In this case, the line between PC and NPC can be vague. In less traditional RPGs, narrative control is less strictly separated between gamemaster and players. Some systems, such as Nobilis, encourage this in their rules. Although these characters are still designed and normally controlled by the gamemaster, when players are given the opportunity to temporarily control these non-player characters, it gives them another perspective on the plot of the game. Reasons for this vary, but often arise from the player not maintaining a PC within the group and playing the NPC for a session or from the player's PC being unable to act for some time (for example, because the PC is injured or in another location). In some games and in some circumstances, a player who is without a player character can temporarily take control of an NPC. There is also some debate regarding the importance of fully defined NPCs in any given role-playing game (RPG), but it is general consensus that the more "real" the NPCs feel, the more fun players will have interacting with them in character. There is some debate about how much work a gamemaster should put into an important NPC's statistics some players prefer to have every NPC completely defined with stats, skills, and gear, while others define only what is immediately necessary and fill in the rest as the game proceeds. Some may be only a brief description ("You see a man in a corner of the tavern"), while others may have complete game statistics and backstories. NPCs can also be traders that trade currency for things such as equipment or gear. Non-player characters might be allies, bystanders or competitors to the PCs. Non-player characters populate the fictional world of the game, and can fill any role not occupied by a player character. While the player characters (PCs) form the narrative's protagonists, non-player characters can be thought of as the "supporting cast" or "extras" of a roleplaying narrative. In a traditional tabletop role-playing game such as Dungeons & Dragons, an NPC is a character portrayed by the gamemaster (GM). In video games, this usually means a character controlled by the computer (instead of a player) that has a predetermined set of behaviors that potentially will impact gameplay, but will not necessarily be the product of true artificial intelligence. The term originated in traditional tabletop role-playing games where it applies to characters controlled by the gamemaster or referee rather than by another player. JSTOR ( January 2012) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message)Ī non-player character ( NPC), or non-playable character, is any character in a game that is not controlled by a player.Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.įind sources: "Non-player character" – news Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. This article needs additional citations for verification.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |