Do you run multiple PCs?

[tx7321]

Iv'e recently started playing 2-4 PCs at the same time. So far its kinda cool. All of my PCs though have histories, and were played solo...it probably wouldn't work as well if I started them out from scratch that way.

Anyone else try this? I know this was apparently the norm back in "the day", but I guess we missed it.

 

[Philotomy Jurament]

I'm usually the DM, but my players typically run a main PC with attendant henchmen and hirelings. The henchmen are kind of de facto PCs, but since they're technically NPCs I can step in and take control/adjust their behavior, if I need to.

Henchmen often become PCs; especially if the main PC dies.

 

[Mycanid]

Personally no (i.e. as a player) ... as the DM, of course.

 

[Lanefan]

Often, yes. Then again, my PC's tend to have shorter-than-average lifespans...

Lanefan

 

[Xyanthon]

Back in the day it wasn't unusual for us to run more than one PC. We also used to run henchmen and hirelings that would be (as was stated earlier) defacto PCs. I tend to recall us horribly misusing the henchmen (in the same vein as Nodwick). I think as we evolved in our play style, it became less and less common for us to use multiple PCs. I do like the idea of having a single PC with henchmen and hirelings though. It kind of gives more of a "real world" feel to the great hero and his attendant staff (page, squire, etc.) which I find pretty interesting.

 

[Tarek]

I have run multiple PCs at one time... this has sometimes led me to forget which PC I'm speaking for at the moment (that led to an alignment violation once, though it was a minor one and easily atoned for). I can usually keep them straight if I've been playing them for a while.

However, two characters at one time is pretty much my maximum. I can't run more than two without conflating them.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I've done so in the past, and I expect to in the future, but I'm not doing it right now.

 

[Psion]

1 normally, though if the DM's PC is needed along for the adventure, someone might run the character, which would normally be me.

 

[Vuron]

In 1e it was rare but not unheard of as we generally had decent sized groups.

It became less common with 2e and virtually unheard of by 3e in our games.

 

[Rhun]

I prefer to play only one at a time, but have often found myself playing multiple PCs in smaller games.