Trini
Dragonrider
Posts: 83
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Post by Trini on Jan 10, 2009 16:41:58 GMT -5
What's the distinction between a PC and an NPC? Is it just the level of permission required to use him/her in a story? Is it the level of identification of a writer/player with their character, like a game piece? Is there a limit on PC's? Do you have to have a PC, or can you have all NPCs?
I'm sure there's an official answer, but if there's discussion from the ranks on this, I'm curious about that, too.
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Post by Anna on Jan 10, 2009 16:59:48 GMT -5
A PC - primary character - a character that's near and dear to the writer's heart. It's a character that you'll write stories about, make a central component of plots, and be especially protective of. An NPC - non primary character - is like a movie or television show extra. You like them, so you want to protect them and make sure nothing serious happens to them without your permission, but they're not as important, or used as often or as much, as your primary characters. Um. Okay. Here's a current day example: On Grey's Anatomy, the following characters are PC: Meredith, Cristina, Derek, Izzie, George, Dr. Bailey, ect. The current batch of interns (with the exception of Lexie), and the nurses, and characters Denny, would be NPCs. There's no limit on the number of PCs you have, but if you're going to write, you need ot have at least one PC. You can also have as many NPCs as you want, but they can't be ranking characters - or if they are, if someone comes along and wants to write a PC for that position, your NPC will be demoted.  Clear as mud now? |
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Trini
Dragonrider
Posts: 83
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Post by Trini on Jan 10, 2009 17:41:50 GMT -5
Clear as mud now? Actually, yes. The real world analogy helped. (As they usually do.) The world "protective" did, as well. I get that. Would I be right in thinking that they could get promoted (from NPC to PC) if I discover I love one so much I need to build a fence around her and love her and pet her and call her 'George'? I guess that would be analogous to giving Addison a spin off series? (Except actually good?)
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Post by Anna on Jan 10, 2009 17:50:46 GMT -5
Oh, most definitely! A lot of my favorite characters started out as NPCs that took on a life of their own and demanded equal (or more!) attention!
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Erica
Dragonrider
Posts: 186
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Post by Erica on Jan 22, 2009 11:11:45 GMT -5
This is a very helpful post!
Thanks for the clarification.
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Post by ginnystar on Mar 13, 2010 22:58:12 GMT -5
Quite useful information, thanks.
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Post by Chantal on Mar 15, 2010 18:32:00 GMT -5
Definitely, NPC's can become PC's. Alissi, back when she was Aerden's apprentice, was an NPC who I liked very much, but I mainly needed her to be a means of telling his story. Then she Impressed Invirith, and I made her a primary character in her own right, with her own stories. Sedric, the mindhealer, however, is still an NPC and always will be.
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