Canon Information Policy
Since we have been open since 2001, the staff and members at Vault 713 are no strangers to having to adjust our content in accordance with new information as it is released. Now that both the book series and the movie series have run their course, we are now faced with addressing how we will handle information that has come to light through J.K. Rowling’s personal comments, Pottermore, the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child script book, the upcoming Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them film, and other sources.
For the sake of maintaining a streamlined, roleplayer-friendly game, we have instituted the following policy to address how we will handle discrepancies between our game and the canon of the Harry Potter universe, as well as the advent of new information coming to light. For the most part we follow the canon of the original seven books, making some adjustments where necessary, and only borrow content from the movies and other media if we feel it is in the best interests of our players and our game.
Canon information is law, unless where otherwise indicated.
This includes any and all information presented forth by J.K. Rowling in any form. We are well aware that the Harry Potter series was written as a fictional world for a children’s book series, however, and not a universe created specifically for rolelaying, so we have occasionally taken it upon ourselves to adjust certain canon details when we feel that it better suits the gameplay of our community. In general, we do also conform to the Harry Potter book series rather than the movies.
If information is not provided on a specific business, detail, or character type, you can generally assume that the canon information we already have is perfectly compatible with our plot and setting at Vault 713. We often use the Harry Potter Wiki to verify information, and if it is listed on this site you can assume that it is fine to use in your posts here at the Vault.
Players may be asked to adjust their information to match existing canon at any time.
While we try our hardest to avoid disrupting existing plots, gameplay, and character backstories, we may occasionally need to ask players to adjust their existing character information to more accurately match what we know to be true from the Harry Potter universe. This may be especially true of canon characters, but occasionally we may need to alter details regarding original characters as well.
If we need to request that any changes be made to any character, we will give the player(s) in question an ample amount of time to do so and make our best effort to accommodate their needs. It is our desire that no player should have to encounter an interruption to their regular roleplaying.
Important Deviations from Existing Canon
Though this is not necessarily a comprehensive list, we did want to note the following specific changes that have been made:
- Half-Vampires do not exist at Vault 713.
- The United States “Magical Congress” is instead a part of the larger Bureau of Magical Affairs.
- Muggles and wizards alike can both become ghosts.
- The setting from Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is acknowledged as a part of our game, but the events of the play are not considered a part of the plot for Legacy Era, which is set during that time.
Please note that this is not a comprehensive list and additional information in the Resource Library may be found to conflict with the existing canon for the series. If you have any questions about whether something is considered canon, or questions about a conflict with our setting, please feel free to mention it in the Help Desk and someone will be happy to assist you.
Canon Information Resources
The Vault 713 staff team utilities the following websites and resources for verifying canon information and for building our site canon, in addition to the books and movies of the Harry Potter series:
The Harry Potter Lexicon – http://www.hp-lexicon.org/
The Harry Potter Wiki – http://harrypotter.wikia.com
The Lexicon: An Unauthorized Guide to Harry Potter Fiction and Related Materials – buy on Amazon
Pottermore – http://www.pottermore.com