Menu
News
All News
Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
Pathfinder
Starfinder
Warhammer
2d20 System
Year Zero Engine
Industry News
Reviews
Dragon Reflections
White Dwarf Reflections
Columns
Weekly Digests
Weekly News Digest
Freebies, Sales & Bundles
RPG Print News
RPG Crowdfunding News
Game Content
ENterplanetary DimENsions
Mythological Figures
Opinion
Worlds of Design
Peregrine's Nest
RPG Evolution
Other Columns
From the Freelancing Frontline
Monster ENcyclopedia
WotC/TSR Alumni Look Back
4 Hours w/RSD (Ryan Dancey)
The Road to 3E (Jonathan Tweet)
Greenwood's Realms (Ed Greenwood)
Drawmij's TSR (Jim Ward)
Community
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions, OSR, & D&D Variants
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Resources
Wiki
Pages
Latest activity
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Downloads
Latest reviews
Search resources
EN Publishing
Store
EN5ider
Adventures in ZEITGEIST
Awfully Cheerful Engine
What's OLD is NEW
Judge Dredd & The Worlds Of 2000AD
War of the Burning Sky
Level Up: Advanced 5E
Events & Releases
Upcoming Events
Private Events
Featured Events
Socials!
EN Publishing
Twitter
BlueSky
Facebook
Instagram
EN World
BlueSky
YouTube
Facebook
Twitter
Twitch
Podcast
Features
Top 5 RPGs Compiled Charts 2004-Present
Adventure Game Industry Market Research Summary (RPGs) V1.0
Ryan Dancey: Acquiring TSR
Q&A With Gary Gygax
D&D Rules FAQs
TSR, WotC, & Paizo: A Comparative History
D&D Pronunciation Guide
Million Dollar TTRPG Kickstarters
Tabletop RPG Podcast Hall of Fame
Eric Noah's Unofficial D&D 3rd Edition News
D&D in the Mainstream
D&D & RPG History
About Morrus
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions, OSR, & D&D Variants
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
You Don’t Have To Leave Wolfy Behind... In 'Pets & Sidekicks' Your Companions Level Up With You!
Community
General Tabletop Discussion
*Dungeons & Dragons
The "DM's PC"
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="payn" data-source="post: 8098011" data-attributes="member: 90374"><p>To me GMPC is a pretty specific thing. For example, a retired PC or a contact that gives the party support or info regularly, isnt what I'd consider a GMPC. Now, if the NPC controlled by the GM travels with the party, fights with the party, and anything else like a card carrying party member, they become a GMPC. Often, the GMPC is just there to fill in a role or skill and doesnt make party decisions and gets a lesser take of the loot. </p><p></p><p>There are a number of pitfalls to GMPCs. The first is the overpowered NPC that shadows the rest of the party. Sometimes this is because the GM wants to create their own version of Gandolf or the GM never gets to play so they are doing so through this misguided effort. The second is the walking healing wand NPC. This figure just heals the party and never argues. This NPC is solely there at the party's command. Sometimes the party takes advantage of this to unfortunate degrees. </p><p></p><p>I like to avoid any creep between GM domain and party domain. Some might might see this separation as adversarial, but to me as GM, I have control of the entire world, the players should get control over their characters in it. I like those lines to stay distinct. Also, it avoids weird situations where a DMPC interacts with an NPC and the whole table watches the GM role play with their self. Just doesnt feel right. </p><p></p><p>For some groups, it works out fine. The best example I've heard is the rotating GM table. These games usually have a continuity between sessions, but GMs change at regular intervals. This allows for a smooth transition between the PC and GM exchange.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="payn, post: 8098011, member: 90374"] To me GMPC is a pretty specific thing. For example, a retired PC or a contact that gives the party support or info regularly, isnt what I'd consider a GMPC. Now, if the NPC controlled by the GM travels with the party, fights with the party, and anything else like a card carrying party member, they become a GMPC. Often, the GMPC is just there to fill in a role or skill and doesnt make party decisions and gets a lesser take of the loot. There are a number of pitfalls to GMPCs. The first is the overpowered NPC that shadows the rest of the party. Sometimes this is because the GM wants to create their own version of Gandolf or the GM never gets to play so they are doing so through this misguided effort. The second is the walking healing wand NPC. This figure just heals the party and never argues. This NPC is solely there at the party's command. Sometimes the party takes advantage of this to unfortunate degrees. I like to avoid any creep between GM domain and party domain. Some might might see this separation as adversarial, but to me as GM, I have control of the entire world, the players should get control over their characters in it. I like those lines to stay distinct. Also, it avoids weird situations where a DMPC interacts with an NPC and the whole table watches the GM role play with their self. Just doesnt feel right. For some groups, it works out fine. The best example I've heard is the rotating GM table. These games usually have a continuity between sessions, but GMs change at regular intervals. This allows for a smooth transition between the PC and GM exchange. [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Community
General Tabletop Discussion
*Dungeons & Dragons
The "DM's PC"
Top