>
> If a player joins a game and takes over an existing NPC, doesn't that NPC by
> definition cease to be an NPC?

Yes. I agree.

> Or, if it remains an NPC, doesn't that imply that you really don't have
> control over it? That it really belongs to the GM, and you're just playing
> it for now (or until you make it do something the GM doesn't like)?

The only exception to the "Yes" above is if the player is serving as a
"GM assistant" and playing an NPC on your behalf on a voluntary basis
to reduce your workload (sometime I let players control the ship's
cooks or an NPC shuttle pilot). In that case, the NPC is still
community property and under the GM. You are free to take control of
any NPC again at any time. If a player wants exclusive control of a
character, you ought to talk to the player about "converting" that NPC
into a player character.

On a related matter, when an player wants to control "NPC" minions
(side characters, such as a platoon of clonetroopers for a Clone Wars
Jedi PC), should we allow them to be called NPCs, if we allow the
player to control them at all? I'm interested in your opinion.

-Wes