Regular NPCs and the Large Party

[Aeric]

I run an Eberron campaign with seven players. As if that wasn't challenging enough, I recently introduced an NPC who is going to be interacting with the PCs a lot - the pilot of the PCs' airship. As she is no ordinary pilot (she's a dryad that is bound to the ship), I would very much like for there to be interaction between her and the PCs. However, while the PCs often roleplay small talk with each other, they rarely do so with any of the NPCs they have encountered. I'm worried that a unique and (IMHO) interesting character is going to be glossed over as simply part of their equipment. How can I encourage the PCs to interact with this character?

 

[Rystil Arden]

I run an Eberron campaign with seven players. As if that wasn't challenging enough, I recently introduced an NPC who is going to be interacting with the PCs a lot - the pilot of the PCs' airship. As she is no ordinary pilot (she's a dryad that is bound to the ship), I would very much like for there to be interaction between her and the PCs. However, while the PCs often roleplay small talk with each other, they rarely do so with any of the NPCs they have encountered. I'm worried that a unique and (IMHO) interesting character is going to be glossed over as simply part of their equipment. How can I encourage the PCs to interact with this character?

Maybe tie her into the plot or offer up a twist that she can help with. A random example: What if a fey denizen of Thelanis becomes important to the PCs' next mission but he refuses to speak with these mere mortals...but with the ship's dryad to introduce them, perhaps he will reconsider.

 

[The Edge]

Maybe its not as simple as I think it is, but why not have her talk first, say something and if their meant to be roleplaying properly they cant realy ignore her. Makeing her a plot element is good, but even makeing her presence known with ocassional comments, or simply saying what shes doing at the time should be good.

I dont know about your airship, but that is a cool idea, I like it. Im presumeing it used to be (or still is somehow) her tree? If so she could meld into the walls and floors and comeout else where, which would be neat.

 

[wedgeski]

You have to be pro-active with your NPC's if this is your goal. Start conversations, drop in comments about an out-of-character demeanour and attitude ('She brushes your greeting off with barely a word'), have other NPC's outside of the airship talk about her, and as Rystil mentioned, tie her casually into other plot elements. Your players should pick up on this if they're interested in roleplaying even a little bit.