NPC

NPCs (Non-Player Characters, or Non-Primary Characters) can be very useful tools to our storytelling, and can greatly enrich the environment in which we write our characters living. However, in order to allow for consistency, a small number of rules have been established on the sim in regards to the creation and use of NPCs.

As Required NPCs

These NPCs are created on an as-needed basis for the purposes of a post. Details on them are generally scarce, rarely extending past their rank, name, species and function. Often we will never see or hear of these NPCs again, and as such these NPCs are not entered into the site's personnel manifest.

Generic NPCs

Generic NPCs are those members of the ship's crew who make repeating appearances in our stories, but are not seen with the regularity to be considered part of a 'recurring cast'. Such characters may be a shuttle pilot seen every now and then, or a semi-regular nurse in sickbay; characters where it is helpful to have a name and some brief details in order to keep the appearances of that character consistent.

Generic NPCs can be written for by any member of the crew that needs to make use of them, but players should be careful in making sure that they keep the character's portrayal similar to any other posts that the NPC has been included in. An NPC shouldn't be the cute and cuddly Ensign one minute, and then a snarling angry fear-fest the next time they are used.

If you are going to create a generic NPC that will be used a lot and by other crew it is best to fill in the basic details on there bio as possible so simmers have a general overview of the character. If you would like to write for that NPC please check other posts that the NPC has been used in, and see how the character was portrayed to keep it consistent.

Owned NPCs (PNPCs)

An owned NPC - or PNPC for Player's NPC - is an NPC that has been created specifically by a player on the sim in order for them to write for in a more regular and detailed manner than is usually done for generic NPCs. A PNPC can be added to a player's account in order for them to be able to post directly from that NPC (so that they don't have to include their primary character in the post if they are not actually part of it) and is for the exclusive use of that player.

PNPCs should have there bio properly filled out with as much detail as where possible. PNPCs should not be used in a post without permission via PM of the authors consent and it is expected that players who create PNPCs make use of them regularly to justify there existence on the manifest

Players who wish to create a PNPC within a department must speak to the department head first and send all relevant information to fill in the character via PM. If you would like to add a second role to a PNPC in another department must contact the relevant department head to seek permission to approve the second position. The department head should then contact the Commanding Officer to have the PNPC linked to the relevant user account

NPC Rules

These are general rules set our when creating NPCs within your department

• Except for rare and specific NPCs, the maximum rank limit of an NPC should be that of Lieutenant.
• If you would like to have Family members or an NPC with a cadet rank present on board the simulation please contact the Commanding Officer with a well thought out valid reason as to why you want them on board the simulation
• NPCs with a rank of Warrant Officer (especially the higher grades) should be used sparingly. These officers will be rare aboard the ship, and will be highly experienced individuals who rose from the NCO ratings.
• If the rank set used contains provisional rank sets (as seen on Star Trek: Voyager}, these should be used very sparingly; they are intended for when a field commission is granted to an individual by the ship's commanding officer, where it cannot or has not been confirmed by Starfleet