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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Lanefan" data-source="post: 5181711" data-attributes="member: 29398">NPC party members (full members, as opposed to henches and hirelings) are a near-constant in my games - sometimes as plot hooks, sometimes as spies or agents, sometimes to fill a hole in their lineup (usually a Rent-a-Cleric, Rent-a-Thief or Rent-a-Ranger), and sometimes just for the hell of it.  And sometimes they come in as a rescuee or are foisted on the party by the adventure and end up sticking around afterwards.If an NPC looks like s/he's getting too high up the seniority list I'll try to retire it, but if said NPC has become a player favourite that's not always easy.I roll up the stats for these NPCs and then in-game let the players roll the dice, track the h.p., etc.; they can usually determine the NPCs' actions as well but I retain a veto if needed.They function just like any other party member when it comes to interactions, ExP, treasure, getting clobbered, etc.  If the players decide they want the NPC to do the talking in an interaction I still make the players put the words in its mouth, but this is rare.Lan-"PC and NPC all in one"-efan</blockquote>