Disabilities & Disorders

Part of the fun of role playing is taking on a lifestyle that isn't like your own - but what happens when those characters get real? Even in the wizarding world, some characters stand out from others because of their differences. Here at the Vault, however, we like to keep things fair to people who might have differences in real life. This guide will outline which disabilities and disorders are acceptable for play, and which ones have been disallowed. Some of this stuff can get kind of heavy, so be warned!

Physical Disabilities

Most physical disabilities are acceptable, but keep in mind that witches and wizards might deal with them in different ways than muggles might. Below we've listed disabilities that are accepted for player characters, along with a selection of magical ways of dealing with them.

Wheelchair Bound

Characters with paralysis or amputations are more than welcome as long as the reasoning is logical - having been in an accident, born with a disability, or lost a limb due to dark magic. Keep in mind, however, that wizards have things such as skele-grow and other potions and spells to solve problems like this - Harry regrew all the bones in his body in book two! If your character is still wheelchair bound, however, consider that they may be in a regular chair that's been enchanted to walk on four legs. Many wizard buildings have lots of stairs, and you don't see a lot of handicap ramps at Hogwarts - but an enchanted chair would be able to climb stairs and terrain just like a person! Don't forget - missing limbs can be replaced just like muggles replace missing limbs, even Wormtail had his hand replaced after the Dark Lord cut it off.

Loss of Senses

Blindness or Deafness could be extremely likely if a witch or wizard encountered a bad spell or potions accident - or, just like muggles, they could be born without the ability to see or hear. Deafness is easily fixed, as they could use a magical form of hearing aid that would allow them to hear. Since we have spells that can penetrate one's thoughts or put thoughts in someone's brain, it makes sense that there would be an enchament that would allow the words spoken by others to be heard. Likewise, a blind student may have a device that uses legilimency to paint a picture in their mind of their surroundings. Otherwise, they may use a cane and braille writing like muggles.

Personal Disorders

Many social, mental, or similar disorders are disallowed simply out of respect for those who might live with those conditions in real life. Even though the Vault is a fictional world, these are real things that people are facing every day, and many people come to role play to escape real life, not be reminded of it. With that, we ask that you heed this guide to what will and will not be accepted on an application for your character.

Please Avoid...

• Developmental disabilities such as autism and downs syndrome.
• Traumatic histories involving sexual abuse, such as rape and molestation.

These things can hit close to home with many people, so we ask that you respectfully avoid these things when creating your new character. There are many other character options out there - including some of the other ones listed here.

Be Polite When Playing Characters With...

• Multiple personality disorders, such as dissociative identity disorder.
• Mental disorders, such as schizophrenia.
• Eating disorders, such as anorexia or bulimia.
• Obsessive compulsive disorder.
• Learning disabilities, such as attention deficit disorder or dyslexia.
• Depression, including Bi-Polar Manic Depression.
• Susceptibility to panic attacks or siezures, such as from epilepsy.

It's okay to use these traits for your characters, but use caution. Do research on them before you create your character, and try to be respectful that these are real issues that people are dealing with, not a work of fiction. Remember to not overdo it - your character's disorder does not need to be mentioned in every single post, or used as a way to have them mope around all the time. Think positive and polite! Don't forget - if you wish to play characters with extreme cases of these disorders, you can always portray them as a long-term patient of St. Mungo's Hospital.