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Message: <blockquote data-quote="ThirdWizard" data-source="post: 2446228" data-attributes="member: 12037">I find that NPCs occasionally traveling with the PCs is not a big deal, but NPCs need to get their screentime then go do something else, letting another NPC into the spotlight. It can be rough to run several NPCs at once, especially if they start talking to each other! I can understand your desire for NPCs not to be weakling cannon fodder, but that doesn't mean they should always travel with the PCs.Here's how some NPCs worked out in my game:Four NPCs slightly higher level than the PCs are another adventuring group. They cross paths once in a while, and especially in town. They have their own goals and motivations and have no real reason to help the PCs out with their quests since they have quests of their own to work on.A druid adventured with the party for a while, then decided to leave. Current whereabouts unknown but last seen off in the boonies helping a small town to defend itself against a group of goblinoids.A bard who gets into trouble. He had to skip town because he gambled with a forged deed and lost. Current whereabouts unknown, though I'm soon planning for him to make a very loud appearance.A devout member of the church who travels with the party at the moment and more than anything wants to see the planes. I'm now working on a way to remove her from the party. She's been there too long.A semi-retired wizard who is actually only fifth level, he makes scrolls and other trinkets for adventurers. He can hold his own in low level encounters, but has no desire to adventure.And lots more. But, you get the idea. These are all at least 5th level. They don't travel with the PCs, in fact those that do will find that they have to do something else eventually. Then I'll have another NPC tag along with the group (mainly because they have no healer and will find a healer to join them).NPCs have their own lives, goals, etc. Unless the PCs are willing to drop everything whenever one of them needs to do something, I would think that they wouldn't drop everything whenever the PCs have some durded crazy scheme (read: adventure) planned. Sure, sometimes their paths will cross and they'll work together, but usually they have other things that need attention. That way you can get more characterization out of NPCs and leave plenty of time left for the PCs themselves.</blockquote>

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