Player and Cast Character Types
From ThreadsWiki
The Threads of Damocles Campaign has several different ways in which you can play Characters, Non-Continuous Characters or support roles. It is important to read the descriptions carefully. Signing up to play the Threads of Damocles means that you accept the Polices and Obligations listed below:
- CCP - Continuing Character Player
- SWC - Swing Cast
- STC - Standard Cast
- Tech - Technical Crew
See Current Fees
Contents |
Characters: Cast (NCC) and Player (CC)
Continuous Character (CC): This is what many campaigns would call a "Player Character." We kind of don't like this term because it suggests that the opposite is a "Non Player Character" and we really don't want anyone to "not be playing." They may be playing for different criteria. In general CCs are assumed to be playing to "win" and to retain the greatest amount of personal volition. These characters tend not to be "GM Controlled"
Non Continuous Character (NCC): This is what many campaigns would call a "Non Player Character" or NPC. See above. To us this tends to mean a character who is not necessarily going to reappear in game, or doesn't appear every game, and is scripted to some greater or lesser extent by the GMs. This does not mean that we do not instruct some NCCs to "play to win" and that some NCCs don't act with volition and personal freedom. It all depends on the role. These characters tend to be more "GM Controlled'
CC Continuing Character Rates
- CCP - Continuing Character Player - $95
- SWC - Swing Cast - $80
CCP - Continuing Character Player
Quick Description
The classic "Adventurer" role that is often called "Player Character." CCs tend to be the characters whose story the game "follows" and is built around, though they are not the only people of importance in the world. They are the protagonists, and much of what happens in a game is focused on following their actions and activities.
Distinguishing Features
- You pick the character. Within the boundaries set by the GMs, you decide on what character you are playing. If you are playing a character "because you want to," then it is a CC
- More freedom. In general you will not be told how to act or what you must do.
- More mystery. In general you will not know what is about to happen
- Between games control. In general you will be able to determine what happens to your character between games.
- You may end a CC and start a new CC. However, the GMs will only support one CC at a time. You can anticipate an "adjustment period" of 2-3 games between introducing a new CC, and having the GMs write or plot towards that CC. We have no provision for supporting multiple CC characters, so if you switch characters frequently we will never be able to write or plot towards you. Priority is given to characters who die.
- It is very hard to die in this campaign. When it happens, it is generally because of a pro-active decision on your part to take a risk, though this may occasionally include playing through no-luck scenarios. When you die, you are dead. The GMs will not bring your CC back.
Obligations
- You are there to help the game, and the other players as well as to have a good time yourself.
- You may on rare occasions be told how to behave by the GM. This isn't common, but it does happen from time to time. When the GMs must, for reasons of the story ask you to behave or think a certain way, you are obliged to cooperate, and move your character in that direction. This is distinct from game situations that take your character's action out of your control (special abilities, etc.), and is generally linked to "willing suspension of disbelief" or the setup of a scene. In general the GMs do not favor this approach and will use it very sparingly.
- You have a pro-active responsibility to interact with the entire game. You are responsible for entertaining the other Players - CC and NCC - and they are responsible for entertaining you.
- You are a member of a Community based group. Neither the GMs nor the Cast are your servants. You are not their "customer." You are part of a troupe of Interactive Roleplayers, who all have a responsibility to the group. Fees are charged equitably among the group based on service and participation. In general those who choose positions within the group that require require less service pay higher fees.
- You are obliged to help out with "all hands" work where the GMs need every available member of the group, and may also be tasked with occasional light work - helping with cleanup etc., in or out of character. The GMs will be respectful of your physical needs or disabilities. You are never expected to do anything you are not capable of.
- Each regular CC player will be obligated to some Service Commitments, usually in a Utility Cast position. Exact terms are set on a per season basis.
Physical Requirements CC positions are open to all persons who are capable of safely attending at the designated sites, subject to overall attendance policies.
SWC - Swing Cast
Quick Description
This is a really good compromise. This is ideal for players who don't want to miss a game or two,and want to play, but want to reduce their liability for payment, or just to learn more about the game and have fun.
The deal is that you pay CC rate, but you will be Cast or Tech for one or two scenes of each game. We will try to favor the things that you prefer, though we cannot guarantee all cast work. There is a survey where you can express your preferences for tech.
The idea of this status it to help you have a good time. While we cannot guarantee you'll never be cast in a timeslot where you'd rather play, we will do our best to try and schedule you wisely, using you cast in slots where there wouldn't be as much for you to do. Your character may be off on some adventure, resting, or whatever.
Typically you can indicate your preferences for slots through the Signup, though we cannot promise in all cases to give you your preferences.
Physical Requirements
SWC positions are open to all persons who are capable of safely attending at the designated sites, subject to overall attendance policies.
NCC Cast Rates
- STC - Standard Cast - $25
- Tech - Technical Crew - $15
STC - Standard Cast
Quick Description
This is your choice if you wish to "Cast" - play a character written by the GMs, and working for them, who helps drive the scenes of the game, and are primarily into roleplaying, and do not want to do a lot of physical or manual work
Distinguishing Features
- You do not pick your own character. You are playing a character which the GMs want in game. If you are playing a character because you want to, then you want to play a Continuing Character (CC).
- You do not assume creative control of characters that you play in Cast roles. The GMs retain creative control of these characters, though you may be asked to advise, and be allowed to work with wide latitude.
- You do not have creative control of Cast Characters between games. If you indicate an interest, and it is acceptable to the GMs, you may be allowed or encouraged to undertake some between game activity with a given Cast Character that you have played.
