The only things you need Permission for are 1) missions, or 2) things that would noticeably alter the PPC. As long as you're not doing those things, you're free to write whatever you like. {= )

As for the questions:

1. I'd personally prefer it if you adopted him permanently, but since Jay and Acacia did say he was free to use, I don't think there's anything stopping anyone who wants to borrow him (though it is polite to ask the Board first). If that is what you decide to do, just make sure you address what happened to Agent Robyn, who he got partnered with.

However, that said, I agree with the people who are confused that you don't want to make your own character. If you don't have a team ready yet, why not just wait until you do? Heck, I hung around for almost four years before Ilraen came along and I partnered him with Nume. {= P I'm an extreme case, but still. There's no reason to rush into writing missions if you're not satisfied with your team.

2. DoSAT tends to appropriate canon technology and modify it for PPC use rather than make stuff up out of whole cloth. The CADs, portal generators, and disguise generators are a few exceptions. Also, as someone else said, what's wrong with a regular leash?

3. No one's ever really bothered about this before, as I recall. I am positive that HQ does not do any translation of its own accord, though. I am also positive that every agent is equipped with a Universal Translator as a matter of course, just like they're equipped with a flash patch, a CAD, and a remote activator; and it would have to translate written words as well as spoken. The agents couldn't do their job without it.

However, as others have pointed out, the Rule of Funny trumps just about everything. If you need the UT to stop working for a joke, then it will.

As for what it looks like... well, no one's ever bothered about it before. I figure it would have to be something very small, not easily noticed. Maybe it's even built into the flash patch. They've already got a microchip and SEP field generator in there; no reason for the UT not to be part of the same device. ... Of course, in that case it wouldn't work if the agent wasn't wearing the flash patch.

Then again, there is more than one kind of Universal Translator in the multiverse. The most obvious is the Star Trek device by the same name. But then, Douglas Adams gave us the Babelfish; Farscape offers translator microbes; some species have the ability to learn languages very quickly and/or communicate on a different level entirely and don't need one at all; and then there're all the various types of magical translation spells and/or artifacts you could wish for. I wouldn't be surprised if the PPC makes use of all the options available.

~Neshomeh

1. I once created an agent for the purpose of appearing in one scene only. I guess to each their own, but why don't you want to create an agent for just a few missions?
   
   2. As you've probably guessed already, the guidelines are: new technology should be funny, and it should not make the agents too powerful. The energy leash could be funny, if you took it into fandoms where it has no chance of actually working.

If I were you, I'd make up your own partner, but I may be a bit biased...I love having lots of characters. (I have seven active agents right now.) Having the pair be entirely your own, even if it's only for a few missions, gives you a lot more freedom. And you can make up an Agent who's already been in the PPC, if you want. Most of my Agents have been in the PPC a lot longer than I have...

New technology should be used sparingly. We have so many canons at our disposal and so many devices that have been created by past Agents--too much new stuff can be overdoing it. If an ordinary leash would do it, or you could find something that already exists in a continuum, that might be better.

I have a native French speaker, Agent Michel, who routinely speaks French while in HQ, and another agent who swears in multiple languages without their being translated. But it all goes by Rule of Funny. I don't think we ever came up with firm rules for it.

Well, first of all, you can practice your writing style any way you like - we're not the Writing Police. So don't worry about what you do for practice as long as it's not posted anywhere prior to your getting Permission, and as long as you take under consideration whatever suggestions you are given when you do ask.


1. I really don't think you need to fret so much about this; there's nothing wrong with creating an entirely new character for just a handful of missions - the only downside to it is that those of us reading your missions could get confused and you have less time to develop them as characters. You can make up any team you like, and if it doesn't work, it doesn't work. I created Agent Iza as a partner for my Agent Sedri, but after four or five missions, it was clear that the two of them didn't have long-term funny dynamics, so I gave Iza away to Trojie and Pads, and will make up a new partner for Agent Sedri next time I write a mission. But if Trojie and Pads hadn't wanted Iza, I would have simply let her fall aside. There's no reason you can't do the same.

That said, if you're certain it's Agent Ranger you want, in a temporary basis... I suppose so. As he is a TOS character, it'd be polite to get opinions from the Board as a whole first.


2. There are no specific guidelines, but generally we don't create new technology unless there is a need. For example, I co-wrote a mission with Trojie once in which she rightfully pointed out that murder leaves far too much blood on the floor - so we came up with the idea of a Capillary Towel, which could effectively clean up the mess. It's been used a few times since.

Concerning your energy leash... I'd rather you didn't, particularly it sounds a bit too unusual and powerful, what with technology from multiple fandoms and all. What's the point of having it rather than, say, a normal lightsaber? Or a Ferengi energy whip? Those are canonical, there's no need to explain them, and they work just as well. Also, take another look at the bit about special weapons in the Mission Writing Guide; too much speshulness is a bad thing.


3. That's an interesting question - I'm not sure. Since HQ is a Word World, then UTs technology would work within it just as anything else (like lightsabers) would; the Real World rules certainly wouldn't get in the way. I imagine that agents who don't speak the dominant language (or who are of a species that can't) would carry translators around as a matter of habit. I doubt that it would be the building itself that translates - that place likes to make us late by playing maze, remember? It'd probably muddle up the translations just for fun.

Still - opinions, guys? Whatever we decide, we'll certainly have to add it to the FAQ:For Newbies...


Hope that helps, Goldenrod.

I know of one or two characters that were/will be recruited but that haven't been used yet. One of them is an unnamed Blood Elf Sniper Commander from the Warcraft Universe. He was recruited at the end of this mission. He has been in headquarters for a while and so may know what is going on. You should probably ask Farseer Lolotea before using him, though.

The other is an Orc Warrior from the Warcraft universe. His name was Rathkurr, but that will likely be changed when he gets reprogrammed rehabilitated by FicPsych. He is likely to end up in DMS as he is very fond of killing things with his axe. Since my agents rescue him, I have no problem with you using him.

As for question 3... the rule is, "If two things are possible, but one of them is funnier, then that is the one that will probably happen in HQ."

Regarding your first question, yes, it is possible to write an introductory piece for your agent/s as your Permission piece. I did it myself, and I know several other people have as well.

As for the others:

1. I don't recall seeing Ranger in anything since TOS, and I've read a good number of spinoffs, so I think you're safe to borrow him. There may be offers of other Agents you can use, too, but I'm pretty sure Ranger's a safe deal.

2. I think it would depend on what function you need the technology to perform. Why exactly do you need a retractable energy dog leash, for example? As a general rule, we tend not to allow things that would make things too easy or comfortable for the agents. Admittedly, technology's not my strong point; you might be better off taking that up with some of the oldbies, particularly Techno-Dann.

3. The universal translator issue is pretty much governed by the Rule of Funny. If there is an amusing reason for the translator not to work, then it won't work. Otherwise, communication is possible throughout HQ, as far as I'm aware. As with the technology query, though, you'd be better off getting a wider consensus rather than just going by one person's view of it.

Hope this was helpful.