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Message: <blockquote data-quote="ThoughtBubble" data-source="post: 3177715" data-attributes="member: 9723">This is all sorts of fun. We’ve got competing definitions of DMPC going around. We’ve got competing ideas of player attitude and experience. We’ve got questions about what rights and duties DM’s have. In short, tons of highly relevant fun. Ok, as I understand it, a DMPC is a character in game, controlled by the DM who would seem like a PC if written up in a story hour. Strong, weak, show stopping or not does not apply. DMPCs can be bad in a variety of ways. Most of these stem from the fact that the DM has more or less total control over the game world. It’s hard to keep things even, it’s hard to keep things fair, and it’s hard not to cheat. And I mean cheat in the “Oh yeah, I suppose Keldorn wouldn’t know anything about the circle of black daggers,” sort of way. DMPCs can be good in a variety of ways. Most of these stem from the fact that the PCs get to be the ones running around doing all the cool stuff and having all the fun. PCs are the heroes. PCs get loot. PCs get stronger. PCs accomplish goals in the spotlight. PCs get to have those 20 minute long discussions over weather it was right to kill that wizard (while the DM looks on, wishing he could interject). The DM can get into more of those situations with a DMPC. The need for DMPCs also gets stronger when you consider that some sets of PCs don’t trust anyone outside the party, and thus, even while not dungeneering, it’s really hard for the DM to get in on any of the banter. It’s also a voice into the party. Since some groups have a lot of inertia, the DM having a voice that can say “this thing over here looks cool” can be just the thing a party needs to keep moving in fun directions. There are specific games that I find myself wanting DMPCs in. Those games are when the players do everything in character. Those are the games when the players are hostile (or aggressive, or passive, or non open) to non-party members. Those are the games where the players insist on planning for 20 minutes in character before a battle. The times where the players keep me waiting for something cool to happen are the times when I want to be a player. In short, I want a DMPC in the games where I can get bored as a DM, but would be loads of fun as a PC.In all the best games, I find that there’s so much happening that a DMPC doesn’t feel necessary. I’m jumping between groups. Things are exploding. Situations are collapsing. We’re rushing from one awesome moment to the next. Those times, a DMPC would just slow me down. I’m too busy setting up the next set of bowling pins. But in a typical “I’m playing my character this way because that’s what he’d do” sort of game, I find myself really wanting to be in on the “Playing my character” aspect.</blockquote>

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