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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Chimera" data-source="post: 1797513" data-attributes="member: 2002">Another option I am seriously considering for my next game is based on the way my last campaign worked.In the last game, it was like the PCs were a group within a larger group of "friends and allies".  Occasionally the PC group would take along other (NPC) members of this group, occasionally they would train underlings of their allies.  The NPC members of this greater group were not idle when not with the PC group.  They formed their own group or groups and went adventuring.  Sometimes doing things the PCs refused to do, sometimes acting on things the PCs didn't know, sometimes merely acting in support of their own ambitions.In my next game, I will probably attempt the same thing, depending on the disposition of the (entirely new group of) players.But it will be used to add a "shadow PC" concept.  What this means is that I will allow each player whose PC has real ambitions and outside duties that require large chunks of downtime to run a "shadow PC" within the framework of this larger group.When your main PC has to spend three months (game time) to learn a new class or PrC (enforced), or wants to spend a month or so creating items or serving at the main temple or tending crops or whatever the heck they want to do that takes them away from adventuring but makes them a real person; they can activate their "shadow PC".This will be a part-time PC, most of the time NPC within the larger group.  When not in play, it will be an NPC under the full control of me, the GM.  It will not be a subordinate or henchman of the player's main PC, nor will I tolerate it being treated as such.  I will allow the player to decide what the SPC will do in it's downtime for the most part, but will keep overall control and veto over it's actions.  I may decide to send it off on NPC only adventures.  I may have it take other actions.Sending it off in other adventures serves two purposes.  One, it will allow me to keep the SPC at the same or near enough level to the main PC.  Two, it will serve to create plot hooks, relationships and knowledge for the player group.Good theory, but I'm not 100% sure of how it will work in practice.</blockquote>

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