Create an NPC for Time & Reckoning
Create an NPC for Time & Reckoning Time & Reckoning is launching a new community contest for writers, storytellers, RPG fans, worldbuilders, narrative designers, quest writers, concept artists, game designers, and dark fantasy creators. We are looking for an original NPC concept that can become part of the Time & Reckoning universe. The winning NPC concept may be used in the Time & Reckoning website, game, promotional materials, social media content, trailers, lore, future quests, dialogue systems, worldbuilding materials, cinematics, and any other related project or platform. Grand Prize: $50 USD Additional reward: Possible in-game NPC credit, public announcement, and community recognition The selected winner will receive the grand prize within 90 days after the winning entry is officially reviewed, confirmed, and selected. Time & Reckoning / WIZU LABS LTD may also award the winner an additional gift, in-game credit, contributor recognition, or promotional feature at its sole discretion. Contest Goal Create an original NPC for Time & Reckoning. The NPC should feel memorable, useful, mysterious, tragic, heroic, cursed, divine, demonic, ancient, human, non-human, merchant-like, quest-giver-like, villainous, prophetic, or connected to the themes of time, heaven, hell, purgatory, judgment, fate, lost kingdoms, broken oaths, forgotten wars, and reckoning. The submitted NPC can be a merchant, blacksmith, priest, fallen angel, cursed knight, oracle, executioner, guide, historian, monster hunter, soul collector, innkeeper, faction leader, prisoner, ghost, demon, celestial being, noble, rebel, scholar, alchemist, bard, or a completely unique role. We are especially interested in NPCs that include a strong identity, memorable dialogue, useful gameplay role, original lore, and possible integration into the Time & Reckoning world. Required Submission Content Each submission must include: 1. NPC Name Give your NPC a unique and original name. 2. NPC Role Specify the role of the NPC. Examples: * Quest giver * Merchant * Blacksmith * Alchemist * Priest * Oracle * Guide * Trainer * Faction leader * Boss-related character * Dungeon entrance guardian * Lore keeper * Fallen angel * Purgatory wanderer * Hell survivor * Time scholar * Cursed knight * Soul collector * Recruiter * Companion candidate * Completely original role 3. NPC Description Write a short description explaining who the NPC is, how they look, how they behave, and why they are memorable. 4. Visual Direction A visual image is not required, but it is encouraged. Accepted optional visual formats may include: * Digital illustration * Hand-drawn concept art * Portrait * Character sheet * Outfit concept * AI-assisted concept art, only if legally safe and fully usable * 3D character render * Mixed media concept art If no image is submitted, the written visual description must be detailed enough for artists or developers to understand the NPC. 5. Lore / Backstory Write a lore section explaining the NPC’s origin, tragedy, purpose, curse, secret, belief, faction, divine punishment, demonic corruption, lost family, former kingdom, or connection to time, heaven, hell, purgatory, fate, judgment, or reckoning. Example themes may include: * A blind bell keeper who hears the future * A fallen angel merchant who sells memories * A cursed blacksmith who forges weapons from regrets * A priest who no longer believes in Heaven * A ghost child who remembers every timeline * A noble who betrayed their kingdom to escape death * A ferryman who carries souls across Purgatory * A demon scholar who studies human mercy * A knight who guards a gate that no longer exists * An oracle whose prophecies always come true too late 6. Personality Describe the NPC’s personality. Include details such as: * Tone of voice * Attitude toward the player * Fears * Desires * Secrets * Moral alignment * Emotional wound * Humor style if any * Trust level * How the NPC changes over time 7. Gameplay Function Explain how this NPC could work in the game. Include details such as: * Quest giver * Shop owner * Trainer * Lore provider * Faction contact * Crafting specialist * Fast travel guide * Secret vendor * Dungeon unlock character * Boss warning character * Companion-related NPC * Event trigger * Reputation system character * Dialogue-only character * Special service provider 8. Quest Idea Include at least one quest idea connected to this NPC. The quest idea should include: * Quest title * Quest objective * Player task * Conflict * Possible reward * Possible ending 9. Dialogue Examples Include at least five original dialogue lines for the NPC. Dialogue should fit