Post by Batman on Oct 2, 2015 13:48:57 GMT -5
Non-Player Character Rules and Guidelines
General NPC Rules (Applies to all NPCs)
#1. Progress the Story
NPC's are supposed to inspire, antagonize, and support canon characters through a story so that they may progress forward.
Example characters:
Support NPC: Alfred Pennyworth, Etta Candy, and Jonathan Kent
Hero NPC: Doctor Midnite, Mister Terrific, Jim Gordon
Villain NPC: Desaad, Roland Dagget, Hera
#2. No Detailed Origin Story
You are not allowed to have an in-depth and detailed origin story that could influence or impact other characters or the NPC's character. Your NPC origin must default to a Comic/TV series/Movie unless head of family grants otherwise.
Exceptions:
-(Earth-4 only) Head of families can create origin for their own immediate Support characters. (Examples above classify as Support NPC)
#3. Cannot be killed off
You're not allowed to have the character killed off in any RP (Exceptions below). Understand and explain this to your partners that they cannot kill off a character that is being NPC'd by another player.
Exceptions:
-The character is a non-canon NPC.
-Bruce or Lois grant permission.
-The character has been killed off and is stated by Timeline.
-(Earth-4 Only) Family head permit a villain within their own rogue's gallery to be killed.
Exception Examples
-(Earth 4) Batman allowed Catwoman and Mouse to kill off William Earle.
Villain NPC Rules
#1. Antagonize the story
It's your job to antagonize the heroes into taking action. Develop challenges and mysteries in the theme of the villain that provoke the hero into taking action. If you're a brute / fighter then manage your actions appropriately if the character isn't a "thinker."
#2. Communicate with the other players
Keep them informed both In character and out of character what you're doing or what you have in mind. Give them stepping stones to follow or be open for them to ask you questions OOCly. Asking them right off the bat if they would rather follow a mystery or understand the plot from the beginning would be helpful.
Hero/Supporting NPC Rules
#1. Support the story
As a hero NPC its your job to lend a helpful hand where you can with supporting the main character of the story whether its a villain main character (Like Catwoman) or a hero (Superman) your job is to be helpful to them in whatever way the story needs you to be.
Benefits of NPC'ing
-Test Drive a new character
If you've always been curious about a character and wanted to try your hand at it before writing an application, NPC'ing them is the BEST way to do it.
-New character dynamics
NPC'ing a character allows for you to get a different perspective of someone's character, you can see when someone's character is nice or a jerk, possibly emotionally drained or living a regular life at school or work.
-Helpful progression of a story
A lot of repetitiveness with supporting other players, this is a common importance and major reason we've chosen to write this guidelines for members of [DCU].
-Activity Count
If you follow and obey the rules above, you can get credit for activity. You still have to obey the rules of the activity policy (Such as post requirements) but this is one less thing to worry about if you're doing a favor for a friend.
Consequences / Penalties
If you break the rules stated above, admins can take the following actions against you.
#1. Canon Story will be Non-canon
This is the worse case scenario and as admins we will do everything in our power to avoid this, but if a player has blatantly ignored, dismissed, and disregarded these rules, the admins, or the players involved...Then yes, we will delete the story from canon and move it into an Alternate Universe where it is non-canon.
#2. You will be forced to Apply for the Character
If you make significant changes to a characters personality without permission, explore an in-depth origin, or consistently play that same character in more than 3 story arcs, you will be forced to submit an application for that character, otherwise lose your permission to play that NPC and have those stories removed from canon.
Note: This is supposed to be an iron clad thing. We don't want players abusing this. We will offer leniency in some situations, but do not take this as us being naive.
Example:
-A player may NPC a character 4 times, if they attempt to NPC the same character a 5th time, we will tell them to apply for it.
Activity Policy Details / Credit
#1. Must be a part of a Canon story
For you to receive credit for activity that month the RP you're doing must be a canon story.
#2. NPC Credit applies only once a month (with exceptions)
If there is two players involved, you both may only count the RP one time for that month.
(Exceptions)
-If your RP has 3 or more players, you may count the RP for your activity.
