Player Character: Difference between revisions
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{{Useful Notes}} |
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[[File:Char creation 6938.jpg|link=Neverwinter Nights|frame|[[A Hero Is Born|It all starts]] [[Character Customization|somewhere...]]]] |
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[[I Thought It Meant|No, not a character who happens to be]] "[[Chick Magnet|a player]]." |
[[I Thought It Meant|No, not a character who happens to be]] "[[Chick Magnet|a player]]." |
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This concept represents the in-game character controlled by the |
This concept represents the in-game character controlled by the player—as opposed to [[Non-Player Character|Non Player Characters]] who aren't. Typically the game puts you in charge of at least one entity, but the extent to which that entity ''is'' an actual character, as opposed to being a [[Featureless Protagonist]] or [[Non-Entity General]], depends on the genre, the game, the game's developers, and even (if [[Character Customization]] is available) the player him- or herself. |
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Sometimes, the term PC only refers to [[The Protagonist]], particularly if they are created by the player, while [[NPC]] is used even for [[Player Party|other party members]] who the player still controls but are preexisting characters within the game world, rather than a personal avatar. |
Sometimes, the term PC only refers to [[The Protagonist]], particularly if they are created by the player, while [[NPC]] is used even for [[Player Party|other party members]] who the player still controls but are preexisting characters within the game world, rather than a personal avatar. |
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* [[Sociopathic Hero|Sociopathic]], only caring about what benefits the party (or in some cases, just themselves) |
* [[Sociopathic Hero|Sociopathic]], only caring about what benefits the party (or in some cases, just themselves) |
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* [[It's All About Me|Self-important]], often striding into the spotlight regardless of how appropriate that would be to the situation they're in |
* [[It's All About Me|Self-important]], often striding into the spotlight regardless of how appropriate that would be to the situation they're in |
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* [[Spanner in |
* [[Spanner in the Works|Unpredictable,]] constantly frustrating or amazing the GM with [[Indy Ploy|tricks]] and [[Xanatos Speed Chess|strategies]] that nobody could have anticipated |
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* [[Crazy Awesome]]; due to the nature of such games, PCs tend to either [[Crowning Moment of Awesome|succeed magnificently]] or [[Stuff Blowing Up|fail]] [[Total Party Kill|spectacularly]] |
* [[Crazy Awesome]]; due to the nature of such games, PCs tend to either [[Crowning Moment of Awesome|succeed magnificently]] or [[Stuff Blowing Up|fail]] [[Total Party Kill|spectacularly]] |
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This largely stems from the PCs being [[Theory of Narrative Causality|the main characters in their story]] and, more importantly, ''[[Dangerously Genre Savvy|knowing it]]''. |
This largely stems from the PCs being [[Theory of Narrative Causality|the main characters in their story]] and, more importantly, ''[[Dangerously Genre Savvy|knowing it]]''. |
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Finally, a wise word to all tropers: don't conflate |
Finally, a wise word to all tropers: don't conflate '''Player Characters''' with players. [[Street Fighter|Ryu]] punches Ken, Ryu does not punch ''the player''. Unless [[Refugee From TV Land|something has gone horribly wrong]]. Or [[Player Punch|something has gone horribly wrong]]. |
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{{reflist}} |
{{reflist}} |
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[[Category:World War One]] |
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[[Category:Video Game Characters]] |
[[Category:Video Game Characters]] |
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[[Category:Tabletop |
[[Category:Tabletop Game Tropes]] |
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[[Category:Player Character]] |
[[Category:Player Character]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Pages with working Wikipedia tabs]] |
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Latest revision as of 16:04, 19 August 2019
No, not a character who happens to be "a player."
This concept represents the in-game character controlled by the player—as opposed to Non Player Characters who aren't. Typically the game puts you in charge of at least one entity, but the extent to which that entity is an actual character, as opposed to being a Featureless Protagonist or Non-Entity General, depends on the genre, the game, the game's developers, and even (if Character Customization is available) the player him- or herself.
Sometimes, the term PC only refers to The Protagonist, particularly if they are created by the player, while NPC is used even for other party members who the player still controls but are preexisting characters within the game world, rather than a personal avatar.
It's a curious thing, but most PCs in tabletop RPGs have a sort of personality archetype that applies regardless of the genre of the game the PCs are in or the personalities of the people playing them. They tend to be:
- Sociopathic, only caring about what benefits the party (or in some cases, just themselves)
- Self-important, often striding into the spotlight regardless of how appropriate that would be to the situation they're in
- Unpredictable, constantly frustrating or amazing the GM with tricks and strategies that nobody could have anticipated
- Crazy Awesome; due to the nature of such games, PCs tend to either succeed magnificently or fail spectacularly
This largely stems from the PCs being the main characters in their story and, more importantly, knowing it.
Finally, a wise word to all tropers: don't conflate Player Characters with players. Ryu punches Ken, Ryu does not punch the player. Unless something has gone horribly wrong. Or something has gone horribly wrong.