NPC Guards
From The Heretic Knowledge Vault
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| '''Appears In:''' | | '''Appears In:''' | ||
| - | | align="center" | ''Chapter 3''<br> [http://www.errantstory.com/archive.php?date=2003-05-21 05/21], [http://www.errantstory.com/archive.php?date=2003-05-23 05/23], [http://www.errantstory.com/archive.php?date=2003-05-26 05/26], [http://www.errantstory.com/archive.php?date=2003-06-16 06/16], [http://www.errantstory.com/archive.php?date=2003-06-18 06/18], [http://www.errantstory.com/archive.php?date=2003-06-20 06/20], [http://www.errantstory.com/archive.php?date=2003-06-23 06/23]<br><br>''Chapter 4''<br> [http://www.errantstory.com/archive.php?date=2003-07-14 07/14], [http://www.errantstory.com/archive.php?date=2003-07-16 07/16], [http://www.errantstory.com/archive.php?date=2003-07-18 07/18]<br><br>''Chapter 11''<br> [http://www.errantstory.com/archive.php?date=2004-12-24 12/24], [http://www.errantstory.com/archive.php?date=2004-12-31 12/31], [http://www.errantstory.com/archive.php?date=2005-01-03 01/03], [http://www.errantstory.com/archive.php?date=2005-01-05 01/05]<br><br>''Chapter 12''<br> [http://www.errantstory.com/archive.php?date=2005-03-09 03/09], [http://www.errantstory.com/archive.php?date=2005-03-11 03/11], [http://www.errantstory.com/archive.php?date=2005-03-23 03/23], [http://www.errantstory.com/archive.php?date=2005-03-25 03/25] | + | | align="center" | ''Chapter 2''<br> [http://www.errantstory.com/archive.php?date=2003-03-12 03/12], [http://www.errantstory.com/archive.php?date=2003-03-14 03/14], [http://www.errantstory.com/archive.php?date=2003-03-19 03/19], [http://www.errantstory.com/archive.php?date=2003-03-21 03/21], [http://www.errantstory.com/archive.php?date=2003-03-24 03/24], [http://www.errantstory.com/archive.php?date=2003-03-28 03/28]<br><br>''Chapter 3''<br> [http://www.errantstory.com/archive.php?date=2003-05-21 05/21], [http://www.errantstory.com/archive.php?date=2003-05-23 05/23], [http://www.errantstory.com/archive.php?date=2003-05-26 05/26], [http://www.errantstory.com/archive.php?date=2003-06-16 06/16], [http://www.errantstory.com/archive.php?date=2003-06-18 06/18], [http://www.errantstory.com/archive.php?date=2003-06-20 06/20], [http://www.errantstory.com/archive.php?date=2003-06-23 06/23]<br><br>''Chapter 4''<br> [http://www.errantstory.com/archive.php?date=2003-07-14 07/14], [http://www.errantstory.com/archive.php?date=2003-07-16 07/16], [http://www.errantstory.com/archive.php?date=2003-07-18 07/18]<br><br>''Chapter 11''<br> [http://www.errantstory.com/archive.php?date=2004-12-24 12/24], [http://www.errantstory.com/archive.php?date=2004-12-31 12/31], [http://www.errantstory.com/archive.php?date=2005-01-03 01/03], [http://www.errantstory.com/archive.php?date=2005-01-05 01/05]<br><br>''Chapter 12''<br> [http://www.errantstory.com/archive.php?date=2005-03-09 03/09], [http://www.errantstory.com/archive.php?date=2005-03-11 03/11], [http://www.errantstory.com/archive.php?date=2005-03-23 03/23], [http://www.errantstory.com/archive.php?date=2005-03-25 03/25]<br><br>''Chapter 29''<br> [http://www.errantstory.com/archive.php?date=2007-08-01 08/01], [http://www.errantstory.com/archive.php?date=2007-08-03 08/03], [http://www.errantstory.com/archive.php?date=2007-08-06 08/06], [http://www.errantstory.com/archive.php?date=2007-08-15 08/15], [http://www.errantstory.com/archive.php?date=2007-08-22 08/22], [http://www.errantstory.com/archive.php?date=2007-09-07 09/07] |
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| - | Non-Player Characters. Generally thugs or lackeys. They usually don't create much of a problem and almost always get blown up or beaten severely if any character of some importance has appeared on the scene. The term is lifted from assorted role-playing games and has roughly the same implications as a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redshirt_%28character%29 red-shirted] ensign on Star Trek. | + | "Guards" is obvious, but NPC stands for Non-Player Characters. Generally thugs or lackeys. They usually don't create much of a problem and almost always get blown up or beaten severely if any character of some importance has appeared on the scene. The term is lifted from assorted role-playing games and has roughly the same implications as a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redshirt_%28character%29 red-shirted] ensign on Star Trek. |
| - | The [[Veracian Church]] seems to be the main employer of NPC Guards. The first time we see them, they're guarding the [[Heretic Knowledge Vault (Veracia) | Heretic Knowledge Vault]], not very effectively. Needless to say, it's not necessarily true that all of the NPC Guards appearances listed in the "Statistics" table involve the same hunks of electronic protoplasm; the whole point is that they're basically interchangeable or recyclable anyway. | + | The [[Veracian Church]] seems to be the main employer of NPC Guards. The first time we see them, they're chasing an [[Jon Amraphel | assassin]] and playing the role of city police, while the second time, they're guarding the [[Heretic Knowledge Vault (Veracia) | Heretic Knowledge Vault]], not very effectively. Since [[Veracia]] is a theocracy, the two roles are probably about the same, although there may be small differences in the cops' uniforms and the security guys'. Needless to say, it's not necessarily true that all of the NPC Guards appearances listed in the "Statistics" table involve the same hunks of electronic protoplasm; the whole point is that they're basically interchangeable or recyclable anyway. |
