How to stop high-level NPCs from overshadowing the party, Part II

Continued from here...

High-level NPCs as Patrons

All of this may sound as if approaching high-level NPCs is a waste of time for the PCs. It's not. They can still be incredibly useful for the player characters - but only if they stop seeing them purely as an additional source of firepower. Instead, they can help the PCs in the following ways:

• Information: High-level NPCs tend to have access to huge sources of information (libraries, social contacts, spies, etc.) which the PCs are unlikely to have on their own. If they have gained access to the NPC and established trust, they might volunteer information that helps the PCs with their own adventures - in some cases, information the PCs didn't even ask for (but would be interested in nonetheless), thus triggering further adventures. The NPC patron can save them many weeks or even months of research, making the PCs glad that they have cultivated his trust.
• Resources: Once the PCs have shown their competence and trustworthiness, the NPC is likely willing to give them resources - money, magic items, henchmen, and so on - which will help them complete their goals as long as his own goals are furthered. And what PC ever says "no" to new stuff?
• Connections: Powerful people tend to hang out with other powerful people. Befriending a single high-level NPC might make it possible for them to move in circles normally impossible to reach for them - the aristocracy and other rulers, rich merchant houses, the highest levels of the military, and so on. This opens up a whole new level of opportunities for the player characters - and provide hooks for plenty of adventures revolving around political and social intrigue.

All of these can be incredibly useful for the player characters - but significantly, none of these allow the NPC to "steal the show" from them. The PCs remain active protagonists in their adventures instead of mere spectators, thus avoiding the main pitfall of featuring such NPCs.

On a whole new level

At some point, the PCs will reach high levels themselves. What to do with high-level NPCs then?

• Change the NPCs from patrons to allies.
• Reveal that they have a hidden agenda, and turn them into new enemies to fight (bonus points if the betrayal has been planned for a very long time...).
• Kill them off in a truly gruesome and spectacular fashion. This will make for a nice starting point for the beginning of the final chapter of the campaign, to show the PCs that the situation is really serious.

Whatever you do, don't try to force the PCs into remaining underlings of the NPC (unless they enjoy that status), as this will only cause further resentment. When the PCs begin to eclipse their former patrons, they should become patrons to others in their own right - or at least, become truly free agents who can shape the world according to their own agenda.

In Conclusion

These are my ideas for handling high-level NPCs in a campaign. If you have some ideas and suggestions of your own, feel free to share them!