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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Celebrim" data-source="post: 6206788" data-attributes="member: 4937">In general, a DM PC has the following features that aren't generally found in NPCs that journey with the party:a) The DM PC is as broadly competent as the PCs.  Generally in D&D this means that the DMPC will be the at least as high of level as the PCs and be built with at least as high of a stat array.b) The DM PC is one that the DM empathizes with and identifies the way he would a PC.  This is necessary to distinguish the DMPC from a high level character that accompanies the PC's solely or largely to become a foil, rival, or enemy at a later point.  You should resist this demand in most cases.a) NPC guides and hirelings should be incapable of providing significant direct help in solving the big problems the PC's face.  It's ok to have NPCs there to take care of the horses while you are in the dungeon, manage the party finances in town, tote and guard the luggage and so forth.  They can be quite valuable assets.  The should just be clearly sidekicks.b) High level mentor/quest giver NPCs should not be able and willing to accompany the PC's except in missions of extremely short duration and only when you plan it.  Make sure that high level NPCs are few in number and their duties large.  If they have extreme weaknesses of some sort, that's good too - my favorite is old age.What you want to avoid at all times is NPCs that steal spotlight from the PCs.  Currently my PC's are 6th level.  They have one henchmen: a 15 year old apprentice shipping clerk (1st level expert) who they call 'Nobbin'.  'Nobbin' is useful and well liked because he's loyal and honest (LN, code of honor to employer), intelligent (int 15), and has more skill in certain subjects like Knowledge(Law) and Knowledge (Mathematics & Accounting) than anyone in the party has.  He's basically the parties secretary.  He's all but completely useless in a fight, and too valuable to risk in a fight.  The advantage to this character is that he's seldom on stage when another NPC is on stage, and I generally don't have to track him from scene to scene, but only in those few scenes where he plays a role.   I have a strong feeling they are about to pick up another henchmen, a retired somewhat beaten down soldier (4th level fighter) who is no good at life off the battlefield.  I'm hoping that he's far enough below the PC's in skill, that he's only an occasional figure in combat, but sufficiently skillful to serve as a useful guard.</blockquote>

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