When PCs are the supporting cast

[Napftor]

Have you ever DM'd or played in a game where the PCs were actually direct subordinates to more powerful adventurers? In essence, have you ever played followers/cohorts? If so, how did it go? I'm thinking this might be an ideal way to begin a campaign. You're training under the leader in the first few adventures when *wham* you're leader is slain in an ambush, leaving your PCs to pick up the current mission.

[Edit: Renamed the thread for clarity]

 

[Orius]

Nope, I've never played any 2e FR modules.

 

[reanjr]

Have you ever DM'd or played in a game where the PCs were actually direct subordinates to more powerful adventurers? In essence, have you ever played followers/cohorts? If so, how did it go? I'm thinking this might be an ideal way to begin a campaign. You're training under the leader in the first few adventures when *wham* you're leader is slain in an ambush, leaving your PCs to pick up the current mission.

It happens often when DM's have an unhealthy attachment to their old PCs.

 

[Zappo]

My Warcraft campaign started like this. The PCs were mercenaries under the command of one seasoned human veteran. A strong leading personality was the only way to justify such a disparate group being together - the buggers picked up every single race in the book. In a xenophobia-rich setting.

After some time, the leader got killed and now they are pulling their own weight.

 

[adwyn]

I've seen it done many times. In almost all cases the PC's will be beat the DM to orchestrating the ambush.

 

[S. Baldrick]

Yes. I have played 2nd Edition Forgotten Realms

 

[Napftor]

So you guys really don't think it could be fun for a few sessions (even under the right DM)? That's rather depressing. Alright, how about if we lift some restrictions--the leader is only a level or two higher than you (PCs are low-level) and there is only one of him. In addition, he has some type of stronghold to operate out of and he simply wants to train those younger than him in the adventuring arts. Still not a good campaign model?

And you 2e Realms-haters can shoo. Shoo, I say!

 

[Zappo]

The way I did it, there was one leader and he wasn't much more powerful than the PCs (the PCs were 3rd and he was 6th). He didn't want to "train" anyone; the PCs were soldiers, they were going to be in real combat real soon, and they were supposed to work as a team together with him. One PC even got killed during one of those missions.

So, he wasn't there to save them or to do the mission by himself - he was the commander and the PCs were the soldiers. He was better than any of them in combat, but the party combined was substantially more powerful - and that's why he was paying them.

Originally, I had planned on the PCs getting tired of him, eventually rebelling against some obviously evil orders, and having to kill him, but it turned out to be way too difficult. Usually I'm pretty good at manipulating the players, but this time it didn't work. I killed him off during a major battle after the PCs had gained one or two levels.

 

[Tonguez]

PCs must FEEL like the Heroes

the 'charlies angels' model where the pcs work for a mentor doing tasks can work and work well. In one campaign I had my 'pet npc' be the day-man for a circus troupe. The day-man is the guy who travels ahead of the circus to organise sites and licences etc. The pcs were the circus team who had adventures as they followed behind.

What doesn't work is when pc's and npc's are together fighting the same foe. usually the pcc's are so outclassed they become spectators rather than players - thats what you need to avoid and what all the FR haters are talking about

 

[Napftor]

...What doesn't work is when pc's and npc's are together fighting the same foe. usually the pcc's are so outclassed they become spectators rather than players - thats what you need to avoid and what all the FR haters are talking about

I'm in complete agreement. Didn't mean for the topic to start out in that vein but I guess people are too used to equating "cohorts" with "cannon fodder."