As some of you may have noticed, two plot NPCs have been added to the forum. How exciting!

But wait! you may say, what is a plot NPC?

What a very good and insightful hypothetical question, [#username] — thank you for hypothetically asking!

First of all, an explanation on NPCs as a whole. 'NPC' stands for Non-Player Character. This means that the character is not controlled by any specific player, and is generally used to provide additional characters for players to interact with. For example, if two characters are at a restaurant, a waiter serving them would be considered an NPC; the waiter is not officially a character, and since they are not 'owned' by either of the players, both players are able to use the waiter and control their actions.

Plot NPCs are a new mechanic here on TARP that the staff will be using to move our overarching storyline along. Unlike the usual NPCs, these are controlled by staff only. This is because, unlike regular NPCs, Plot NPCs are not arbitrary characters and will serve a functional purpose in drawing players into the main story line, rather than serving as a filler character for individual threads.

Another difference between a Plot NPC and a regular NPC is that Plot NPCs may show up uninvited in your threads. How your character(s) react to the arrival of an NPC is entirely up to you! And yes, you are more than welcome to take no action! The arrival of a Plot NPC does not, and will never, require you to participate in the main plot event.

Currently, there is one NPC: @messenger. NPCs have very specific functions for our story lines. @messenger will, of course, be primarily used for delivering messages. Future NPCs will have similarly specialise roles.

We have anticipated a few concerns, so a quick FAQ:

Q: Do Plot NPCs have profiles?
A: In a manner of speaking. You can view each NPC's information in the NPC Board

Q: Can we use the Plot NPCs in our threads?
A: Not exactly. If you would like your plot to be considered part of the overarching storyline, then please PM a staff member and we can discuss the plot + usage of Plot NPCs. The staff will, however, still be in control of the NPC during this time.

Q: Will Plot NPCs be able to enter characters' homes or otherwise private locations?
A: Absolutely not. We will be diligent in making sure that any thread we are considering inserting a Plot NPC into is located in a publicly accessible location: restaurants, civic buildings, a market place, and so on.

Q: What if I don't want to participate in the overarching plot?
A: That's completely fine! Not everyone wants to be in the thick of things, so you retain the choice to decide whether to play along when an NPC arrives. We do ask you acknowledge the NPC's appearance, but you are free to direct your character to ignore them, walk away, etc.

Q: May I make an NPC suggestion?
A: Certainly! Make sure that it will serve the overall forum plot. We will not be accepting suggestions for generic NPCs such as tea shop workers and the ilk. If you have a suggestion, please PM Gia or A Long Display Name Here.

Q: Will more NPCs be added in the future?
A: Yes indeed! We are currently not at liberty to say what kind of NPCs will be added, however. You'll just have to wait and see.

Q: How involved in my threads might a Plot-NPC be? If I want to interact with one, will they be like another character that is fully involved for the duration of the thread, or should I only expect one or two posts from them?
A: This will depend on the Plot NPC and their role. For example, @messenger will likely only be in a thread for a post or two because their function is to deliver a message only, but another NPC like a faction spokesperson may stick around for longer because of their active role in the community and in engaging with people. Any future Plot NPCs will have similar stipulations on their interactive ability, but we will strive to make it obvious either in their NPC profile or by their name (or both) what their function is so you can tell. Of course, if you wish to interact with an NPC longer than they would normally, you're free to send a PM to Gia or A Long Display Name Here and we can discuss what you had in mind.