Who controls your npcs

[WayneLigon]

This has worked for my game and the games I've been in but someone brought up on the board that they let their players role play their familiars, cohorts and such. I'm just curious as to what is the general consensus with this among dms.

WHo controls your npcs?

PC's control their animal companions, pets, familiars, summoned creatures, mounts, most direct hirelings until or unless they start to become important to the plot, and the like, even if they have independent human-level interlligence. They may control other NPC's close to them as well, such as wives, sons, etc, though in that case it's more like 'follow the broad guidelines you yourself set down when you presented the NPC to me' (Most of my players will come up with their own NPC lists for family members, close friends, known enemies beforehand and the like).

We have no problem with people playing more than one fully-statted character; it's normal for us to do that, so we certainly have no problem with them controlling an NPC.

 

[iwatt]

Heck, my cleric was down to 2 points because that player didn't use her handle animal skill to calm a wild cat in the room, instead she's playing catch with fido.

Seems to be more of a problem with a player "not clicking" with the rest of the party goals than an issue with who controls the NPCs.

 

[devilbat]

Like most others have said, I leave the animal companions, familiars and trained pets to the players to control. I've never had a problem that way. The few times characters cast Speak with animals, or the like, I do the talking for them. In my games, domesticated animals are fairly bitter about their roles in society, and I don't want the players to miss out on being bitched at by their horse, familiar, kitty cat and such.