
People Know The People: When taking up a character for your own, you must respect the history that character has endured. That means if something is clearly out of character, you will be called out on it, and perhaps even forced to edit your posts. You have the responsibility to be your character, so be your character. Not a new character with another one's name.
This means that, bearing in mind that this continuity has it's freedoms, there is also a level of limitation. The changes made to characters like Bane, The Riddler, and so forth, would qualify under the terms of freedoms that are allowed when making a character as uniquely interesting as possible. And while this idea of Nightwing being an established crusader outside of Batman's tutilage is quite unique, and quite interesting... it also steps past a considerable number of aspects that make Dick Grayson the character that he is.
I own a majority of the Nightwing title. I've played the character in the DC RPG off and on since Season II. And let me tell you, while EBJ is optimistic about being able to keep the character's core intact, I'm going to have to say that he's simply taking far too much away to make that as valid as it sounds. Nightwing is a beloved character, yes, but not simply because of his personality. It's because of his history and winning over his audience as Robin, and the very concept of a former protege trying to outshine one of the most iconic heroes in the DCU by becoming his own man.
The application is hereby denied. For this RPG. However, to be fair to EBJ, I'm going to give him an offer that bypasses my own plans. Since he's slated to play Dick Grayson in the Ultimate DC Universe RPG, I'm going to give him the option of going forth with this Nightwing concept in that RPG instead. This concept fits that one's far more, and it would be an addition that I, and I'm sure many others, would be very interested in seeing.
Go **** yourself, ***hole.
