D&D 5E NPC Allies?

[R_J_K75]

I think the key part of successfully involving these NPCs is that they need to be short-run only, funny enough to outweigh being annoying, and they can never outshine the PCs except for one epic moment where they do something awesome (then hopefully die afterward).

Thats my take on it too. If I have an NPC accompany the party its for comic relief, as a guide or some other specific function. They don't stay, (or last long) and I don't stat them out other than race, a personality trait or two and vague "class/profession". They never do more than 1d4 or 1d6 damage, but they are active in whatever encounters the PCs are in. Having them vanish into thin air until they are needed is just unbelievable and too convenient. These days I wouldnt run a fully statted DMNPC with the intention of them being a "party" member and havent in well over 20 years.

 

[aco175]

There seems to be several of these threads with the results split between those who do not like them since they feel that the DM is playing a super character from another game and dominates the others and the others that think they are making a balanced NPC that just tags along with the party and feeds info while being a minor help to the rest.

 

[jgsugden]

D&D is an RPG, a role playing game. Characters play a role in a story. NPCs may, organically, join with the PCs for a bit. When they do so, they are not the protagonists of the story. They should be there for a story reason, but that story reason should be written so as to make sure they do not take the spotlight away from the PCs.

 

[jmartkdr2]

There seems to be several of these threads with the results split between those who do not like them since they feel that the DM is playing a super character from another game and dominates the others and the others that think they are making a balanced NPC that just tags along with the party and feeds info while being a minor help to the rest.

Part of this is: it's not impossible for there to be a dm-controlled character who travel with the party and makes the whole game better for being there. It's just very easy to mess it up and cause more harm than good. So most people who've experienced it will tell you it's a bad idea or should be used very sparingly if at all.

 

[Lanefan]

Adventuring NPCs in the party are pretty much standard operating procedure around here, if for no other reason than if a party realizes it has a gap in its lineup (e.g. no Thief, or no Wizard, or could use another front-liner) they'll often go out and recruit someone to fill said gap.

What this means is that if for some reason everyone wants to play a Cleric the party's not then stuck with being all-Cleric: the flexibility is there to augment the party. That said, the players/PCs know there's drawbacks to overdoing this, mostly in terms of having to divide treasure and xp over more people.

 

[DemoMonkey]

Three things about having an ally NPC in the party:

1) They should never be better than the PC at anything that the PCs are focused on.
2) When used by the PCs as a source of information, they should not be the omniscient mouthpiece of the DM
3) If they get kidnapped, we'll rescue them once. ONCE.

Keep those in mind and they are very helpful to run errands and watch the horses.

 

[Swarmkeeper]

Adventuring NPCs in the party are pretty much standard operating procedure around here, if for no other reason than if a party realizes it has a gap in its lineup (e.g. no Thief, or no Wizard, or could use another front-liner) they'll often go out and recruit someone to fill said gap.

What this means is that if for some reason everyone wants to play a Cleric the party's not then stuck with being all-Cleric: the flexibility is there to augment the party. That said, the players/PCs know there's drawbacks to overdoing this, mostly in terms of having to divide treasure and xp over more people.

As this is a 5e thread, I'd just like to point out that party "gaps" are not really a big worry anymore - unlike in 1e which is the basis of your games. It's helpful for new folks if you point that out to reduce potential confusion. An all-Cleric party can actually work really well in 5e without NPC augmentation.

 

[tommybahama]

The one in Avernus was ok but I hate the one in Strahd. Our DM is playing him for laughs and it just throws off every scene where he randomly speaks. Plus his cantrip damage is better than our Paladin's two melee attacks combined.

 

[Lakesidefantasy]

I do try to avoid it, but if the story calls for it I'll do it. My main issue is to avoid players abusing non-player characters as meat-shields and healbots.

 

[Lanefan]

I do try to avoid it, but if the story calls for it I'll do it. My main issue is to avoid players abusing non-player characters as meat-shields and healbots.

That's on you as their controller to play these NPC adventurers as real characters and maybe push back if the PCs are trying to sacrifice them in the front lines or force them into a nothing-but-support role.