View source for Player Party

{{Useful Notes}}
[[File:playerparties.png|frame|Famous parties in Nintendo platform history.<ref>From top to bottom: ''[[Final Fantasy I]]'', ''[[Final Fantasy IV]]'', ''[[EarthBound]]'', ''[[Super Mario RPG]]'', ''[[Chrono Trigger]]'', ''[[Mother 3]]''</ref>]]

[[Tabletop Games|Tabletop]] and [[Video Game]] [[RPG]]s, as well as certain other games, feature not one but several [[Player Character]]s, banded together in [[Ensembles]] of three or more, fighting evil together. Such an ensemble is known as a '''Player Party'''. Unless the player wants to beat the game using a [[Fake Difficulty|handicapped group]], most selections comprise most if not all of the available choices inside the entire party.

In [[Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game|MMORPG]]s and multiplayer games, each PC is controlled by a human (usually). In single-player games, the player either controls a leader PC whose movements are matched by the whole party, or (during combat) individually moves and instructs each character in turn.

In [[Role-Playing Game]]s where the characters are pre-plotted (in comparison to, say, ''[[Final Fantasy I]]''), then the Party is usually a specific variety of Ensemble, such as the [[Power Trio]], [[Four-Temperament Ensemble]] or [[Five-Man Band]]. Furthermore, the party members' tendencies to stick together for the length of the game (temporary members notwithstanding) mean that they are usually written as [[True Companions]].

The concept of [[An Adventurer Is You|Character Classes]] is usually dependant on characters being in parties. The [[Squishy Wizard]] and the [[Meat Shield]] tend to counter each others' weaknesses perfectly, so it's expected that one assists the other throughout the game.

In a group of Tabletop Roleplaying, the chances of all group members picking the same class are extremely low. This is partly because everyone wants to play a unique character and also partly because people like to help and complement other people naturally as part of a functional cooperative unit. If a member voices his desire to play a [[Meat Shield]], the chances someone else will play one are almost zero.

If averted, see [[One-Man Army]].

{{tropelist|Tropes that frequently apply to a Player Party include:}}
* [[All in a Row]]  The party follows behind the leader like a lot of little ducklings.
* [[Can't Catch Up]]  Characters who fall behind in level-gaining often stay behind.
* [[Guest Star Party Member]]  Someone who joins your party temporarily as a "guest".
* [[Mutually Exclusive Party Members]]  Several party members who, for whatever reason, cannot all be in the same party at the same time.
* [[Optional Party Member]]  Someone who may not join your party, if you don't fulfill the requirements to get them.
* [[Party in My Pocket]]  Only the main character is shown walking around; other party members will appear when needed, or even walk out of his body.
* [[Ragtag Bunch of Misfits]]  Who's going to save the world? Not a well-oiled team of professionals, no. A bunch of rejects with attitude.
* [[Redemption Demotion]]  When a villain switches sides, he suddenly becomes much less awesome.
* [[Redemption Promotion]]  When a villain switches sides, he suddenly becomes much more awesome.
* [[Romance Sidequest]]  A sidequest which has the player character enter a romantic relationship with one of their party members.
* [[So Long and Thanks For All the Gear]]  Annoying effect of having potentially great equipment stolen from you because the character wearing them is rendered inaccessible for some part of the game.
* [[Total Party Kill]]  Where the players' idiocy results in them all dying ignominiously.

{{reflist}}
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Ensembles]]
[[Category:Video Game Characters]]
[[Category:Tabletop Game Tropes]]
[[Category:Index]]
[[Category:CRPG Tropes]]