"All Roads Lead to Zenithstrand"
SEASONAL NPC
Last Updated: October 31, 2019
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE SEASONAL NPC
Maintain a high standard of roleplay and behavioral conduct.
Work with other members of the plot team and the guild owners to ensure a consistent and balanced game world with a continuing, collective story.
Debrief other members of the plot team and guild owners in regards to the player response to mods. A verbal debrief with the relevant Shaper is usually acceptable. Anything that the Seasonal NPC feels is important to the story or should be followed up on should be posted to the Trello board with the meeting notes. (This will prevent player action from going unrecognized.)
Watch for and report cheating, harassment or other violations of rules or policies.
Assist with plot camp set up and take down.
Work with other shapers and guild owners to determine the best responses to in-game actions.
Seasonal NPCs are trusted with more plot information than weekend NPCs or Shifters, and thus are better equipped to deliver the story to the playerbase.
MINIMUM EXPECTATIONS OF THEÂ SEASONAL NPC
Seasonal NPCs must have the ability to maintain confidentiality when dealing with plot and character information, as these things are often discussed during meetings or in plot camp.
Seasonal NPCs must have the ability to take a leadership role and supervise shift NPCs during mods. Ideally, no shifters should ever be sent out without a shaper, narrator or Seasonal NPC.
Seasonal NPCs must remain impartial - they must never target specific players for out of game reasons, nor can they show favoritism to others.
Seasonal NPCs should have the ability to make occasional judgment calls during the event. These occasional calls are expected to not harm the integrity of the game. All such calls should be reviewed with ownership afterward. In most cases, if it does not hinder the flow of the game, is better to have the players wait for an answer from the owners than to make an incorrect call.
When a call needs to be made, the seniority is as follows:
Guildmasters >Head Shaper> Shapers > Narrators > Seasonal NPCs > Shifters
All members of the plot team represent Underworld LARP Saskatoon: Guildhouse Zenithstrand and must adhere to our behavior policies.
All members of the plot team are asked to attend one voice chat based meeting per month. In the event that the Seasonal NPC is unable to attend the scheduled meeting, they are expected to keep themselves up to date by reading the meeting notes and submitting their feedback within 3 days of the meeting.
REWARDS FOR THEÂ SEASONAL NPC
Seasonal NPCs do not pay to attend events for which they are shaping.
Seasonal NPCs receive 1 blanket per event attended while NPCing. (2 for long weekend events).
Seasonal NPCs receive 35 frags per event NPCed. (50 frags for long weekend events).
PERMISSIONS FOR THE SEASONAL NPC
Unless otherwise specified by the ownership team, Seasonal NPCs are permitted to:
Write mods with the assistance of a Shaper or Narrator.
Write and run opportunity mods for obtaining vocation, with Shaper approval.
NPC as a vocational trainer.
Write and run opportunity mods for obtaining advanced ritual casting, necromancy or sigil magic, With Shaper approval.
NPC as a magical trainer.
NPC as a creature capable of issuing Light/Dark Fae Marks
NPC as a summoned Holy Warrior or Unholy Warrior.
NPC as a spirit to respond to Auguries, as directed by a Shaper
NPC as a spirit to respond to Dark Lore Spells, As directed by a Shaper.
NPC as a law representative or Coalition official, as directed by a Shaper.
Oversee the creation of Henges, Groves, Churches or Monoliths. (Though the effects granted by these skills must be approved by a Shaper.)
Oversee mysticism skills such as haunt, augury, etc. (Though the effects granted by these skills must be approved by a Shaper.)
Follow up after in-game thefts. Supervise in-game thefts. (They must report these thefts to the Monster Marshals and Shapers afterwards.)
Issue in-game warnings that a Garbage Elemental is at risk of being summoned, as directed by a Shaper.
Issue in-game warnings that the GRIM is at risk of being summoned, as directed by a Shaper.
Read character backstories, if relevant to NPCs roles or plot lines the the Seasonal NPC is participating in.
LIMITATIONS OF THEÂ SEASONAL NPC
If a Seasonal NPC is unsure whether or not something is permitted within their role, they should seek clarification from the Guildmaster.
Unless obtain explicit permission is obtained from the Ownership team, (if ownership is unavailable, the lead shaper may grant these permissions in their place) Seasonal NPCs may not:
Act as an OOG supervisor during mods or player encounters.
Oversee a PC’s 1 in 10 when a character has taken a death or grant death dreams to the PC.
Oversee a coin flip for a PC that has taken a death.
Write item tags unless instructed by the Monster Marshal - who will sign the tag themselves.
Write personal plot for PCs.
Create ANY Magic Items.
Write ANY Artifact or Chemistry tags.
Write ANY Blueprint tags, Ritual tags, or Formula Tags.
Create Haunt Tags.
Write any tags created by Rituals.
Write Relic Items (all magic items must be created via the existing enchanting and other rituals, should generally only have one ability and should not last more than one year.)
Create Magic Items that grant any abilities from the Favoured Spheres OR Witchcraft
Grant any PC a blessing or magic from the above-mentioned spheres from any god or dragon or demon via any means other than through an NPC or Demon who is present.
Finalize a demon deal with any PC.
Apply any ritual or ritual like effects onto any PCs spirit.
Make calls regarding any PC’s pathway.
(Pathway plot must be pre-approved by the guild owners and properly recorded for our records)
Use or portray any god or dragon in any capacity.
(This requires us to obtain permission from global and is a lengthy permission process)
Send out any NPC that lacks stats or NPC as any being that lacks stats.
Write plot that targets a specific player for out of game reasons, either positively or negatively.
Write plot for their own character or the close friends of their in-game character, or factions that their PCs are a part of. (If you suspect your plot line could create a conflict of interest, please seek permission or clarification prior.)
Send out the GRIM or a Garbage Elemental, or NPC as either Monster.
Create/Define a Pax or Gnomish Device without owner approval
Decide upon additional effects (if any) granted by Haunts, Henges, Groves, Churches or Monoliths.
Call descriptive holds in order to deliver environmental effects.
Plan and run mods during the event that were not included in the mod book.
Do anything related to Unicorns. (Seriously though - No Unicorns, it’s in our contract!)
DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS FOR SEASONAL NPCS
If an NPC is found to be in violation of their role as outlined in this document, the following disciplinary actions will be taken.
First Transgression:
The ownership team will discuss the transgression with the NPC and a warning will be issued. Additional limitations may be given to the Seasonal NPC for the remainder of the season.
Second Transgression:
The NPC will forfeit all frags earned for the event in which the transgression took place.
The ownership may choose to remove them from their position as an NPC or from the plot team.
Third Transgression:
The NPC will receive a suspension for one or more events and will be removed from the plot team if they have not been already. A discussion with the ownership team will be required prior to returning to Zenithstrand.
If an NPC is removed from the plot team due to disciplinary action, or if they quit, they may receive a suspension from NPC shifts for a length of time to be determined by the ownership team. (Meaning they will have to opt out for the duration of their suspension. This will also be taken into consideration should they wish to apply for the plot team in the future.
