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<blockquote data-quote="Xaelvaen" data-source="post: 7268529" data-attributes="member: 6681906">So many lucky people here, hah.&nbsp; I've been playing with my core home group for many years now, and I'm not allowed to not run a character alongside them when I DM.&nbsp; Anytime I start up a campaign, they make sure I have a character ready to go too.&nbsp; I usually fill in the gaps with what is missing from the party (though I refuse to ever run the alpha-personality sort, and they accept this).Relating to this issue, there's never a point where I don't have an NPC in the party, because I can't run my 'character' entirely like the rest of the players.&nbsp; I have to cleverly arrange skills so as to not hit all the passive perception DCs, or have the knowledge for certain situations, or quite the opposite - play the NPC that lends the PCs information they want or need.Occasionally I get lucky, and I can play a 'character' that doesn't have to always go with them to those dangerous dungeons and such.&nbsp; &quot;Oh.. I'm playing an elderly wizard.&nbsp; You need to go explore the lost ruins of Blatherington?&nbsp; I... can't go, I have to research the ruins in the library!&nbsp; But here's a Sending Stone and I'll give you the information you need.&quot;&nbsp; The grognards I play with don't buy this often.There is an upside, though - when my whole group feels like playing the oddball character, sometimes they don't crunch quite as hard, and the party can't really support certain types of adventures.&nbsp; Rather than having to exclude those, the npc can be the face-smasher they need.&nbsp; With the experienced group I have, deathblows and glory and all that is meaningless, unless that is the focus of one of their characters, at which point, I obviously play the healer or the 'storyteller' to sing deeds of their handiwork.The only time I ever get to -just- DM, is when I'm doing new groups down at the FLGS.&nbsp; It's a relief to not have to work twice as hard, admittedly, but nothing beats playing with your decades-long friendships, even if they do make you work so so much harder.To the Original QuestionMy insight into the situation is limited, but I do make a &quot;Roll Chart&quot; for my 'character' and the NPCs that sometimes end up in the party.&nbsp; I pre-roll about 30 d20s and record them down on a list in order.&nbsp; Then, when my npc or whatnot needs to make a check or roll, I put a tic by one of the rolls, in order.&nbsp; If I finish the whole list, I just run it in reverse with a second line of tics.&nbsp; This works quickly and efficiently for me.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Xaelvaen, post: 7268529, member: 6681906"] So many lucky people here, hah. I've been playing with my core home group for many years now, and I'm not [I]allowed[/I] to not run a character alongside them when I DM. Anytime I start up a campaign, they make sure I have a character ready to go too. I usually fill in the gaps with what is missing from the party (though I refuse to ever run the alpha-personality sort, and they accept this). Relating to this issue, there's never a point where I don't have an NPC in the party, because I can't run my 'character' entirely like the rest of the players. I have to cleverly arrange skills so as to not hit all the passive perception DCs, or have the knowledge for certain situations, or quite the opposite - play the NPC that lends the PCs information they want or need. Occasionally I get lucky, and I can play a 'character' that doesn't have to always go with them to those dangerous dungeons and such. "Oh.. I'm playing an elderly wizard. You need to go explore the lost ruins of Blatherington? I... can't go, I have to research the ruins in the library! But here's a Sending Stone and I'll give you the information you need." The grognards I play with don't buy this often. There is an upside, though - when my whole group feels like playing the oddball character, sometimes they don't crunch quite as hard, and the party can't really support certain types of adventures. Rather than having to exclude those, the npc can be the face-smasher they need. With the experienced group I have, deathblows and glory and all that is meaningless, unless that is the focus of one of their characters, at which point, I obviously play the healer or the 'storyteller' to sing deeds of their handiwork. The only time I ever get to -just- DM, is when I'm doing new groups down at the FLGS. It's a relief to not have to work twice as hard, admittedly, but nothing beats playing with your decades-long friendships, even if they do make you work so so much harder. [B]To the Original Question[/B] My insight into the situation is limited, but I do make a "Roll Chart" for my 'character' and the NPCs that sometimes end up in the party. I pre-roll about 30 d20s and record them down on a list in order. Then, when my npc or whatnot needs to make a check or roll, I put a tic by one of the rolls, in order. If I finish the whole list, I just run it in reverse with a second line of tics. This works quickly and efficiently for me. [/QUOTE]

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