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Message: <blockquote data-quote="(Psi)SeveredHead" data-source="post: 5880610" data-attributes="member: 1165">I don't understand the difference between a companion and a DMPC. Aren't they the same thing?That's probably the point. There's nothing preventing a DM from creating a full-fledged personality and history for their NPC. But why would you want to have an NPC who in every combat is more complicated to run than a monster? Companions are easy to use.I've made some NPCs using monster rules but also having abilities of the equivalent PC classes. For instance, an avenger might have Censure of Pursuit or an Invoker might have that retaliation ability. They always end up with fewer powers than a PC might have, though, as monsters usually only get 1-2 abilities per tier. It can get complex enough running 5 monsters, each with 2 abilities, without also having an extra character with a daily ability or two plus the full gamut of class abilities, etc. I think companions have more balanced damage as well; NPCs tend to do more damage (as their abilities are more limited than what PCs have), while NPCs built using PC rules do much lower damage.I've only ever had a DMPC once, and that was in d20 Modern, where the only difference between a PC and NPC using a heroic class is the number of action points. I don't even recall if the DMPC was an "Ordinary" (an NPC class) or a hero. He was lower level, and the PCs kept him around for a couple of sessions because he had medical training and none of them did. (In Modern, Surgery is basically a martial ritual that heals a ton of hp.) Said doctor used bows and arrows, in an effort to keep him safe, but he nearly died in one encounter to a trap anyway. (The PCs were controlling him, and didn't spot the flaming log trap right where someone taking cover behind a pillar would stand.)The companion's role would depend on what role is missing from the party. For a defender, I would recommend a paladin rather than a fighter or knight. Any leader works, it doesn't seem to matter within the rules, but I'd recommend against a warlord as they're "take charge" characters.</blockquote>

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