There isn't really an in-universe explanation for it, but I have some ideas.

Am I allowed to have an agent from Terraria? by ClaireBook1 on 2021-07-12 16:54:02 UTC Reply

I am thinking about making one of the characters I play into a PPC agent. In Terraria, when your character dies, they respawn after a few seconds. Would a Terrarian agent respawn after they got killed?

Can't see why not by OrangeFox on 2021-07-12 20:07:28 UTC Reply

Besides, I feel what an agent is is less important than the impact they have on the stories, in most cases. Like, personality and whatnot is something I'd feel Permission Givers would be more concerned about, for example. Maybe. I'm not entirely sure.

-OrangeFox
Sure by hidaney on 2021-07-12 19:55:44 UTC Reply

There are several Time Lord agents, so respawning would hardly stick out. Nothing to worry about there.
You're "allowed" to do anything as long as it makes sense. by owosphere on 2021-07-12 19:02:46 UTC Reply

I have a character with that sort of respawn-type immortality, though he's fairly unlikely to show up in the PPC. In his case, however, he's from a Minecraft RP server, and so there's extra bits of lore associated with it. So, for starters, it depends on how much of a character is actually in there in the first place.

Then, the remaining question is, does it make them overpowered? I don't think so, personally. I'm pretty sure there have been a few immortal agents, and death isn't really the only way to introduce tension. That said, I can't exactly expect it to be a pleasant experience for the character, so I assume it would still be something they would avoid.

Seconding the points about making sense and good characterization. by Neshomeh on 2021-07-14 19:54:46 UTC Reply

Re. making sense, in this case, I would ask whether respawning is purely a game mechanic or whether there's an in-universe explanation for it that would translate well between media. For instance, if respawning is based on returning to a save point, well, there are no save points outside the game, so that wouldn't work. If the character is, say, a sorcerer with the ability to create an artifact that acts as an anchor for their soul that effectively resurrects them if they get killed, that would work, because the ability is tied to the character, not the game environment, you see?

I'm guessing the Minecraft character has access to Totems of Undying? Something dependent on an in-game item like that, which a character can't make themself, might or might not work, depending on how hard the item is to get in-universe and how often the PPC enters that universe.

An aside: I think Minecraft beds fall into the category of save points, but OTOH it could be funny if an agent automatically appeared in the last place they slept if they died. Don't sleep on missions, that place might not exist next time! The "sense" in making sense can be one's sense of humor. ^_~

Anyway, assuming there is an in-universe reason the character won't stay dead that will carry over to the PPC, the most important thing is what OrangeFox said: characterization.

In most cases, the test of whether a concept is good or not is less about what it is and more about how it's used. Even a beautiful princess with a cute animal friend isn't inherently a bad idea; it depends on whether or not she's interesting to read about. And what makes a concept interesting is the degree to which it has a logical impact on the character and the course of the story. If key traits are used as window-dressing and don't actually do anything; or if they do have an impact, but it strains belief (and not in a funny way)—that's bad. That kind of disconnect between telling and showing contributes to making a Suvian a Suvian.

Not that every little detail about a character has to have an Important Story Reason behind it, of course. Just talking about core concept here. {= )

~Neshomeh's two cents.

There isn't really an in-universe explanation for it, but I have some ideas. by ClaireBook1 on 2021-07-15 03:58:31 UTC Reply

Terraria is a computer game, so I'm wondering if it would be possible (in the PPC universe) to write some sort of program into existence which might act as a spawn point for my character if she gets killed. Also, characters in Terraria regenerate quickly after they have been injured/killed. I think that this would not be practical, because it's just not very realistic for someone who is half dead to be running around killing monsters just like they did at full health. If my character gets hurt that badly, she will have to collapse in a heap just like everyone else would do. I do not want my second Permission Request to fail because my Terrarian agent is too Sueish, so I am trying to de-Sue her as much as I can.

Maybe, but it might not be worth it. by Neshomeh on 2021-07-19 16:29:02 UTC Reply

Terraria characters are presumed to be flesh-and-blood living beings, right? The only means I can think of that could conceivably use computer technology to let a living being cheat death also probably involve pacts with daemons or Great Old Ones, or else something really complex like storing a neural map in a computer and downloading it into a clone body if you die. I'd say you're better off not bothering. PPC Medical is good enough to fix just about anything short of death anyway if you get there in time.

~Neshomeh
Terraria is also mostly based on details like armor and weapons, and there isn't much in-game lore. (nm) by ClaireBook1 on 2021-07-15 13:19:06 UTC Reply