Mechanics: Special and Generic NPCs

[Peeker]

The overwhelming majority of gameplay will occur in a communal channel on the AOTK IRC, #caravan The channel’s moderators, Ellen and Peeker, will help spur on developing gameplay with short prompts regarding the game’s setting – snippets about the weather, the surrounding location, events of notice, and so on: beyond that, the majority of narrative and ‘direction’ the game takes will be a function of responding to the players’ development and enjoyment. We’d ask you to play as much of anything that you expect others would enjoy seeing and joining in on in this channel, to help maintain a sense of community activity.

NPCs will fall into two categories – generic and special. Generic NPCs are members of the caravan which no one claims as ‘theirs’ and who aren’t super plot-critical. They are free for Player 1 to pick up today, Player 2 to use next week, and Player 3 to have get off at Smithtown to visit their family. All that we ask regarding generic NPCs is that what little characterization and such they get remains consistent – if you want Farmer Bob to be a superstitious coward who hates non-humans (as shown when he insults your elf character) we don’t want the next person to play Farmer Bob have him trying to beat up dwarves --- there’s Farmer Jim or Farmette Ann for that.

Special NPCs are similar – but, well, special. They’re key members of the caravan who probably deserve their own bios, and which Ellen and/or Peeker would really appreciate you to ask permission before you pick them up for a scene. Rules on consistency apply just the same, and they can’t really ‘leave’ the Caravan. Think of them as good role-fillers that can be shared amongst the group… maybe a powerful mercenary lady will serve as a sexy disciplinary female top – no matter who’s playing her, that’s her role, and anyone can use it, or request someone else play her, for a scene.