Excellent idea. I too give +1 on this


I would use this - I currently have 4 PCs the real life has called them away from the game and they want to come back, with this feature I can change a PC over to NPCS 'hide'  them away for later.

And like noted about can use when NPCs are not active but are being developed.

The easy solution is to make a post in a lettered thread (group A, group B, and so on. Don't use group Z I've found that's for players that try to cause trouble.) no other player has access to, img src the NPC picture and type out the descriptions there. Don't add an NPC until you actually need to

In reply to steelsmiter (msg # 7):

That will work but I think the point is not to do double work with setting it up in a thread then paste & copy it. Also you don't get all the features, which again can be developed in a 'hide' and when ready, it's an easy check box.

Aslo when done with the NPC if it becomes inactive you would then have to delete it keep it in the thread and again when you want to use it P&C it.

'Hide' feature very useful.

Good feedback so far. For the record, I do use the interim workarounds like storing the information in other places. This feature suggestion would add a lot of convenience and allow GMs to "pull the trigger" instantly when ready.

Perhaps an option to include the word Hidden in the Tag which would hide the individual from users when they look in the cast list.  You would reveal them by removing the word hidden from the tag.  This could even potentially allow you to hide a PC too.

In reply to LoreGuard (msg # 10):

I really like that idea.

The tags are already pretty limited character-wise.  Adding "hidden" to them would make it hard to add any other title other than "NPC".

That's not to say it doesn't have merit since the current system already divides the cast list by what's in the tag, just that it has limitations, as well.

In reply to LoreGuard (msg # 10):

I'm not sure what use hiding a player would be though, unless you're planning someone's death in advance.

In reply to Joebobcool456 (msg # 13):

I could see hiding a player who is getting ready to join but you don't want the other players to know he's coming in before you get it ready.

There's a Final Fantasy trope (er... maybe not final fantasy specifically but adventure games in general) wherein a character 'dies' and comes back later in a Grand Entrance.

In reply to Evil Empryss (msg # 14):

This, i would like to keep new players hidden as well, provide some mystique beforehand.

While my thought was originally to have the ability to hide NPCs, I could definitely see the utility in hiding PCs as well - especially bearing in mind that I've seen some large games that masquerade NPCs with the PC designation in such a way that players don't know whether they're interacting with a GM controlled NPC or another player.

I've updated my original post to indicate this.
This message was last edited by the user at 13:38, Fri 27 June 2014.

Is this just a discussion regarding the features you'd like the web site to have or is there interest in more suggestions for working around this too?

+1 I'm currently working on a game and having to make extensive use of my scratchpad. I'm not sure I'll be able to find some things again when I need to :o

How would being Hidden impact their posting?  Does it just take them off the Cast List?  I could see many GMs just Hiding everybody and basically eliminating the Cast List from their game, with as much as they worry about players gleaning secret information off of it... I'm not sure I would like that to be possible.

Maybe characters assigned to Group Z (where they're effectively blocked from the rest of the game, as I understand it) should also be kept off the Cast List?  That sounds simple and reasonable to me.

Sorry, still not seeing what the problem is in putting NPC characters in an unused Group.  You can then happily set them up ahead of time, then when you're ready to roll them out you just change the Group(s) that NPC has access to.  Surely it'd be exactly the same effort to go in and uncheck the proposed Hide flag ?  Click to change Groups or click to change Hide ... tom-ay-toes, tom-ar-toes ?

Adding a tickbox involves a whole bunch of extra work.

Tags, however, are already there and being used.  How about if we just hide the character if the tag is set "hide" or "hidden"?

Whatever way works.

I rarely create NPC handles; but I like to not have the 'PC light' going off to immediately greet the new person as a friend. It's fine if you're meeting at a safe point; but occasionally I introduce new people in dangerous areas; and if people know there's someone new by looking at the cast list; it's... a moodkiller.

"Oh, this must be X; we should treat him as a friend."

Jase, I really like your idea. A "Hidden" tag would be great. Much less work than the way I do it now, where I stick information elsewhere to copy over at the last minute. It also takes care of the idea of hiding new PCs until they are dropped into the game.

+1 because I would really use this.

I'd still rather change groups than modify tags as that's a couple of clicks vs typing ... but -0 from me as I don't mind if anyone else wants to.  :>

In reply to Skald (msg # 25):

I tend to use all my groups for the actual game, so that wouldn't help me, and it doesn't stop people from seeing the new character in the cast page.  That's the whole point of being able to hide the new character the way jase is suggesting.

Agreed. The cast list is the biggest issue if, when introducing a new player, you'd like reaction to be genuine.

Hah!  I introduced a new PC to one of my games, and she was immediately threatened with death by all and sundry.  No sign of the old, "Ah, it's a new PC, must be friendly." syndrome there!

Um, anyway, hidden characters in the cast list, by whatever method, could come in useful.

That works just fine, in my book. The less work to add a new very useful feature, the better.

What happens if an NPC is assigned to a player and then hidden?  Can the character post?  If so, can anyone see it?