Castle MacLaaran's
Role Playing Game Rules
Non-Player Characters
One of the most intriguing things about RPGs is the use of non-player characters (NPC). An NPC can be a person, an animal, even at times a mythical creature although these should be kept to a minimum to remain within the MacLaaran theme.
The MacLaaran message board can be used to create the NPC and the situation that you choose to deal with. Once the basic situation is created, you can invite others to participate by finding interesting ways to make them aware of what is going on. Remember, as James described so eloquently in the Introduction, people can not easily see or hear what is happening in the RPG unless you send or deliver messages though either the room, or the MacLaaran message board.
Once you do invite people to participate, you should wait a reasonable time for a response before posting again. There is not much joy in playing alone. Remember, once you do invite others, you lose control of their responses, just like in real time.
The combat rules are a bit different regarding NPCs. Here any short conflict can be started with multiple strikes, even completed alone if that is your goal. If you send a messenger for help, again please remember that you lose control of the results until it is your turn again.
Since MacLaaran is a no-kill zone, you can never kill or maim another member, only the NPCs. It is polite and often wise to even discuss what you are going to do if it extensively changes the intent of the originator of that particular RPG.
If at anytime, the Game Master believes a post or move was not within the theme, rules or the intent of an RPG, he can call a foul and delete those posts.