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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Kid Socrates" data-source="post: 2869876" data-attributes="member: 10714">I run two games in the same universe for two groups of two players, so each group has a third party member played by me. The first party is basically a fighter and caster, so the third is a hybrid mobile fighter. The second party is heavy on ranged, so I made a spear-wielding dragoon-type melee fighter to keep the enemies from (always) snacking on my frail little people in the back row.Neither overshadows the party -- I mostly use them as extra damage, damage sinks, and targets for the villains' new huge abilities. Both of them have enough HP to survive, and it's a good way for the other party members to go, "Oh, man, we gotta watch out for THAT!"They take a share of the loot, but tend to spend it on things that help everyone out (potions, ethers, upgrades to party transportation, gifts). They also a good mechanism for quest hooks ("Champ's dad is being targeted by an assassin, so he'd like to go to the city and defend him." The assassin ends up being a PC's half-brother, just another way to link them all).So yeah, I use them out of necessity, but keep them in the back. They're not the stars, nor should they be treated as such. The PCs will fight and risk their lives to keep them safe, though, which is nice -- even though one PC is run by the DM, they still consider that guy a party member.I have great players, too, which makes it easier.</blockquote>