Out of curiosity... asking for opinions

[Goddess FallenAngel]

I'm looking to opinions on how you, as a player or DM, would feel about having a PC becoming much more powerful than the rest of the PCs, when they started out same character level/power level?

Okay, here is the situation outline:

1. PCs get sent back in time against their will.
2. The "saving our timeline" adventure ensues.
3. PCs maintain status quo, making sure everything happens as it is supposed to (and are told as much when the time comes to be sent back to thier own time).
4. One PC does not show up at the rendevous point to go back to the future. (Say that PC is of a race that in the DM's world is near immortal; does not die of old age.)
5. Just before PCs get sent back, the question "What about xxx?" is asked. PCs are told that "Everyone who is supposed to be here, is here." (all in character)
6. When party gets back to their own time, that player makes a new character.
7. A few game sessions later, PCs discover that the 'missing' PC is still around - and much higher level (after living for, say, several centuries in between).
8. Former PC is now being run as an NPC - but so far, neutral to the PCs - a.k.a. not obviously hostile, but not very helpful, either.

What would be your reaction as a play in that situation?
What would be your reaction as a DM?

 

[BrooklynKnight]

If the PC is being run as an NPC, thats fine. No problem with it.

from a DM point of view, its a great way for a PC to retire a character, yet keep the personality in the game.

The PC's cant get jelous or mad at their fellow PC cause he's still their power level. Any situation where one pc becomes way more powerfull then others, is a situation where that PC should consider retirement.

from a PC POV i'd be suprised and want to learn what happened and stuff. It would be very weird.

 

[paulewaug]

I have to agree with that idea that as long as the character remains an NPC there shouldn't be any problems. The Dm has the power to run NPCs of any level they see fit for the benefit of the game.
So it is ok for NPCs to be more powerful, there usually will be at least a very few npcs that are stronger.

As long as you don't abuse the players with over powered npcs it's not a problem.
But...
Allowing a PC that is more powerful is asking for trouble IMHO.
Very few players wound bot resent either the other player or the dm or both for allowing it. And players don't Normally want to play kid sidekick to the other players.

So as an NPC, not much problem.
As a PC, asking for trouble.

All the above is of course IMHO and YMMV

 

[Goddess FallenAngel]

If the PC is being run as an NPC, thats fine. No problem with it.

The character is being run as an NPC, but has been roleplayed by the old player a couple of times when the PCs have run into her.

from a PC POV i'd be suprised and want to learn what happened and stuff. It would be very weird.

The PCs do. However, let me add two new bits of info to the equation:

1.) The PC/NPC murdered the NPC that had traveled with the group since day 1 of the game. This was done while everyone was back in time, right before being sent back to the current time. Because of the circumstances at the time of death, the PCs did not realize it was the PC/NPC who had murdered her until they got back to their current time and a.)found out they could not ressurect the NPC and b.)discovered the wounds on the NPC were in keeping with the PC/NPC's weapon and modus operandi.

2.) The PCs later found out that the PC/NPC had become the Seriph of an evil god. (A Seriph being much like an proxy, or archangel. Basically the right hand of the god.)

I have to agree with that idea that as long as the character remains an NPC there shouldn't be any problems.
<snip>
Allowing a PC that is more powerful is asking for trouble IMHO.
Very few players wound bot resent either the other player or the dm or both for allowing it. And players don't Normally want to play kid sidekick to the other players.

*See above note about the player roleplaying the character in a few encounters with the character afterward.*
I would like opinion on that as well; it is probably something that I should have added into the original post, but I didn't think of it at the time.

BTW, this character is not traveling with the party at all, and has not since the time travel adventure. The 'encounters' have consisted with one party member, who was a very good friend of this character when she was a PC, contacting her via the sending spell and speaking with her twice.

The other 'encounter', so to speak, was directly after returning from the past; the party decided to break up, take some downtime and have a funeral for the NPC. The same night they all went home, a note saying "Greetings from an old friend" signed with the PC/NPC's intials was tacked to the inside of the door of the bedchamber of 2 of the PCs. These two PCs were ones that the character (PC/NPC) never really saw eye-to-eye with.

 

[BrooklynKnight]

Doesnt change anything for me. If anything the PC/NPC could be a nemesis to the party now.

