Companion Characters...how's it working out?

[caudor]

Let's talk about companion characters (I'll abbrev. as CCs).

In the DMG II, the idea of CCs was introduced: DM created, Player controlled party members with limited powers/bookkeeping requirements.

I'm delighted by the concept because I'm rarely able to round up more than two or three players for a game. Now I can fill in the gaps/weak points in a party and run through most published adventures without modification. That's very handy for me. Plus, it is easy to get creative with CC backgrounds since you can weave them into the story in advance.

I have not yet used CCs in anything other than a 1st-level party so far.

In my experience, they tend to hold up very well compared to a regular PCs, but when things go bad for the party...the REALLY go bad.

I'll throw out some questions: What are your experiences with CCs? Have you tried them? Do you like or dislike? Are they really tough enough to fill in various roles? How have they helped (or not helped) your game?

Thanks

 

[weem]

I actually used one 2 games ago to fill in for a player who couldn't make it - the "Leader" in fact.

I was a little worried because they were relying on the companion to be their healer, and there were only 3 players (so 4 "people" counting the companion). I ran them against a tough Elite and a few others and they did fine. It was tough, but they made it so it worked out better than I was expecting.

Usually, when I want an NPC who will be fighting along side the PC's (when they are all playing), I build the character in the Monster Builder, but I think if the NPC is filling in for a missing PC, the CC is the better way to go in the case of the Leader and Defender - in those two roles, I think you need (or should to be safe) make sure they are working with proper powers that define their 'jobs'. Strikers and Controllers I feel are easier to setup in the MB than Leaders and Defenders, so I would probably (at least at this point) continue to build them there instead.

This is all in my experience anyway - ymmv

 

[Ktulu]

I've used them a number of times since receiving the DMGII. I really like the idea, and the implementation works great.

If you use the Monster Builder, it's easy to build a simple statblock for them, which I use to print off and give to the player who is most connected to the companion character. They, then, run the character when in combat situations.

Best way to put benevolent NPC's in a game, in my opinion.

 

[Holy Bovine]

I have used CCs exclusively as 'replacements' for players who can't make it to the game. Their PC becomes a CC (I have CCs made up for most of the party now) and either I as DM, or another player, runs them. I find it works really well and makes sure that the party still has the skills and fighting power of a full group but making the no-show PC much easier to play for someone not familiar with the character in question. My groups are big enough that the last thing I want to do is intro an NPC CC.

 

[samursus]

I have, until recently, needed 2 CC's for my game, previously only having 3 players. Now we have 5 so we don't need them. Were they successful? Let's just say the 3 original players were very upset to see their friends go. Granted the CC's filled the Controller and 2nd Striker roles.

TLDR; worked excellently.

 

[Wormwood]

We rotate DMs every few adventures, so when I took my turn behind the screen, my Warlord (the only Leader) became unavailable.

So I made a cleric-themed Leader CC, and she's been with the party ever since (about 10 levels). When I brought my Warlord back, I felt her healing was stealing my spotlight a bit, so we remade her as a Striker (Avenger-ish). As a Warlord, she makes me even cooler than ever since I have an extra character to give combat bonuses to.

Going forward, we are going to make versions of every PC as a Companion Character. That way, when someone takes their turn as DM, a simplified version of their character will remain in the party (roleplayed by the DM). That should add a little consistency to the party while ensuring all roles are filled.

 

[Dykstrav]

I've used companion characters quite often, especially to deal with "cleric syndrome." (That is, players that hate the leader roles, and therefore, the group lacks a leader.) What I think is really neat is that it gives players the chance to try out a new character type for a session or two without committing to playing an entirely new character.

Based on a companion character test drive, I've had two players play different character types that they otherwise have never tried before.

I actually want to write a sourcebook of companion characters for 4E. It'd be neat to have a variety of companion characters at your fingertips.

 

[caudor]

I actually want to write a sourcebook of companion characters for 4E. It'd be neat to have a variety of companion characters at your fingertips.

It would be great if you did. I'd snatch it up. I've been keeping a lookout for any third party products related to Companion Characters. Haven't seen one yet, but I'm sure someone will take advantage of the opportunity.

A sourcebook with Companion Characters with stats and backgrounds of various levels would be fantastic. Showing the same CC built at different levels would be great too.

 

[deadsmurf]

When the player who had been playing the group's cleric started coming less and less (and eventually confirmed she wouldn't be playing for a good while) I made up the character as a companion character. There were up and downs with her being an NPC - some of the players didn't like her power level (being used to her being a full PC statted out character) or things like like of an action point, I felt it sped up things a lot. (One player felt the character was "stealing" XP from the actual characters... yeah I ignored him)

A second CC (a 'dead' PC that came back for a climatic battle) got added when I finished my part of the campaign and is continuing with the party quite successfully now that one of the player's has begun DMing.

Overall I'm pretty happy with the way the Companion Characters worked, despite the occasional complaints from the players (well mostly that one)

 

[Droogie]

Ok, I gotta ask...has anyone tried running a rules-lite, beer-and-pretzels game of 4e using only the companion rules?