---
key: mechanic/point-and-click--family-30
type: mechanic
id: point-and-click--family-30
lang: en
title: Multiple protagonists and coordination
summary: >-
  The player coordinates multiple protagonists by assigning actions to their
  different abilities.
updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
status: active
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/point-and-click--family-30/'
jsonUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/point-and-click--family-30.json
markdownUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/point-and-click--family-30.md
aliases: []
tags:
  - Point-and-click adventures
  - Extended adventure systems
sourceIds:
  - source-e04e1f466cc8d00a
  - source-796ac91c3a695e59
sources:
  - id: source-e04e1f466cc8d00a
    title: 'Unavowed: Wadjet Eye Games overview'
    url: 'https://wadjeteyegames.com/games/unavowed/'
    verifiedAt: null
  - id: source-796ac91c3a695e59
    title: Day of the Tentacle Remastered
    url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/388210/'
    verifiedAt: null
relations: []
placements:
  - catalogId: point-and-click
    id: family-30
    title: Point-and-click adventures
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/point-and-click/#family-30'
    categoryIds:
      - section-4
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  preview:
    updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
    title: Multiple protagonists and coordination
    description: >-
      The player coordinates multiple protagonists by assigning actions to their
      different abilities.
    image:
      src: images/mechanics/adventure-day-of-the-tentacle-07.webp
      width: 1440
      height: 810
      crop:
        x: 180
        'y': 0
        width: 1080
        height: 810
      game: Day of the Tentacle Remastered
      sourceUrl: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/388210/'
      originalUrl: >-
        https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/388210/ss_9eefffbc6bf66978cb5b8570665b09774d4f604a.1920x1080.jpg?t=1731602439
      credit: Double Fine Productions / Shiny Shoe
      rights: >-
        Game imagery © its respective rights holders. Publisher-distributed
        Steam screenshot; all rights reserved. Excluded from MIT and CC BY 4.0.
      caption: Portraits switch between available protagonists
      alt: Portraits switch between available protagonists
      markers:
        - x: 84
          'y': 82
          label: Portraits switch the controlled protagonist
    tips:
      - >-
        Show what changes after switching: location, items and available
        actions.
    examples:
      - title: Day of the Tentacle Remastered
        url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/388210/'
endsAt: null
provenance: >-
  Original taxonomy adapted from user-selected design discussions; linked
  sources support specific examples, not the whole classification.
license: CC-BY-4.0
codeLicense: MIT
attribution: gamemechanics.pro contributors
catalogKey: catalog/point-and-click
---
# Multiple protagonists and coordination

id: point-and-click--family-30
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/point-and-click--family-30
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/point-and-click--family-30/

The player coordinates multiple protagonists by assigning actions to their different abilities.

## At a glance

![Portraits switch between available protagonists](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/adventure-day-of-the-tentacle-07.webp)

[Day of the Tentacle Remastered](https://store.steampowered.com/app/388210/) · Game imagery © its respective rights holders. Publisher-distributed Steam screenshot; all rights reserved. Excluded from MIT and CC BY 4.0.

1. Portraits switch the controlled protagonist

- Show what changes after switching: location, items and available actions.

- [Day of the Tentacle Remastered](https://store.steampowered.com/app/388210/)

## How it works

The player coordinates multiple protagonists by assigning actions to their different abilities.

## Variants

### Variants

<a id="family-30-branch-1"></a>

- Switching: choose the controlled character and viewpoint. <a id="family-30-variant-1"></a>
- Different capabilities: use unique skills, background, access, knowledge and connections. <a id="family-30-variant-2"></a>
- Exchange: transfer items and information between participants. <a id="family-30-variant-3"></a>
- Separated spaces: act in different rooms, places, eras or layers. <a id="family-30-variant-4"></a>
- Joint operations: one holds, distracts or prepares while another acts. <a id="family-30-variant-5"></a>
- Party composition: choose companions determining available solutions. <a id="family-30-variant-6"></a>
- Orders and autonomy: assign tasks and account for independent action. <a id="family-30-variant-7"></a>
- Knowledge asymmetry: combine information fragments known by different characters. <a id="family-30-variant-8"></a>

## Context and limits

A working classification with 44 families and 355 variants. Families overlap: one puzzle can combine items, dialogue, deduction and a character schedule. Core actions, progression architecture and assistance are separate layers. Sources identify examples from neighboring adventure genres.

## Connected materials


## Sources and provenance

Original taxonomy adapted from user-selected design discussions; linked sources support specific examples, not the whole classification.

- [Unavowed: Wadjet Eye Games overview](https://wadjeteyegames.com/games/unavowed/) (id: source-e04e1f466cc8d00a)
- [Day of the Tentacle Remastered](https://store.steampowered.com/app/388210/) (id: source-796ac91c3a695e59)

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors