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<blockquote data-quote="FXR" data-source="post: 8099158" data-attributes="member: 6781105"><p>I'm usually very careful about DMPCs. They can often turn out as Mary Sue or the players can feel the NPC overshadow their own characters. I would also advise against using the NPC as a info-dump or, worst, as a guide for the PCs. However, carefully used, a DMPC can be a great tool, providing that the players care about him or her.</p><p></p><p>Here's an exemple from my campaign (well actually two), which you may skip if these things bore you.</p><p></p><p>At some point during their first scenario arc, the characters were tasked to save the holy priestess of a clan of <em>totally-not </em>vikings who had been kidnapped by some barbarians (who were <em>totally-not </em>like the Wendol in 13th Warrior, of course). While tracking the barbarians, the PCs met a young farms woman whose husband and child had been killed by the barbarians. The young woman had swore vengeance against the killers and was tracking the barbarians. The PCs, especially the fighter, decided to act like mentors for her and she tagged along, sometimes leaving on her own for her own plans and meeting the characters after a while. They saw her grow, from a farmer to a paladin of Vengeance.</p><p></p><p>It then got interesting (at least to me) many adventures after: the fighter had a big crush on her, but had tasked her with protecting and serving a t<em>otally not </em>arabian queen they served for a while. The queen confided to her she would like to take the fighter as her royal consort. The fighter was rather startled to see how the GMPC struggle with the fighter's attempts at wooing her.</p><p></p><p>Now, the PCs are level 10 and the <em>totally-not</em> vikings are going at war against the elves of the North. One PC's brother is going to side with the elves, while the GMPC has left to side with her people, the <em>totally-not </em>vikings.</p><p></p><p>Note that the the GMPC has always been a much lower level than the PCs (they have a difference of 2 levels).</p><p></p><p>At some point, I tried to add another DMPC, a totally-not African monk, but while the characters respected him, it never clicked with the players. So the monk quickly took a backseat and became a very minor character. Had I try to have him tag along with the PCs, I'm pretty sure they wouldn't have antagonize him, but it wouldn't add nothing to the story.</p><p></p><p>So, here are a few things I would suggest DMs to do:</p><p></p><p>i) make sure the DMPC doesn't overshadow the characters, both in terms of story and power. The PCs are the stars of the campaign and never the sidekicks of the DMPC.</p><p></p><p>ii) if, for some reason the players and their characters, do not feel any attachment to the NPC, do not make him or her a DMPC. You don't have to kill him or her, he can come back in the story much later on. </p><p></p><p>iii) take in account that the DMPC isn't omniscient. He or she will make errors of judgment and doesn't know everything.</p><p></p><p>iv) a DMPC should have a purpose in the campaign that's more than filling out a party role. Otherwise, he or she will always feel artificial to the players and they'll treat her like a tool and not a real character. Also, the DMPC should never overextend its welcome. If he or she has no role in the adventure (either because the DM or because the PC do not feel like it), the DM should find a way to have the DMPC leave the party.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="FXR, post: 8099158, member: 6781105"] I'm usually very careful about DMPCs. They can often turn out as Mary Sue or the players can feel the NPC overshadow their own characters. I would also advise against using the NPC as a info-dump or, worst, as a guide for the PCs. However, carefully used, a DMPC can be a great tool, providing that the players care about him or her. Here's an exemple from my campaign (well actually two), which you may skip if these things bore you. At some point during their first scenario arc, the characters were tasked to save the holy priestess of a clan of [I]totally-not [/I]vikings who had been kidnapped by some barbarians (who were [I]totally-not [/I]like the Wendol in 13th Warrior, of course). While tracking the barbarians, the PCs met a young farms woman whose husband and child had been killed by the barbarians. The young woman had swore vengeance against the killers and was tracking the barbarians. The PCs, especially the fighter, decided to act like mentors for her and she tagged along, sometimes leaving on her own for her own plans and meeting the characters after a while. They saw her grow, from a farmer to a paladin of Vengeance. It then got interesting (at least to me) many adventures after: the fighter had a big crush on her, but had tasked her with protecting and serving a t[I]otally not [/I]arabian queen they served for a while. The queen confided to her she would like to take the fighter as her royal consort. The fighter was rather startled to see how the GMPC struggle with the fighter's attempts at wooing her. Now, the PCs are level 10 and the [I]totally-not[/I] vikings are going at war against the elves of the North. One PC's brother is going to side with the elves, while the GMPC has left to side with her people, the [I]totally-not [/I]vikings. Note that the the GMPC has always been a much lower level than the PCs (they have a difference of 2 levels). At some point, I tried to add another DMPC, a totally-not African monk, but while the characters respected him, it never clicked with the players. So the monk quickly took a backseat and became a very minor character. Had I try to have him tag along with the PCs, I'm pretty sure they wouldn't have antagonize him, but it wouldn't add nothing to the story. So, here are a few things I would suggest DMs to do: i) make sure the DMPC doesn't overshadow the characters, both in terms of story and power. The PCs are the stars of the campaign and never the sidekicks of the DMPC. ii) if, for some reason the players and their characters, do not feel any attachment to the NPC, do not make him or her a DMPC. You don't have to kill him or her, he can come back in the story much later on. iii) take in account that the DMPC isn't omniscient. He or she will make errors of judgment and doesn't know everything. iv) a DMPC should have a purpose in the campaign that's more than filling out a party role. Otherwise, he or she will always feel artificial to the players and they'll treat her like a tool and not a real character. Also, the DMPC should never overextend its welcome. If he or she has no role in the adventure (either because the DM or because the PC do not feel like it), the DM should find a way to have the DMPC leave the party. [/QUOTE]
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