How to DM AND play char.?

[Herobizkit]

I have to chime in here.

The above poster's idea of an "attached NPC" is pretty much a DMPC in games that I've run. My DMPC is almost always a support character, or a one-trick pony that fills a gap in the other player's abilities.

That said, the only thing you do not do with such a character is treat him any better than any other PC (that is, as if you were playing the character under another DM). Treasure should be rolled for as usual, or in the case of pre-gen modules, doled out to the party as is with no special tidbits for your DMPC. You can always SUGGEST that items be given to your DMPC, but leave that decision to the players. If you make a spellcaster as a DMPC, be certain that said spellcaster is up front with his spell selection, and again, try to specialize so that the players know that you're not trying anything shifty (ie "conveniently" having the one spell they need, even if it's not on your character sheet).

And really, it's all about trust; if the players can't trust you to run a DMPC fairly, NPC him and live vicariously through the NPC's deeds.

 

[WhatGravitas]

Also: Sometimesthe urge to play a character means you have a drive to imagine a character. Write fiction about him to get that urge out of your system. Works like a charm, AFAIK.

Cheers, LT.

 

[rawgt3]

Funny this got brought up again. We still have'nt started playing due to scheduling problems and I was asking the "Vice DM" if he would like to run a solo for me but he favors the idea that I make the map and tell him what to put in it(vaguely e.g. kobolds and a few simple traps in random areas) every other session. Or we could take turns with adventures in the same campaign. I have i think 2 prob. with these ideas though. first, My idea for this game is to be almost like a movie (as far as drama and suspence go) and I am not exactly confident In his ability to run it as such. 2nd as a "movie" some of the adventures will be entwined into others and I'm not sure if he can pull it off without spoiling it. I would talk to him about it but ,once again, If he knows there will be suspence, he will kill it.(He's one of those people that narrates(and thus ruins) dramatic tension. "Oh look there goes gandalf to go sacrifice himself to save the party...Aww,He can't hold on much longer.Opp, there he goes.Here comes that really high-pitched sad music.Frodo screams like a girl.You know if you think about it,gandalf is like a kamikazi."
As per the solo game,since their are 4 of us I was origionally intending to have 2 different games with 3 players but opon further thinking ,I did'nt want the other 2 players to get confused or start making references to the other game.

 

[doghead]

general - DMPC

I would really like to play as a char ...

A number of people have already mentioned the potential pitfalls of running a DMPC. There is another reason for not playing a DMPC.

Playing a DMPC is ultimately an exercise in futility. PC's are vehicles through which the players interact with the setting and attempt to meet the challenges set. You can not have the same experience as the player of a PC, because you are the arbiter of your own character's outcomes. Its like playing chess against yourself.

NPC's are different. NPC's are essentially a tool of the DM for running the game. They can be there to oppose the PC's, or assist them, or provide background colour. NPC's can be successful long term members of a party. They can fill ability gaps or be useful in other ways, like minding the horses while the PC's explore the ruins. Or they can present challenges to the PC's - someone who needs protecting, or who has an agenda different from the PC's. NPC's can be can be fun to play. But again, they a fundamentally different creature from PC's.

If you want to 'play', then I would suggest a DMPC isn't going to do it for you. You really need someone else to take a turn in the big chair. Break your campagne into blocks of several weeks/months, then have someone else run things for a few weeks/months. If the others in your group are a bit reluctant, perhaps suggest a published adventure or two that they could run pretty much out of the box. There are numerous free .pdf adventures available, as well as many under $10. I don't think it is unreasonable to say, "hey I don't mind DM'ing most of the time, but I want a chance to play as well."

doghead
aka thotd

 

[scourger]

Don't do it. DM or play. Not both at the same time.

 

[rawgt3]

Thats why I'm agreeing with you doghead. I gave up on that a few months ago (see my last post). Also I am planning on playing my homebrew that I've been contemplating for quite awhile now.

 

[doghead]

Happy gaming rawgt3. I hope you have a great time on both sides of the screen.

doghead
aka thotd

 

[rawgt3]

Happy Gaming I hope doghead. I'm still trying to deal with the vice-DM.

 

[Squire James]

An experienced DM and players can probably pull it off. I run a game with a small party that generally welcomes some extra help from time to time. So, for this campaign at least, I have had an NPC that I run in a manner similar to a PC with the party at all times. If the NPC wants an item, he/she asks for it but accepts the group's decision. He/she will give good advice based on the character's Intelligence and Wisdom.

These NPC's do not enjoy most of the anti-death measures I have placed for the PC's, so they tend to die much more often than PC's. Some have lived, but have left the party for various reasons. For instance, I had Melf-the-Acid-Arrow guy join the party for a while to gain some inspiration for a better spell - and the party (and through them, Melf himself) gained some respect for the Acid Arrow in the process. He came up with the idea for his "Unicorn Arrow" PHB 2 spell and left the party to research it. Soon the PC's will meet the afterlife version of several of the dead NPC's in another plane.

There are ways of making almost any bad idea work in the right circumstances...

 

[Hippy]

Just thought I'd offer my two coppers worth...

I play in two bi-weekly games and share the DMing duty with another friend. He runs his game on Fridays and I run mine on Sundays. It works well because we both get to play PCs an equal share of the time. The idea that a DMPC is bad IMHO depends on the strength of the DM to keep the action in the hands of the players and still run the DMPC as an NPC first and DMPC second. By this I mean that the DM can have fun running a character which is a full party member, but with the motivations and decision making bend of an NPC. For example the DMPC in our Friday group will chime in to voice an objection if what the party decides to do is not in line with the goals or temperament of this DMPC. She has been overruled in decisions (9she is just one vote after all), but the DM has played her great in that she tried to manipulate us into doing what she wanted originally. This made for some great role playing and interparty dynamics, that frankly would not have happened if the character was just another NPC thrown in to add color.

Hippy