NPCs
Table of Contents NPC stands for Non-Player Character -- as opposed to a PC. There are various types of NPCs at 'Souls, ranging from aNPCs to pNPCs. General NPC Guidelines
Absentee NPCs (aNPC)Absentee NPCs are radically different from all other NPCs. aNPCs are formerly active, played characters that have been dropped, but which still hang around pack territories. Placing an inactive character on aNPC status allows players to go on extended absences without having to come up with a reason for their character to leave and return ICly. aNPCs are presumed to be present and attending to their normal duties. Specific Guidelines
Companion NPCs (cNPC)Companion NPCs are "side characters" to individual, active, played character. Every played character of 'Souls is entitled to a single canine cNPC. cNPCs are generally closely related (familial, friendship, mateship, etc.) to their attached character, but can be of any sort of relationship: a random follower, a found puppy, etc. Specific Guidelines
Youth NPCs (yNPC)A Youth NPC is any puppy born into 'Souls via our Puppy Procedures (in other words: not all puppies are yNPCs). yNPCs may remain attached to their parent(s) indefinitely, and do not count as the parent character's cNPC. Ownership of yNPCsFormal OOC ownership of a yNPC is by the player who contributed the point. For example, if Parent A contributed two points to a litter and Parent B contributed one, then Parent A owns two of the resulting puppies and Parent B owns one. yNPCs can retain yNPC status in the absence of their parent(s) only when formally ICly adopted by a third party. In these cases, formal OOC ownership of the yNPC passes from the parent(s) to the adopting party. For example, if a puppy's parent(s) die or leave the board without taking them with them, and the puppy is then formally adopted by another character -- the player of that character is the puppy's new owner. It is acceptable for a pack to be the third party; ownership in such cases would be the current leadership of the pack. If the parent(s) are aNPC'd, their puppies are also aNPC'd. Pack NPCs (pNPCs) / Board NPCs (bNPCs)bNPCs and pNPCs are similar, but with a few key differences: namely, who owns the NPCs, and who can roleplay with them. The following stipulations, however, apply to both types of NPCs:
Pack NPCs (pNPCs)Pack NPCs belong to a pack. Any member of that particular pack may roleplay with the pack NPC freely. pNPC specifications differ by pack -- please check with your pack's information or your leader(s). Show Example Board NPCs (bNPCs)Board NPCs belong to the 'Souls Assemblage. Any member of 'Souls is permitted to roleplay with them -- though all bNPCs have specific guidelines (e.g., their personality, purpose, general location, etc.), detailed further on their information pages and this must be adhered to. Temporary NPCs (tNPC)For personal and pack plots spanning multiple threads over a short period of time (0-5 weeks), up to five (5) temporary NPCs are permitted for use. For example, a group of wolves from your character's former pack can come and attack your character and their family. The five tNPC limit remains regardless of how many played characters are involved in the plot. A plot is defined as a set of multiple threads involving many of the same characters in related scenarios. tNPCs all belong to the same plot if they interact or otherwise contribute to the same events. This is true even if individual tNPCs aren't all of the same alliance or origin. See Example You don't have to request permission to introduce tNPCs into the game; however, you must create an explicit note regarding their introduction to the game, either in the OOC section of the first post of each thread or by privately via PMing the 'Souls Assemblage. If more than five NPCs or five weeks are needed, or if after the duration of the plot, you wish you re-use the same NPCs for a new plot, permission must be sought from the 'Souls Assemblage. Minor NPCs (mNPCs)Minor, "unimportant" canine NPCs are allowed within reason. You can assume there are plenty of loner NPC canines around 'Souls, and you are free to interact with them and use them in your posts. Minor NPCs are permitted on a single thread basis and cannot be used for multi-thread plots. Recurring minor NPCs are okay, but threads involving reoccurring minor NPCs cannot be related (e.g. not a multi-thread plot). Take care not to abuse mNPCs and threat them like cNPCs. Show Examples ClarificationsAdoptable NPCsA clarification regarding NPCs (regardless of their adoption availability): all NPCs must have an active character attachment (i.e., be a Companion NPC to an active character) or they must have an active pack attachment (i.e., be a Pack NPC within an active pack) or they must be a youth NPC (i.e., born into 'Souls via puppy procedures). In other words: there's no such thing as an "adoptable NPC" except that it's a pNPC, yNPC, or cNPC that is available for adoption. Players (and packs) may not create any NPCs beyond their companion or pack NPC allotment. |