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How can you use NPCs to enhance your game's narrative?

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NPCs, or non-player characters, are the people, animals, or creatures that populate your game world and interact with the player. They can be allies, enemies, merchants, quest-givers, or simply background elements. But how can you use them to enhance your game's narrative? In this article, you'll learn some tips and techniques to create NPCs that are engaging, memorable, and meaningful for your game's story.

本文章的要点总结

Create realistic NPCs:

To make your non-player characters (NPCs) truly enhance your game's narrative, ensure they have realistic behaviors and reactions. This brings the game world to life, making every interaction more meaningful for the player.
Distinct NPC personalities:

Give each NPC their own quirks and characteristics. This not only makes them memorable but also enriches the game's world, providing a unique experience as players interact with various characters throughout their adventure.

本摘要由 AI 和以下专家提供支持

Mitch Sabbagh

Award-Winning Game Writer | Narrative…
Paolo Gambardella

Game Design advisor with 15+ years of…

1 Role and function

The first thing to consider when designing NPCs is their role and function in your game. What purpose do they serve for the gameplay and the narrative? Are they there to provide information, challenge, reward, emotion, or immersion? Depending on their role, you'll need to decide how much dialogue, animation, and interaction they have with the player and the environment. For example, a main character who drives the plot forward will need more depth and personality than a random guard who just says "halt".

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2 Personality and voice

The second thing to consider is the personality and voice of your NPCs. How do they speak, act, and behave? What are their motivations, goals, and values? How do they relate to the player and other NPCs? You can use various tools and methods to define and express your NPCs' personality and voice, such as dialogue trees, voice acting, facial expressions, body language, and sound effects. For example, a sarcastic and witty NPC might use humor, irony, and sarcasm in their speech, while a shy and timid NPC might stutter, blush, and avoid eye contact.

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Mitch Sabbagh

Award-Winning Game Writer | Narrative Designer | Proofreader | Editorial Assistant | Quality Assurance Tester | World Builder | Game Industry | Experience at Crimson Herring Studios, Frogwares, and Bethesda
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Whether it's how they conduct themselves or how they dress, personality can make or break a character in terms of memorability. NPCs should express themselves in a way that's as tangible and characteristic as the actions that players are able to perform via their avatar. On one hand, cartoony NPCs can pull out all the stops with regard to physical and mental idiosyncrasies—with over-the-top gestures and lines that emphasize their personality. On the other hand, more grounded NPCs could bear a) appearances that make them stand out without seeming out of place, and b) points of view that depict a novel take on events and locations. The goal's to forge beings that feel like they belong in the world while still retaining their individuality.

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Eric Gutierrez Jr.

Project Manager
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Honestly, a good example would be Tyr from the new God of War games. *Possible Spoilers* He's a literal God of War, but when you finally meet him, his personality is totally different from Kratos. You can't help, but connect with him! So approach your NPCs as deep as you would a protagonist. You never know what kind of awesomeness you can cook up!

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3 Variety and diversity

The third thing to consider is the variety and diversity of your NPCs. How do they differ from each other in terms of appearance, culture, background, and perspective? How do they reflect the diversity of your game world and your target audience? You can use various elements and techniques to create variety and diversity among your NPCs, such as character models, costumes, accessories, accents, dialects, and slang. For example, a fantasy game might have different races, classes, and factions of NPCs, while a sci-fi game might have different planets, species, and technologies of NPCs.

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Daniel????????????? Griliopoulos

Narrative Designer / Game Writer / Words that build Worlds
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Be careful when drawing on real-world inspirations. Think whether you're trying to make this a safe space for your players. Try to avoid tying protected categories liked race or gender to in-game characteristics. If you're involving real-world cultures or history in your game, ensure you plan sensitivity testing.

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4 Relationships and dynamics

The fourth thing to consider is the relationships and dynamics of your NPCs. How do they interact and influence each other and the player? How do they change and evolve over time? How do they affect the game's narrative and outcomes? You can use various systems and mechanics to create relationships and dynamics among your NPCs, such as reputation, friendship, romance, rivalry, loyalty, and betrayal. For example, a RPG game might have NPCs that join or leave the player's party based on their actions, while a simulation game might have NPCs that form or break bonds based on their needs.

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5 Feedback and consequences

The fifth thing to consider is the feedback and consequences of your NPCs. How do they react and respond to the player's actions and choices? How do they reward or punish the player for their behavior? How do they shape the game's narrative and endings? You can use various methods and modes to provide feedback and consequences for your NPCs, such as dialogue, narration, cutscenes, animations, sounds, and music. For example, a horror game might have NPCs that scream, run, or die based on the player's actions, while a adventure game might have NPCs that praise, scold, or thank the player based on their choices.

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Michael Douma

Game Studio Lead for games about word meanings —?OtherWordly & In Other Words
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Adding interaction choices (player’s voice replying to NOCs), from dual-button to multiple-choice, can be more engaging than tap-to-continue. Interestingly, even using just one button — which isn’t truly a choice but a UI sleight of hand giving the illusion of one — can feel more interactive. Spunky text is fine. But we avoid overly specific personalities (“I smirk”), forced humor (“make like a tree and leave”), stereotypes (“oh, a jock move”), over emotionality (“I’m seething with rage”), age-inappropriate language (“yeet that idea”), and extremes of overconfidence or timidity or very specific cultures.

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6 Immersion and realism

The sixth thing to consider is the immersion and realism of your NPCs. How do they make the player feel immersed and invested in your game world and story? How do they create a sense of believability and authenticity for your game genre and theme? You can use various features and factors to enhance the immersion and realism of your NPCs, such as AI, physics, logic, emotions, and behaviors. For example, a stealth game might have NPCs that have realistic vision, hearing, and alertness, while a sandbox game might have NPCs that have dynamic routines, needs, and reactions.

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Paolo Gambardella

Game Design advisor with 15+ years of global experience
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Immersion and realism make the player feel invested in your game world and story. They create a sense of believability and authenticity for your game genre and theme. You can use features like AI, physics, logic, emotions, and behaviors to enhance them. For example, a stealth game might have NPCs with realistic vision, hearing, and alertness, while a sandbox game might have NPCs with dynamic routines, needs, and reactions. Some games that use these techniques are: Red Dead Redemption 2 The Last of Us Part II Half-Life: Alyx

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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How can you use NPCs to enhance your game's narrative?

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2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Role and function

2 Personality and voice

3 Variety and diversity

4 Relationships and dynamics

5 Feedback and consequences

6 Immersion and realism

7 Here’s what else to consider

Game Design

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How can you use NPCs to enhance your game's narrative?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Role and function

2 Personality and voice

3 Variety and diversity

4 Relationships and dynamics

5 Feedback and consequences

6 Immersion and realism

7 Here’s what else to consider

Game Design

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