"Fable will feature split-screen cooperative play for up to four players, although since only one player can be the lead character, others will appear as "alter egos" able to help out in combat situations, earn experience points, and heal the main character, but they will be unable to interact with nonplayer characters in villages and the like. The game will feature an intriguing mechanic whereby the alter ego player doing the most to help out the lead character earns points for doing so and then gets to have the next turn at taking the lead--ensuring that the game is both cooperative and competitive simultaneously and encouraging all of the players participating to do their fair share of the work. Players will also be able to switch control of the lead character as they please, which Molyneux explained might be necessary if, for example, one of the characters was evil enough to scare people away just by walking into a village where the players were actually hoping to get some information by talking to people." -Gamespot