| - | Veracian guards' anonymity is assured by the fact that they all wear the same uniform of black trousers, coat, breastplate and neck-covering helmet, including silly epaulette things. This helps greatly in their NPC status, as from behind they have no | + | The [[Elf | elves]] have NPC Guards too, as shown [http://www.errantstory.com/archive.php?date=2006-05-03 here]. However, they're not interchangeable with the [[human]] ones. |
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| + | Veracian guards' anonymity is assured by the fact that they all wear the same uniform of black trousers, coat, breastplate and neck-covering helmet, including silly epaulette things. This helps greatly in their NPC status, as from behind they have no distinguishing features whatsoever. | ||
Most of them are so nondescript that they aren't even named in the strip, but there's one who's just barely important enough to have his name [http://www.errantstory.com/archive.php?date=2005-03-11 mentioned]: [[Reeve]]. [[Sandel]] would fall into this category too, except that it's pretty clear that he's a wolf in sheep's clothing rather than a garden-variety guard. | Most of them are so nondescript that they aren't even named in the strip, but there's one who's just barely important enough to have his name [http://www.errantstory.com/archive.php?date=2005-03-11 mentioned]: [[Reeve]]. [[Sandel]] would fall into this category too, except that it's pretty clear that he's a wolf in sheep's clothing rather than a garden-variety guard. | ||
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| + | Like most cannon fodder, NPC Guards are led by commanders who are just as expendable as the regulation guards are. An example (showing one getting expended, in fact) is [http://www.errantstory.com/archive.php?date=2007-09-07 here]. The rank of this particular honcho isn't given, but the aforementioned Reeve was a [[sergeant]], and higher ranks are known to exist; if Reeve hadn't been such a screwup, he might even have had one of those higher ranks. Interestingly, during [[Meji Hinadori | Meji's]] [http://www.errantstory.com/archive.php?date=2003-03-12 encounter] with what seems to be a Veracian police force, the one addressed as "Lieutenant" seems to be relatively low on the totem pole, in contrast to the real world where a lieutenant is an officer and a sergeant a lowly enlisted man (although usually one who knows more about the world than the lieutenant does). Is this just a quirk of the party that Meji incinerates, or a difference in the way ranks work in Veracia? Unknown. | ||
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Revision as of 02:25, 21 September 2007
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"Guards" is obvious, but NPC stands for Non-Player Characters. Generally thugs or lackeys. They usually don't create much of a problem and almost always get blown up or beaten severely if any character of some importance has appeared on the scene. The term is lifted from assorted role-playing games and has roughly the same implications as a red-shirted ensign on Star Trek.
The Veracian Church seems to be the main employer of NPC Guards. The first time we see them, they're chasing an assassin and playing the role of city police, while the second time, they're guarding the Heretic Knowledge Vault, not very effectively. Since Veracia is a theocracy, the two roles are probably about the same, although there may be small differences in the cops' uniforms and the security guys'. Needless to say, it's not necessarily true that all of the NPC Guards appearances listed in the "Statistics" table involve the same hunks of electronic protoplasm; the whole point is that they're basically interchangeable or recyclable anyway.
The elves have NPC Guards too, as shown here. However, they're not interchangeable with the human ones.
Veracian guards' anonymity is assured by the fact that they all wear the same uniform of black trousers, coat, breastplate and neck-covering helmet, including silly epaulette things. This helps greatly in their NPC status, as from behind they have no distinguishing features whatsoever.
Most of them are so nondescript that they aren't even named in the strip, but there's one who's just barely important enough to have his name mentioned: Reeve. Sandel would fall into this category too, except that it's pretty clear that he's a wolf in sheep's clothing rather than a garden-variety guard.
Like most cannon fodder, NPC Guards are led by commanders who are just as expendable as the regulation guards are. An example (showing one getting expended, in fact) is here. The rank of this particular honcho isn't given, but the aforementioned Reeve was a sergeant, and higher ranks are known to exist; if Reeve hadn't been such a screwup, he might even have had one of those higher ranks. Interestingly, during Meji's encounter with what seems to be a Veracian police force, the one addressed as "Lieutenant" seems to be relatively low on the totem pole, in contrast to the real world where a lieutenant is an officer and a sergeant a lowly enlisted man (although usually one who knows more about the world than the lieutenant does). Is this just a quirk of the party that Meji incinerates, or a difference in the way ranks work in Veracia? Unknown.
