NPCs
NPCs (Non-Player-Characters) are random characters players can create on the fly to help enhance the game world. It gives characters additional people to interact with, and they can be used as plot devices for storylines. A servant, a city guard, a petty thief, a librarian, the town idiot, etc., are examples of some NPCs. However, NPCs are NOT characters. NPCs are designed to be usable by everyone. This means anyone can use that NPC at any time, without permission, and use them in their posts and control them as they would a character. Just like characters, though, NPCs cannot control the actions of other players.
Any NPC should be treated like a character, and whatever their personality, beliefs, and actions should follow their character design no matter who is playing them. Think of them as canon characters. Don’t troll and have NPCs act out of character for petty reasons.
If you want to create an NPC from names in established history, such as a character’s back story that is not your own or any game lore, you will need to ask that player or a GM permission first. Many times these specific names are important to the main story or a character’s history. They may be characters you meet later, or possible characters or closed NPCs that have not been introduced yet. Rule of thumb, if they have already been named, ask first.
There are three types of NPCs: Open, Closed, and Private.
Open NPCs - These are free-to-use NPCs. It might be an innkeeper, a villager, a shop owner, a bandit, a vagabond, a city guard, orcs, goblins, cannon fodder, etc. Anyone you can think of to create for the story, feel free to make any type of NPC you wish. All players can use this NPC at any time, and this NPC may be controlled, hurt, or even killed off at the player's discretion. Open NPCs will not have character info as these characters are created on the fly. Players can decide their history, abilities, personalities, etc., during play when they are in use. These NPCs are not meant for long-term use (as in multiple arcs) and should phase out of play at some point. However, if players enjoy using an Open NPC and plan to have them pop up from time to time, you can have them added to the Closed NPC list.
Closed NPCs - Just like Open NPCs, they can be controlled and used by anyone. However, these NPCs cannot be killed off without permission from their initial creator or a GM, as they are intended for long-term use. These NPCs are primarily for plot devices. Perhaps it is a nemesis that a player needs to defeat at some point. It could be a parent, a mentor, a guide, a traveling merchant, a former lover, etc. Anyone can use them and play them as a character in their posts. Since these characters are designed for longer use, players must follow the NPC's basic personality/history info when playing them. Don’t deviate too far from their original intended personality. We will call you out on any deviation of character, and may even make you redact your post. If you are unsure, ask the player or GM for assistance. These NPCs will be listed in the closed_npcs channel. Include their name - profession, race, Magus/Magic - a short synopsis of appearance/personality/history, and their Last known location.
Example of a Closed NPC:
Lilah Halvi - Innkeeper, Human
A pretty woman, pleasingly plump, in her mid-50s, always wearing a finely woven dress with flower embroidery. Over that, she wears an apron that always looks pristine no matter how busy she gets. Round-faced, brown skin, black hair with some wisps of graying at the temples. Her hair is either pinned up on top of her head in a bun or a long braid with a soft fringe framing her face. Dark brown eyes, a warm expression, and a bright smile when she’s laughing. She is outspoken, likes to laugh, and is eager to fill her customers with food and drink. Don’t let her fool you, though; she is a savvy business owner, knows her worth, and isn’t afraid of any patron she allows into her establishment. That’s why her inn is the most popular and successful of all the inns. She has even expanded to other towns. Nearly everyone has heard of The Beautiful Maiden Inn. Lilah is also masterful at finding or just knowing information on just about anyone who frequents her inn, though information always comes at a cost. That cost varies and depends on who is asking or what it involves. If it puts her inn or people at risk, she’s unlikely to divulge such secrets. She is extremely good at intimidating others with just a look and is adept at smacking people with a large wooden spoon, a broom, or a frying pan if upset enough. Growing up a mercenary’s daughter, she knows how to handle a weapon and can be a formidable foe. She has a gift for remembering every person she encounters, every name, every face, so don’t get on her bad side.
Last known location - Not Magus - Rionia, Beautiful Maiden Inn
Private NPCs - These NPCs cannot be controlled or used by anyone else but their creator, or a GM if necessary. This type of NPC is limited to key roles in the game, such as major villains, historical figures, GM characters, or special characters in a player's backstory that they don't want anyone else to utilize. Private NPCs are characters with limited scene time, as they are only present for a short duration or specific events. They are NOT main characters, but they are pivotal to the story in unique ways, where their use needs to be controlled and limited. Players cannot have a bunch of Private NPCs, and will be denied when there are too many, especially when some could instead be a Closed NPC. A Private NPC will have a description similar to a Closed NPC. All historical noted figures are Private GM NPCs, for example: Evithanon, Molrivath, Jeremas, Gornaz, etc.
