NPC Briefing Sheet

Introduction

It has come to my notice that considerable confusion was caused at the last ball in the creation of NPCs. This appears to be because although all the Toreador have read and understood the prestige rules, a lot of other players hadn't and they misunderstood what was expected of them. This is by way of an information sheet that can be handed out to the player of a prospective NPC. This is not so much an extension of the rules as a re-iteration with emphasis of those already in existence.

What an NPC should not be

An NPC is not a PC in the Making

``These NPCs are a limited resource. If they are lost or killed you cannot create new ones unless you gain prestige yourself, or buy more influence points etc. Hence it is considered very bad form among Toreador to presence away other people's artists.''

This means that it is extremely unfair on the Toreador player if their NPC player intends to transform the NPC into a PC. If you want to start a new character off as a mortal artist, then create the character as normal, discuss it with the Story Council as normal, between you and the story council you will decide on the appropriate way to introduce the character (which may be as a friend of a Toreador character, or it may not). This mortal will not count as someone's NPC since they will only be around for a short time.

An NPC is not a second PC

``Since people may try and influence/use/stay in touch with these NPCs (especially if they are of high prestige) they should have reasonably detailed backgrounds which should be given to the Toreador primogen before the NPC appears. You should also contact the primogen if you are intending to invite this NPC somewhere, some of them (at the story council's discretion) will have lives of their own and may not wish to turn up.''

If the story council are going to give an NPC their own agenda, they will get in touch with you, not vice versa. Moreover these NPCs are not player characters, the story council do not want to get letters saying ``my NPC is doing such and such, this week''. If your NPC is doing something the story council will tell you, not vice versa. You may make suggestions to the story council, but please remember that the PCs are their priority and they have enough on their hands coping with them. If you are a PC and want an NPC to do something then contact the story council, not the player of the NPC. However, this should be a rare occurence, see later sections.

An NPC is not an excuse to cause Trouble

``Toreador are generally very careful about having mortals at any party where the majority of the guests will be kindred. It is a prestige disaster if a talented artist has to be destroyed because they have found out too much (or been ripped apart because they angered the Gangrel primogen).''

This means:

The NPC will not be interested in or researching in any way vampyres, the supernatural or the occult.

The NPC may get the idea that they are moving in a circle of people who are very cliquey, but then High Society is very cliquey, the mixture of money and talent attracts all sorts of movers and shakers who may well be members of various other clubs, societies, the masons, political lobbies, etc. some of which may well have dubious agendas which they don't want publicised. The idea that the supernatural may, in any way be involved should be the last thing that occurs to your NPC. If you think that the conclusion really has been drawn, write a short report, stating your reasons for supposing that, and hand it in to the story council. They will then get in touch with you if they want to take it further. If they do not get in touch, then your character did not suspect anything.

An NPC is not an extra Resource for PCs

``NOTE: These NPCs can only be used for playing prestige games and adding colour at parties. They cannot be used to wage influence over any other aspect of the game.''

This means:

The NPC will not hand out large sums of money to PCs. You may purchase works of art from them, hire them, whatever, if you so wish, but any money you hand over is assumed to contribute to their normal income.

The NPC does not have any influences (in fact influences only apply to vampyres anyway).

Your NPC is not an ace pick-pocket/safe-cracker/fighter-pilot on the side. If you are playing a prestigious rather than an artistic NPC you may be a famous pilot, if you wish, but for one reason or another you will never make this skill available to PCs except for purely role-playing reasons. i.e. You will take them for a flight for fun, but you will not be available that time they suddenly need an unchartered flight to Paris through a storm.

What an NPC should be

If you are creating an NPC what I want to see is a character background, the level of artform (if relevant) and the level of prestige (if relevant), the Toreador to whom the NPC belongs and the skills they possess that justify the NPC.

Example NPC Character Sheet(A)

NPC Player Name:

Louise Dennis

NPC Character Name:

Alice Drewery

Toreador Player Name:

Simon Proctor

NPCs Artform(s):

Oboe:2, Composing:2

NPCs Prestige:

Irrelevant.

Toreador Character Skills:

Singing:3 (for Oboe:2, Note: I can't have Oboe:3 because I gave Ellie Singing:3 for the Npc she played for me last month), High Society Influence:1 + average prestige points bonus (for Composing:2)

Background:

Alice is a student at the Royal College ...

Example NPC Character Sheet(B)

NPC Player Name:

Susan Garven

NPC Character Name:

Kate Hartland

Toreador Player Name:

Louise Dennis

NPCs Artform(s):

None

NPCs Prestige:

High (Socialite/Celebrity hanger-on)

Toreador Character Skills:

High Prestige (for High Prestige)

Background:

Kate is the daughter of a wealthy millionaire, all three of her husbands have been famous (a movie star, a Kennedy, and a Duke) ...

All NPC stats are assumed to be 1 and they are assumed not to have any skills (unless they are prestigious because of some (non-artistic) skill). Roleplay sensibly - this does not mean you are playing a no-hoper with no skills and no life, it just means that cometh the crunch you won't have the relevant skill to fall back on. In conversation you are allowed to display general or even specialised knowledge on any subject you so wish, so long as its not stuff that is specific to the Globe O'Gloom (unless authorised by the story-council). You are certainly allowed to display knowledge of and have opinions on art.