the dark fantasy atmosphere of Time & Reckoning. Examples: * “The clocks do not lie. They only wait.” * “I sold my name to Hell, but Heaven still remembers my face.” * “Do not trust the road ahead. It has buried better souls than yours.” * “Every bell here rings for someone who refused to die.” * “If you seek mercy, you have taken the wrong path.” 10. Optional Branching Choice Strong submissions may include one player choice or branching dialogue idea. Example: The player may choose to save, betray, forgive, accuse, recruit, or sacrifice the NPC. Submission Format All files must be submitted together as a single ZIP package. The ZIP package should include: * NPC name * NPC role * NPC description * Visual direction or optional concept image * Lore / backstory * Personality * Gameplay function * Quest idea * Dialogue examples * Optional branching choice * Optional visual files * A short text file containing the participant’s name, Time & Reckoning account name, LinkedIn profile, and contact information The ZIP file must be uploaded to WeTransfer. The participant must then send the WeTransfer download link via LinkedIn together with their registered Time & Reckoning account name. Incomplete submissions, broken links, corrupted files, missing descriptions, missing dialogue examples, or unclear submissions may be rejected. Originality Requirement All submitted work must be fully original. Participants may not use, copy, modify, resell, trace, recreate, or submit any NPC concept, character name, character design, backstory, dialogue, quest idea, artwork, 3D model, texture, or lore taken from copyrighted works, third-party games, movies, books, comics, AI libraries, stock packs, character generators, public writing databases, or any source that they do not fully and legally own. The NPC must not be based on copyrighted characters, existing fantasy IP, famous characters from games, films, books, comics, or protected commercial universes. Each participant is personally and legally responsible for the originality, legality, authorship, copyright status, and ownership status of the submitted work. By submitting an entry, the participant confirms that: * The submitted work is original. * The participant has full legal authority to submit the work. * The work does not infringe any copyright, trademark, design right, moral right, intellectual property right, privacy right, publicity right, or any other third-party right. * The work does not contain stolen, copied, unauthorized, restricted, or legally unsafe content. * The work may be legally transferred to and used by Time & Reckoning / WIZU LABS LTD. * The participant is solely responsible for any legal claim, copyright claim, ownership dispute, or third-party complaint related to the submitted work. AI-Assisted Work AI-assisted submissions may be accepted only if the participant has the full legal right to use, submit, transfer, and commercialize the generated or assisted material. The participant must make sure that the submitted work does not copy or imitate any copyrighted character, protected artwork, existing game character, known franchise, artist-specific style, famous story, protected dialogue, or third-party intellectual property. Time & Reckoning / WIZU LABS LTD reserves the right to reject any AI-assisted submission if it appears legally unsafe, too derivative, low quality, generic, unclear, or unsuitable for commercial use. Rights Transfer and Ownership By submitting an entry to this contest, the participant agrees that submitted materials may be reviewed, displayed, discussed, promoted, and used by Time & Reckoning / WIZU LABS LTD for contest-related purposes. The selected winning submission, together with all associated files, concepts, names, NPC designs, descriptions, lore, dialogue, gameplay ideas, quest ideas, visual materials, and related materials, will become the exclusive property of Time & Reckoning / WIZU LABS LTD upon selection. The winner agrees that Time & Reckoning / WIZU LABS LTD shall have the unrestricted, worldwide, perpetual, royalty-free, transferable, sublicensable, and exclusive right to use, modify, reproduce, publish, distribute, sell, license, display, adapt, rewrite, translate, redesign, integrate, commercialize, and otherwise exploit the selected NPC concept in any format, product, platform, game, website, trailer, cinematic, artwork, store, social media channel, promotional campaign, merchandise, lore, quest, dialogue system, faction system, worldbuilding material, or any other current or future use. The participant agrees not to claim any ownership, authorship control, royalty, license fee, revenue share, additional payment, removal right, approval right, usage restriction, or property right over the selected work after selection. