"Lost" veterans
This may be semantics and something we may not have to consider for a while yet, but I'm wondering if there should be a distinction between two types of veterans for any particular installment: ones that appeared in the directly-preceding game (and thus were still "current" leading up to the new one) and those that were absent before returning in that installment. Obviously at this point in time, the only qualifying character would be Dr. Mario, but it's just something I've been thinking. Doc almost feels like he's between a veteran and being a newcomer again; after being absent in Brawl, he had to catch up on a lot of conventions it introduced once he returned, like a Final Smash or multiple taunts, and even more basic is that he hadn't been in a Smash game for over a decade before SSB4. Again, it may not be necessary to make the distinction at the current time, but something to think about for the future of the series if this potentially becomes more commonplace (for example - and this is a way-off hypothetical - Ice Climbers returning in SSB5, as I'd imagine that even if Smash goes the two-version route again, the next handheld will be able to handle them.) 
VinLAURiA (talk) 15:32, 23 October 2014 (EDT)
- Oh, and consider that the SSB4 site only labels newcomers as such and doesn't actually use an explicit "veteran" label as the Dojo did, so technically, Doc in SSB4 has never been officially called a veteran. Maybe it'd be a third category altogether, such as veterans, newcomers, and returnees? VinLAURiA (talk) 15:43, 23 October 2014 (EDT)