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Message: <blockquote data-quote="RPG_Tweaker" data-source="post: 5454289" data-attributes="member: 13041">I've run a few DM PCs... IMC, they function somewhere between the typical NPC henchmen/hireling or plot-related guest and a full player character.They are typically someone to fill a party role that the players either aren't interested in, or have simply overlooked.While such characters have a notorious reputation of being DM "pets", enjoying a protected status, or as several horror stories go, frustratingly "outshining" the PCs... I purposely try to avoid such conditions, as it is ruinously unfair to the players. The way I see it, if a DMPC is played properly and equitably, they can add to the overll experience, and better yet, their death or departure from the pary can create some wonderfully dramatic interactions and new plot-lines.For example, I introduced a DMPC bard, Remy the Red, to a party of mostly fighting-types who served as a great source of exposition for the capmaign as well as a herald for the party's exploits. I used his interest in stories to extract more elaborate histories from each PC rather than the typically lackluster "Ragnar's parents were killed by orcs. He was raised by a master swordsman". This not only helped everyone get to know each other better, but gave me a rich source of PC-related plot-lines to explore.In return, several players became equally interested in his personal history and goals; one player even effectively acted as Remy's personal bodyguard, targeting any enemy that dare attack him. At one point, when I was going to "retire" him by having him go off to pursue a personal goal, the party went so far as to sacrifce a prized keep they'd acqured to help him... their decision was unexpected, and quite touching... and the adventure led to some exquisitely cinematic quality roleplay.I say, if the meta-game goal of a DMPC is to create adventure and glory for the party while giving some emotional "comraderie" with the players... I fully support the idea.</blockquote>

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