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, the participant waives any moral rights, attribution rights, objection rights, or similar rights that may prevent Time & Reckoning / WIZU LABS LTD from freely using, modifying, adapting, publishing, commercializing, or integrating the selected work. No ownership or usage claim may be made against Time & Reckoning, WIZU LABS LTD, their websites, games, platforms, partners, sponsors, licensees, publishers, users, investors, service providers, or any place where the selected work is used, distributed, displayed, modified, translated, rewritten, or integrated. Reward The selected winner will receive a $50 USD grand prize. The reward will be paid within 90 days after the winning submission is officially reviewed, confirmed, and selected. The winner may also receive possible in-game NPC credit, community recognition, public announcement, social media feature, or an additional gift from Time & Reckoning / WIZU LABS LTD at the sole discretion of Time & Reckoning / WIZU LABS LTD. The $50 USD grand prize is only payable to the selected winning entry. Participation does not guarantee payment, selection, publication, use, credit, or award. Participants are responsible for providing correct payment information and for complying with any tax, legal, financial, or reporting obligations in their own country. Participation Rules Each participant may join multiple contests. However, each participant may submit only one entry for this NPC Lore Contest. Multiple submissions for the same contest by the same participant may be rejected. Participants must have a registered Time & Reckoning account and must provide their registered account name when submitting their entry. Quality Requirements Submitted NPC concepts should be clear, memorable, original, usable, and suitable for a dark fantasy RPG universe. Strong submissions should include: * A memorable name * Strong NPC identity * Original backstory * Clear gameplay function * Useful quest idea * Distinct personality * Strong dialogue examples * Dark fantasy atmosphere * Possible integration into the Time & Reckoning world * Clean presentation * Complete files Time & Reckoning / WIZU LABS LTD may reject any submission that is incomplete, copied, legally unsafe, low quality, offensive, hateful, unclear, inappropriate, generic, impossible to evaluate, or unsuitable for the project. Judging Criteria Submissions may be judged based on: * Originality * NPC identity * Lore quality * Dialogue quality * Gameplay potential * Quest potential * Emotional impact * Dark fantasy atmosphere * Commercial usability * Legal safety * Presentation quality * Fit with the Time & Reckoning universe The decision of Time & Reckoning / WIZU LABS LTD is final. Sponsor and Partner Visibility This contest may be promoted through Time & Reckoning, WIZU LABS LTD, partner pages, sponsor channels, community platforms, social media accounts, and related campaigns. Sponsors, partners, or supporters may be mentioned in contest-related announcements, winner posts, promotional materials, community updates, NPC reveal posts, or development posts at the discretion of Time & Reckoning / WIZU LABS LTD. Participation in the contest does not create any direct relationship, employment, partnership, sponsorship agreement, or commercial guarantee between the participant and any sponsor, partner, or supporter. Winner Announcement Contest winners will be announced through LinkedIn and/or the official Time & Reckoning website. Time & Reckoning / WIZU LABS LTD reserves the right to decide the winner at its sole discretion. The selected winning NPC may be featured publicly as part of Time & Reckoning promotional content, community updates, development posts, lore announcements, trailers, NPC reveal posts, dialogue previews, or future game-related materials. Right to Modify or Cancel Time & Reckoning / WIZU LABS LTD reserves the right to modify, pause, extend, cancel, restart, or terminate this contest at any time and for any reason. Time & Reckoning / WIZU LABS LTD also reserves the right not to select a winner if no submission meets the required quality, originality, narrative, gameplay, commercial, or legal standards. By Participating By submitting an entry to this contest, the participant confirms that they have read, understood, and accepted all contest rules, submission requirements, originality requirements, ownership transfer terms, reward terms, sponsor visibility terms, judging criteria, and legal responsibilities described above.