Verygood RP if ya ask me.

 

[Steverooo]

I'm looking to opinions on how you, as a player or DM, would feel about having a PC becoming much more powerful than the rest of the PCs, when they started out same character level/power level?

Okay, here is the situation outline:

1. PCs get sent back in time against their will.
2. The "saving our timeline" adventure ensues.
3. PCs maintain status quo, making sure everything happens as it is supposed to (and are told as much when the time comes to be sent back to thier own time).
4. One PC does not show up at the rendevous point to go back to the future. (Say that PC is of a race that in the DM's world is near immortal; does not die of old age.)
5. Just before PCs get sent back, the question "What about xxx?" is asked. PCs are told that "Everyone who is supposed to be here, is here." (all in character)
6. When party gets back to their own time, that player makes a new character.
7. A few game sessions later, PCs discover that the 'missing' PC is still around - and much higher level (after living for, say, several centuries in between).
8. Former PC is now being run as an NPC - but so far, neutral to the PCs - a.k.a. not obviously hostile, but not very helpful, either.

What would be your reaction as a play in that situation?
What would be your reaction as a DM?

Wow! My reaction, as a DM? If I were the GM, wouldn't I be running the NPC? Why would I need Super-Elf? Why has he turned his back on his former friend, even if he hasn't seen them in a few hundred years?

As a PC, I'd be wondering what happened, why he didn't come back with us, and where he's been, and what he's been up to, for the last few centuries. First thing I'd wanna do is go ask, and find out WHY he was "responding coldly". Did he feel we'd left him behind?

If I got no answers, there, there are always those piles and piles of history books, and Sages... Surely he didn't get to high level with no one noticing!

In other words, I'd respond by asking questions, and looking for answers...

 

[Steverooo]

The other 'encounter', so to speak, was directly after returning from the past; the party decided to break up, take some downtime and have a funeral for the NPC. The same night they all went home, a note saying "Greetings from an old friend" signed with the PC/NPC's intials was tacked to the inside of the door of the bedchamber of 2 of the PCs. These two PCs were ones that the character (PC/NPC) never really saw eye-to-eye with.

To that, as a PC, I'd say: "Eek!"

 

[Steverooo]

Working Theory:

So "we" good guys quantumn-leaped back in time to "fix what went wrong". (Shades of QL's Halloween episode!), and the BBEG who liked the way things had gone wrong got angry with us... So he snatched one of us, learned all about us from her, and is now using her to "get" us...

So where did we go, and what did we do? How did she get nabbed? Was she headed towards evil, anyhow, and fell in? Or was she snatched, and in need of saving?

In case one, hello to a new enemy! She already knows our MO, all our powers, and even our gear! Time for new strategies (in a lead-lined room)!

In case two, we need to find out what went wrong, and how to fix it, while keeping away from her... Once we know what to do, we need to get it done (probably against stiff resistance), and then start cleaning up all the messes she's made for the last x00 years!

Either case is a tall order!

 

[BSF]

First reaction as a player: Holy Smokes! What just happened?

I would be asking all sorts of questions. I would want to know if this is an ally or an enemy. If the NPC is an enemy, why? Can that rift be repaired? Can the NPC be redeemed? Admittedly, that is unlikely if the NPC is now a seraph, but who better to try? Besides, that is a legendary feat! "I convinced a seraph to renounce his evil ways and return to the cause of Good!"

As a DM: Done well, this could be great! I am assuming you are allowing the former player to handle the interaction because the player knows the character and might have a better understanding of how the NPC will react. As well, it gives one of the non-involved players of the moment an opportunity to contribute to the game. (Pure speculation on my part.) Be careful as this may still cause a bit of problems for the other players around the table. They might get bored. Besides, you don't really need to do this. The NPC has had a long time for personality shifts to occur. You can't play the NPC out of character because the character has adjusted.

It sounds like it will be a challenging NPC to play. However, you do have the advantage of having brought everything closer to the PC's. Much more personal. I would be looking for signs of discouragement or discontent among the players. This type of scenario may require a little more OOC discussion to keep everyone happy playing the game. Of course, if your players have a lot of trust in your game, they will probably gobble this up like pie and love it.