Another "Will this get me in trouble" topics...

OK I've had this name for years but never played it past lvl 20 just because I don't want to loose the name. Being a big fan part of me just really enjoys having the name, but I would like to one day get it to lvl 50 and actually RP with it. What are the chances that this name mixed with this costume would make me loose the name?

I've been apt to follow the mindset of "If you have to ask, don't do it."

I wanted a Spider-Man homage since I started playing, and for the longest time I played "Web Man", but part of me was always nervous about either his suit, or concept being too similiar, even though mine was done in Green and Black and looked different enough.

I waited it out, and i've since gotten the name "Fly" and, while still an homage in spirit to Spidey, he's a much more original and fun character. However, there is a possibility you could go forever without getting generic'd. Web Man was lvl 41, I believe, before I started anew with Fly. So...it's at your discretion, I suppose.

I say alter the look a little because it does look VERY similar to Spider Boy from the amalgam and carries the same name.

That's your biggest rub. The look matches the name attached to the already copyrighted material. 2 + 2= 4

Now, if you alter the look, you should get by. After all, there are a ton of superman wannabes, batman wannabes, and ESPECIALLY Power Girl wannabes that will carry the look of a copyrighted character, but have a completely different name and concept.

So, adjust the costume a little more and you should be fine. Unless the GM you come across is a [expletive deleted].

Looks just like Spider-Boy to me.

If you have to ask, it's probably not ok.

Even I recognized the costume offhand. That is really saying something.

yeah thats a great costume but its way too close, I'm sure you'll get generic'd

Wow I actualy forgot about the actual "Spider Boy", was just thinking of the Marvel Universe, wasn't thinking about the DC/Marvel mesh. Thanks, I'll change the colors up and such.

And I know the whole "If you have to ask..." thing, but really I would ask anyway just because of the name. Sometimes the devs seem a little to eager to smack people with their Gen-Stick even if the Spider Boy character was a flying Dragon that uses a bow.

Rule of Thumb: If you HAVE to ask if it'll get you in trouble. Chances are it will

I can promise you that its only a matter of time before you get genericed if you use him. I had a character named clark t wayne who was genericed for infringing on both super man and batman. he was over 2 years old at the time and I personally feel it only happens when someone sees you and decides to report it as a complaint.

Spider Boy exist in copyrighted comics and as such no matter the costume you will not be allowed to keep that name.

On a side note the if you have to ask dont bother rule is false. My characters name Demetrios Vasilikos came from coh lore. I sent a in game petition asking if using it ona character would be a problem and they said it would not be. So if you really want to know just ask them. it will usually take a day or two for them to send a email reply but ive asked for a number of lore based names now and so far they have said yes to each one.

So although I know you must of have spider boy was something special he is a major clone toon no less then a spider man or wolverine and its only a matter of time before he is genericed.

Maybe try Arachlad or something abit more creative with spideresque flavor.

Demetrios Vasilikos, MD, better known as Dr. Vhazilok.

From the wiki.

Why be creative, plagiarism is so much easier.

Why would they care if you copy their property in their game? Are they going to sue themselves?

I have more of an issue with the "I'm an alternate reality version of X" excuse. That, to me smacks a bit of unoriginality, unless there's a clever twist to it. "I'm the Dimension X version of Positron, where he was raised by the Partridge Family!" is more more interesting than "I'm the Dimension X version of Positron, where he has slightly different colors and powers! Wow!"
On the same note, I don't mind people riffing off in-game characters if they can do it with a fun or original twist. Honestly , I think it makes this universe feel more real and fleshed out if all these heroes somehow effected one another. The staple characters of CoX don't have to exist in a vacuum. They can have lovers/children/agents/servants/college roommates/chiropractors/whatever.

To the OP, I think your concept is salvageable. Consider another name like "The Arachnid Kid" or "Web Wonder" or "Herr Zpidar" or something, and that will solve alot of the resemblances.

So many powersets, so many costume options, such a rich world to create stories in. . .

and people still insist on clones and "homage" characters.

Sorry, Spartan... I read your post (quoted below) and one thing popped into my head: "Miss Kettle, a Mister Pot is calling commenting on your pigmentation." Let's analyze it, shall we?

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Originally Posted by The_Spartan No. It's the principal of the thing. Keep in mind, this is the RP server and people have higher standards when it comes to the creativity and development of characters. I'll use myself for an example and my standard. I refuse to ride the coat-tail of any cannon character in any way, shape or form and I usually mock people that do. Every time I see someone who claims to be the daughter or son or general kin of already established characters in the CoH lore, it makes me wanna pull 'em aside and tell them "Hey, you really DON'T need to piggyback off Statesman to make your character's presence valid."

*looks at Spartan's sig picture of Spectre Raven* But yet you piggybacked the look of an already established, copyrighted character from another universe. If you're using yourself as an example and standard, then that character forms a bad example and a very low standard.

And I know someone who has a character who is a failed clone of Statesman where the process was stopped at around 16 years of physical age for the clone, and the player has made that character quite unique despite using canon as a basis.

Using canon as a basis is not necessarily bad, but does tread on an extremely thin line, yet can be done well depending on the player behind it.

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But, there are so many who do this and even more than use Praetoria as an excuse. News flash, kids. Praetoria will soon be an accessible place in game and if it's as developed as we're hoping we will probably see the Praetorian versions of a LOT of cannon characters, possible some that others have created. Then what? Your character is completely invalidated because cannon has written them in and there's not a damn thing you can do to change it.

All they'd have to do is replace "Praetoria" with "Random Portal Corps Discovered Dimension". I guess that qualifies as "a damn thing".

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My advice: Make your own damn character. Write your own lore, within the cannon if you respect it enough and stop suckling from the teat of already established characters. After all, do you really want to stand in the shadow of someone else for the entirety of your existence? I sure as hell don't.

And Spectre Raven and his Nightwing... oops, I mean Nightstrike... armor doesn't? Seriously, if I had seen that outfit ingame, I would have probably sent you a tell saying "Nice Nightwing outfit"... which I have a feeling that you've gotten many times.

Don't get me wrong, Spartan... I respect you, but when you come down on someone for being less than creative or borrowing from canon when you yourself flaunt a nearly blatant copy of a copyrighted character's costume in your forum signature comes across as being hypocritical. Sorry... I call them as I see them.

Now, as for the OP, I see deviations in costume from the copyrighted character (no jacket, boots different color than legs, mask covering the mouth, no yellow in the logo), but if anything he'd get a name change token because of the name. The name would hurt the OP's case more than the outfit.

Ashes to ashes,
Pheonyx