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<blockquote data-quote="grimslade" data-source="post: 3926528" data-attributes="member: 6061">The whole argument comes down to perception. If there are so many powerful NPCs, my special unique snowflake does not shine so much. In FR, if I am a wizard, I always will be compared to Elminster or the Blackstaff (RIP) or Alustriel. If I am a ranger, I am less than Drizzt or &lt;shudder&gt; compared to Drizzt if I whine. The NPCs give a perception of the PCs don't matter. Sure Baldur's Gate may get sacked or the macguffin might fall into bad hands, but that is just another day in FR. The citizens of Baldur's Gate don't wonder where were the PC's, they wonder where were the Harpers or whatever flavor of NPC in the crpg or novels talks about. The novels are both a boon and a curse. They illustrate all the glorious adventure to be had in the realms, but their main characters have to be special snowflakes to be interesting. Erevis Cale is not just a cleric of Mask, he is the first chosen of Mask, a shade and wields Waveshearer. This is necessary to drive interest in a novel but it builds up certain perceptions of the way adventurers in FR should be. As long as there are novels created for FR that are considered canon there is no escaping having larger than life NPCs. The novels rake in more money than the game products do so I do not think they are going anywhere. The reduction/redaction of some major NPCs will be a temporary measure new super NPCs will fill the void with every novel published. It is inevitable.Again, all this can be assuaged by DMs being aware of their players perceptions. Be mindful of keeping their PCs special, not by making them Chosen but by using character driven plots like the novel or by making them seem like the baddest MFs on the block.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="grimslade, post: 3926528, member: 6061"] The whole argument comes down to perception. If there are so many powerful NPCs, my special unique snowflake does not shine so much. In FR, if I am a wizard, I always will be compared to Elminster or the Blackstaff (RIP) or Alustriel. If I am a ranger, I am less than Drizzt or <shudder> compared to Drizzt if I whine. The NPCs give a perception of the PCs don't matter. Sure Baldur's Gate may get sacked or the macguffin might fall into bad hands, but that is just another day in FR. The citizens of Baldur's Gate don't wonder where were the PC's, they wonder where were the Harpers or whatever flavor of NPC in the crpg or novels talks about. The novels are both a boon and a curse. They illustrate all the glorious adventure to be had in the realms, but their main characters have to be special snowflakes to be interesting. Erevis Cale is not just a cleric of Mask, he is the first chosen of Mask, a shade and wields Waveshearer. This is necessary to drive interest in a novel but it builds up certain perceptions of the way adventurers in FR should be. As long as there are novels created for FR that are considered canon there is no escaping having larger than life NPCs. The novels rake in more money than the game products do so I do not think they are going anywhere. The reduction/redaction of some major NPCs will be a temporary measure new super NPCs will fill the void with every novel published. It is inevitable. Again, all this can be assuaged by DMs being aware of their players perceptions. Be mindful of keeping their PCs special, not by making them Chosen but by using character driven plots like the novel or by making them seem like the baddest MFs on the block. [/QUOTE]

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