PC — Definition, examples, FAQs, and more

PC: a brief history

The concept of the PC is as old as roleplaying itself, stemming from early tabletop and text-based games where players assumed the roles of specific characters in a narrative.

This personal approach to gaming allows players to experience the story from the perspective of their character, making decisions that shape the story’s direction and outcome.

NOTE: This definition of PC is not to be confused with the other kind of PC in gaming: a personal computer.

How it's used today

This term appears frequently in conversations about tabletop and online roleplaying games. Players use it when discussing their own characters or the characters created by others in the game.

Types of games where the term is commonly used include:

Tabletop RPG, MUD, MUSH, RPMUD, PbP, MMORPG, Chat RPG, Social media RPG, RPI, RPE.

PC examples

• In a fantasy roleplaying game, a PC could be a dwarven warrior with a vendetta against a particular clan of orcs.
• In a science fiction setting, a PC might be a pilot exploring uncharted space and forming alliances with alien species.
• In a detective mystery game, a PC could be a private investigator solving crimes while battling personal demons.
• In a post-apocalyptic world, a PC might be a survivor searching for family members while adapting to new societal norms.

Myths and misconceptions

1. Player characters are always heroes of the story. While many roleplaying games are designed around the concept of the PCs as protagonists, they can take on a wide range of roles, from antiheroes to ordinary people caught in extraordinary circumstances.
2. The role of a PC is not fixed and can vary greatly depending on the game and the decisions made by the player. Some assume that all PCs must act a certain way or fulfill a specific story function, but in reality, a PC’s role is determined by the choices of the player and the collaborative nature of the narrative.
3. Being a PC automatically means having more power or influence than NPCs. While PCs often drive the story, NPCs controlled by the game master can be just as influential or powerful within the game world.
4. PCs must always work together and cannot oppose each other. In fact, it is common for PCs to have conflicting goals or even act as rivals, depending on the story and the preferences of the players.
5. PCs must be extensively detailed or have elaborate backstories to be valid characters. While some players enjoy creating rich backgrounds for their PCs, others may choose to develop their characters more organically as the game progresses, and both approaches are equally valid.

PC FAQs

How do PCs differ from NPCs?

PCs are designed and controlled by players, allowing for personalization and growth according to the player’s decisions and game outcomes. In contrast, NPCs are controlled by the game master or the game’s programming, serving as characters that fill out the world, provide information, or act as allies or antagonists.

Can a game have more than one PC?

Yes, most roleplaying games are designed to accommodate multiple player characters, allowing for a group of players to experience and influence the game’s story together. Each player controls their own PC. This collaborative aspect is fundamental to the social experience of roleplaying games and is part of what makes them so enjoyable.

How do players create a PC?

Players create a PC through a character creation process, which typically involves selecting attributes like race, class, skills, and personal background. This process varies greatly depending on the game’s rules and setting.

For example, in a tabletop game played in person, players might create their PCs by physically writing on paper and filling out a character sheet. In an online text-based game, players might go through a chargen menu or type up an application.

Can a PC die in a game?

Yes, depending on the game’s rules and the narrative, PCs can face mortal danger, and player decisions can lead to their character’s death. However, the treatment of death varies widely among different roleplaying games.

In a hack-and-slash game, for example, death usually isn’t permanent. In contrast, death often is permanent in roleplaying-intensive games that feature high stakes and harsh consequences.

See: Investment, stakes, and conflict in RPIs.