1. Cool, we’re on the same page! This is absolutely my approach. I typically use the books to fill in stuff that Jon would know but a TV show can’t waste time on, especially since it’s a good consensus source for casts when it comes to things like shared childhood memories or the names of minor characters — trivia, basically. It also helps explain Jon’s motivations for things that happen in very similar ways for apparently similar reasons, like his decision to execute Janos Slynt or his relationship with Ygritte. But it’s not reasonable to, say, incorporate Donal Noye (explicitly not in the show: his plot impact is given to Tyrion) or Val (very obviously written out), or Mormont’s Raven (a suspiciously astute talking bird), or pretend that something extremely important like Jon’s baby swap happened offscreen or is part of his show characterization. There are also a few very important things that are technically show-only, like the confirmation of Jon’s parentage that the books only hint at so far, and the consequent dragon affinity.
TBH, while some mods have wanted to keep/use the warg bond (or at least allowed it), the extent of my use of it as a player over the last few years has been Jon maybe craving raw meat once or twice or thinking “gosh I’m so close to Ghost that sometimes I dream I’m him”: any more extensive version of it, like the time Bran used it to invade Jon’s dreams, would conflict with the show. So it’s good and necessary to draw whatever boundary you think is best on that entire subject.
That said….
2. While Ghost is always a “nice to have,” and while it would be IC for Jon to prefer to have him around and to find some relief in Ghost’s presence under the circumstances… I don’t think anyone playing from a 7x02 canon point can fairly argue that Show Jon is very psychologically dependent on him anymore. In many ways, he functions more as an external symbolic representation of Jon than as an animal companion Jon depends on for stability. Ghost often protects people who Jon would protect if he were there.
Early-canon Jon is a lonely, insecure kid who uses Ghost as a security blanket, but S7 Jon has functioned without Ghost in the past (during his time with the Wildlings and during his trip to Hardhome), and he’s coming from a pull point where he’s about to do nothing but function without Ghost for the greater part of a year. Ghost didn’t appear onscreen between 6x03 and 8x02 for budgetary reasons, but he is still assumed to be with Jon until Jon leaves Winterfell for Dragonstone. Jon doesn’t return for probably about six months, then is home for maybe six weeks or so, has a major identity crisis, and gives Ghost away. They’re reunited at Castle Black maybe 4-6 months after that. (The passage of time can be determined by travel logistics: the distance from Winterfell to White Harbor would be about two weeks of day travel on horseback, White Harbor to Dragonstone would be about two weeks by sea in good conditions, and so on.)
I’ve also never had issues playing him from this canon point without Ghost! Ghost mostly works as a bonus CR hook, something that helps other characters understand Jon a little better (he’s this guy who can seem intimidating but is actually kind, and Ghost is this huge red-eyed wolf who mostly acts like a well-trained dog), sometimes something for castmates to attach to, etc. So, tl;dr, knowing this kind of creature is a special exception on your part and it’d be dishonest for me to argue that he’s “needed,” however tempting, I’ve been prepared to have Jon come in without him. It is delightful to have him around, but it’s not easier or harder: I lose the CR hook if he isn’t, and a slightly more isolated Jon gets a few “I miss Ghost” moments in tags, but I also don’t have to figure out what a large companion animal is up to all the time.
no subject
TBH, while some mods have wanted to keep/use the warg bond (or at least allowed it), the extent of my use of it as a player over the last few years has been Jon maybe craving raw meat once or twice or thinking “gosh I’m so close to Ghost that sometimes I dream I’m him”: any more extensive version of it, like the time Bran used it to invade Jon’s dreams, would conflict with the show. So it’s good and necessary to draw whatever boundary you think is best on that entire subject.
That said….
2. While Ghost is always a “nice to have,” and while it would be IC for Jon to prefer to have him around and to find some relief in Ghost’s presence under the circumstances… I don’t think anyone playing from a 7x02 canon point can fairly argue that Show Jon is very psychologically dependent on him anymore. In many ways, he functions more as an external symbolic representation of Jon than as an animal companion Jon depends on for stability. Ghost often protects people who Jon would protect if he were there.
Early-canon Jon is a lonely, insecure kid who uses Ghost as a security blanket, but S7 Jon has functioned without Ghost in the past (during his time with the Wildlings and during his trip to Hardhome), and he’s coming from a pull point where he’s about to do nothing but function without Ghost for the greater part of a year. Ghost didn’t appear onscreen between 6x03 and 8x02 for budgetary reasons, but he is still assumed to be with Jon until Jon leaves Winterfell for Dragonstone. Jon doesn’t return for probably about six months, then is home for maybe six weeks or so, has a major identity crisis, and gives Ghost away. They’re reunited at Castle Black maybe 4-6 months after that. (The passage of time can be determined by travel logistics: the distance from Winterfell to White Harbor would be about two weeks of day travel on horseback, White Harbor to Dragonstone would be about two weeks by sea in good conditions, and so on.)
I’ve also never had issues playing him from this canon point without Ghost! Ghost mostly works as a bonus CR hook, something that helps other characters understand Jon a little better (he’s this guy who can seem intimidating but is actually kind, and Ghost is this huge red-eyed wolf who mostly acts like a well-trained dog), sometimes something for castmates to attach to, etc. So, tl;dr, knowing this kind of creature is a special exception on your part and it’d be dishonest for me to argue that he’s “needed,” however tempting, I’ve been prepared to have Jon come in without him. It is delightful to have him around, but it’s not easier or harder: I lose the CR hook if he isn’t, and a slightly more isolated Jon gets a few “I miss Ghost” moments in tags, but I also don’t have to figure out what a large companion animal is up to all the time.
Thanks!