- A Cast character that you have played is not "yours." In a future game, if the character is needed, while the GMs will probably ask you to reprise the role, it may be played by some other player for any of a variety of reasons, including your inability to attend. The availability of a given Cast character is not necessarily linked to the availability of a player.
- You may play a variety of roles, some better documented than others. Roles are assigned a weighted point value based on various attributes below. As STC, you can expect that the sum total of your roles across a weekend will be substantially higher than that of Cast who pay less than full rate, however "hard work" assignments for Tech and Monster/UC may also be offset by complimentary "good roles." We do not guarantee that at any given time you will be playing a role "more desirable" than any other Castmember. However across a game, your roles will map out to a higher value. Remember that some Tech or Utility Cast arrive early to set up, or remain for teardown, and that this is weighted into their overall roles.
- Point values are a guideline, and we do not guarantee any specific point value, or guarantee that all STC will have similar point values in a given game. Most STC come to more than one game, and over several games, we expect most STC will even out.
Obligations
- Your primary goal is to play the role as the GM describes it first, and to have fun second.
- You will often have GM guidance, or mandatory actions. You will be told roughly the level of flexibility each character has, or may refer to default guidelines in our Casting Materials.
- You have a pro-active responsibility to interact with the entire game. You are responsible for entertaining the other Players - CC and NCC - and they are responsible for entertaining you.
- You are a member of a Community based group. Neither the GMs nor the Cast are your servants. You are not their "customer." You are part of a troupe of Interactive Roleplayers, who all have a responsibility to the group. Fees are charged equitably among the group based on service and participation. In general those who choose positions within the group that require require less service pay higher fees.
- You are obliged to help out with "all hands" work where the GMs need every available member of the group, and may also be tasked with occasional light work - helping with cleanup etc., in or out of character. The GMs will be respectful of your physical needs or disabilities. You are never expected to do anything you are not capable of.
- In any given game, Cast may be asked to Tech work, however they will generally not draw straight "work" shifts, and will get a mixture of cast roles.
- In games where Cast draw "tech shifts" they will be arranged as equitably as is practical. They are mandatory. It is the penultimate of bad sportsmanship to shirk a work shift - it leaves others in the group to do your work.
Obligations
Capable of moderate physical exertion - we won't put you on the taxi squad, but we do expect you to be able to walk around and carry stuff, go up and down stairs, etc. We try to deliver monsters to their insertion point by vehicle if it is distant.
Willing to get your hands dirty - we will try not to assign you to shovel forty pounds of pigeon excrement. But you may have to clean something, or handle dirty stuff, or whatever.
TC - Technical Cast or Crew
Quick Description
This is your choice if you are interested in periodically having a shot at "good roles," but need or want the discount that goes with doing some tech work. You will work hard, but should also get consideration for significant roles. Distinguishing Features
- TC is a role designed for players who want to occasionally have "high value" roles, but need the economic relief of Utility Cast. TC are given preferential treatment over Monster/Utility Cast for Roles.
Obligations
TC are also expected to act as Tech crew at all other times, and are eligible for any and all work assignments, without shift or prior arrangement.
Physical Requirements
If you do not meet the physical Requirements, you need to talk to theContinuity Staff before signing up as Tech. You may still be eligible.
- Readily Mobile (example...able to walk from pond to barn at the Gammons without undue effort - able to walk up and downhill)
- Capable of repeated lifting of moderate loads. We'll try not to put you on "hauling every damn box we brought up," but you may be asked to "go over there and load those tubs onto the truck." If you can lift 30-40 lb a few times, you should be okay, we're not looking at major lifting projects here.
- Capable of moderate physical exertion - we won't put you on the taxi squad, but we do expect you to be able to walk around and carry stuff, go up and down stairs, etc. We try to deliver monsters to their insertion point by vehicle if it is distant.
- Willing to get your hands dirty - we will try not to assign you to shovel forty pounds of pigeon excrement. But you may have to clean something, or handle dirty stuff, or whatever.
Special Designations
- CCT - Continuing Player Taskholder - special rate
- Staff - by Prior Arrangment
CCT - Continuing Character Taskholder
Quick Description
Exactly the same as CC, however you receive a discount, or Service Commitments credit for some work you do during game.
Distinguishing Features
Generally this responsibility is yours. It is not merely a matter of paying the discounted rate back - the discount is a token. The issue is that there are jobs that need to be done for the group, and you have agreed to do them.
In general the description of this Type is identical to CC, however you have chosen to opt for a specific job or set of jobs delineated by the GMs. Performing these jobs as described must take precedence over your Character play, even if you miss game activities. In return for this, you are generally either
- Paying a reduced fee
- Discharging Service Commitments
You may not delegate tasks of your CCT position to other Cast or CCs. They are your jobs. If they are not done, the responsibility is yours.
All CCT positions are specifically recruited by the Production Staff.
Physical Requirements
CCTs must be capable of safely performing the given task at hand.
Staff
Staff are created by special arrangment with the Executive Producer. Writing for Threads while playing or Casting does not make you staff. Staff typically fulfill a full time, high end, admin function, and typically have extensive duties not only during runtime, but between events.
How we Rate Characters for Assignment to Cast
- Individual Description - 1
- Full Description (more than a paragraph) - 2
- Recurring favored role - 2
- Minor player in a game plot - 1
- Focus/Major Player in a game plot - 2
- Minor player in a campaign plot - 1
- Focus/Major Player in a campaign plot - 3
- Intrinsically cool (tough, etc.) - 1
- High (better than PC) abilities - 1
- Intrinsically Pathetic -1
- Strongly Dramatic (major scene material) - 1