Note: This will be monitored for abuse, please don't spoil it for the rest of the players. We're trying to be nice here.
General NPC Rules (Applies to all NPCs)
#1. Progress the Story
NPC's are supposed to inspire, antagonize, and support canon characters through a story so that they may progress forward.
Example characters:
Support NPC: Alfred Pennyworth, Etta Candy, and Jonathan Kent
Hero NPC: Doctor Midnite, Mister Terrific, Jim Gordon
Villain NPC: Desaad, Roland Dagget, Hera
#2. No Detailed Origin Story
You are not allowed to have an in-depth and detailed origin story that could influence or impact other characters or the NPC's character. Your NPC origin must default to a Comic/TV series/Movie unless head of family grants otherwise.
Exceptions:
-(Earth-4 only) Head of families can create origin for their own immediate Support characters. (Examples above classify as Support NPC)
#3. Cannot be killed off
You're not allowed to have the character killed off in any RP (Exceptions below). Understand and explain this to your partners that they cannot kill off a character that is being NPC'd by another player.
Exceptions:
-The character is a non-canon NPC.
-Bruce or Lois grant permission.
-The character has been killed off and is stated by Timeline.
-(Earth-4 Only) Family head permit a villain within their own rogue's gallery to be killed.
Exception Examples
-(Earth 4) Batman allowed Catwoman and Mouse to kill off William Earle.
Villain NPC Rules
#1. Antagonize the story
It's your job to antagonize the heroes into taking action. Develop challenges and mysteries in the theme of the villain that provoke the hero into taking action. If you're a brute / fighter then manage your actions appropriately if the character isn't a "thinker."
#2. Communicate with the other players
Keep them informed both In character and out of character what you're doing or what you have in mind. Give them stepping stones to follow or be open for them to ask you questions OOCly. Asking them right off the bat if they would rather follow a mystery or understand the plot from the beginning would be helpful.
Hero/Supporting NPC Rules
#1. Support the story
As a hero NPC its your job to lend a helpful hand where you can with supporting the main character of the story whether its a villain main character (Like Catwoman) or a hero (Superman) your job is to be helpful to them in whatever way the story needs you to be.
Benefits of NPC'ing
-Test Drive a new character
If you've always been curious about a character and wanted to try your hand at it before writing an application, NPC'ing them is the BEST way to do it.
-New character dynamics
NPC'ing a character allows for you to get a different perspective of someone's character, you can see when someone's character is nice or a jerk, possibly emotionally drained or living a regular life at school or work.
-Helpful progression of a story
A lot of repetitiveness with supporting other players, this is a common importance and major reason we've chosen to write this guidelines for members of [DCU].
-Activity Count
If you follow and obey the rules above, you can get credit for activity. You still have to obey the rules of the activity policy (Such as post requirements) but this is one less thing to worry about if you're doing a favor for a friend.
Consequences / Penalties
If you break the rules stated above, admins can take the following actions against you.
#1. Canon Story will be Non-canon
This is the worse case scenario and as admins we will do everything in our power to avoid this, but if a player has blatantly ignored, dismissed, and disregarded these rules, the admins, or the players involved...Then yes, we will delete the story from canon and move it into an Alternate Universe where it is non-canon.
#2. You will be forced to Apply for the Character
If you make significant changes to a characters personality without permission, explore an in-depth origin, or consistently play that same character in more than 3 story arcs, you will be forced to submit an application for that character, otherwise lose your permission to play that NPC and have those stories removed from canon.
Note: This is supposed to be an iron clad thing. We don't want players abusing this. We will offer leniency in some situations, but do not take this as us being naive.
Example:
-A player may NPC a character 4 times, if they attempt to NPC the same character a 5th time, we will tell them to apply for it.
Activity Policy Details / Credit
#1. Must be a part of a Canon story
For you to receive credit for activity that month the RP you're doing must be a canon story.
#2. NPC Credit applies only once a month (with exceptions)
If there is two players involved, you both may only count the RP one time for that month.
(Exceptions)
-If your RP has 3 or more players, you may count the RP for your activity.
Note: This will be monitored for abuse, please don't spoil it for the rest of the players. We're trying to be nice here.