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<blockquote data-quote="Theo R Cwithin" data-source="post: 5000817" data-attributes="member: 75712">Lots of great solutions already postsd upthread.&nbsp; Here's a few things off the top of my head.For high-power campaigns:[sblock]&nbsp; - more badguys than good guys: NPCs can't do everything and genuinely need PC help&nbsp; - high-level NPCs are &quot;too busy&quot; for, or unconvinced/unaware of, the problems the PCs face&nbsp; - BBEGs are more powerful than high-level goodguys: NPCs run interference, create diversion, stall, focus on select BBEGs, give advice, etc, while PCs slip in &quot;under the radar&quot;,&nbsp; have time to mature, take on other BBEGs&nbsp; - there are no high-level goodguy NPCs: that is the destiny of successful PCs&nbsp; - high-level NPCs are extinct or incapacitated: PCs have to revive the sleepers, locate the remnants, etc.&nbsp; - prophecy: it would be &quot;inappropriate&quot; for the high-level NPCs to extensively interfere with the PCs and their relationship with the setting&nbsp; - low-level/high-influence NPCs don't have game &quot;XPerience&quot;, but have plenty of life experience: they serve as advisors, contacts, mentors, leaders, etc, but must leave the &quot;heavy lifting&quot; to the PCs.[/sblock]For low-power campaigns: [sblock] I prefer low-power campaigns because this issue more or less settles itself.&nbsp; In such settings (eg, with very limited magic, or heroic-tier-only levelling, etc), the NPCs don't necessarily outshine the PCs in raw power.&nbsp; NPCs often exercise their power through leadership, knowledge, political influence, and the like.&nbsp; PC power is often defined by brute force, kewl powerz, and shiny loot.&nbsp; In both cases, one side has what the other needs.&nbsp; In this way, aid rendered by either side to the other is truly helpful, without stretching &quot;suspension of disbelief&quot; too much in either direction.&nbsp; IMHO, it changes the metagame rationalization about &quot;why NPCs don't&quot; into questions of character motivation and &quot;why NPCs do&quot;.[/sblock]</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Theo R Cwithin, post: 5000817, member: 75712"] Lots of great solutions already postsd upthread. Here's a few things off the top of my head. For high-power campaigns:[sblock] - more badguys than good guys: NPCs can't do everything and genuinely need PC help - high-level NPCs are "too busy" for, or unconvinced/unaware of, the problems the PCs face - BBEGs are more powerful than high-level goodguys: NPCs run interference, create diversion, stall, focus on select BBEGs, give advice, etc, while PCs slip in "under the radar", have time to mature, take on other BBEGs - there are no high-level goodguy NPCs: that is the destiny of successful PCs - high-level NPCs are extinct or incapacitated: PCs have to revive the sleepers, locate the remnants, etc. - prophecy: it would be "inappropriate" for the high-level NPCs to extensively interfere with the PCs and their relationship with the setting - low-level/high-influence NPCs don't have game "XPerience", but have plenty of life experience: they serve as advisors, contacts, mentors, leaders, etc, but must leave the "heavy lifting" to the PCs.[/sblock] For low-power campaigns: [sblock] I prefer low-power campaigns because this issue more or less settles itself. In such settings (eg, with very limited magic, or heroic-tier-only levelling, etc), the NPCs don't necessarily outshine the PCs in raw power. NPCs often exercise their power through leadership, knowledge, political influence, and the like. PC power is often defined by brute force, kewl powerz, and shiny loot. In both cases, one side has what the other needs. In this way, aid rendered by either side to the other is truly helpful, without stretching "suspension of disbelief" too much in either direction. IMHO, it changes the metagame rationalization about "why NPCs [I][B]don't[/B][/I]" into questions of character motivation and "why NPCs [I][B]do[/B][/I]".[/sblock] [/QUOTE]

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