Would you allow an "observer" to go along with your adventuring party?

[Quasqueton]

In game: Would you allow a newspaper reporter, or bard, or city council representative, or town guardsman, or some other "neutral observer" to come with your adventuring group on an adventure? Would it make a difference if the adventure was to occur right there in town or in a dungeon several days away?

Assume the observer was going to report publicly on your group and its actions.

Would your group of adventurers look good or bad? Would they be impressive or embarrassing?

Quasqueton

 

[Inconsequenti-AL]

We had something similar in a long ago cyberpunk game. One of the players was a media type. He used to film all our work and syndicate it out to the networks... even negotiated us product endorsements and sponsorship deals. Was a lot of fun.

Figure it could work rather well for a DnD game - bard would be my first choice.

I think my current group might look a little dicey. There's been quite a lot of Brave Sir Robin behavior lately - we've run across a number of Blackdirges frightening creations!

The bits where we kill things and steal their stuff might make for a good tune or two. Capture the innate heroism of stealing a +4 Belt of Giant Strength - right off the cooling corpse of some guy. Don't forget his boots.

Or the bit where we dice the corpse to make sure they can't get easily raised!

 

[diaglo]

read the story hour in my sig.

we took a representative (a paladin) of a good church along with us into the Banewarrens. we even saved his sorry behind on several occassions.

 

[Algolei]

We often take observers with us. Sometimes we insist on it, in fact. Too many times we've taken on a job, completed it, and returned for our reward only to hear: "How do we know you actually killed the dragon/troll/kobold/vampire/pirates?"

I usually like to bring along a few "torchbearers" or "loot-carriers," to back up our story.

 

[FreeTheSlaves]

If the person was sent by the PC's home-realm ruling council, I could see them agreeing to let them come along.

The party only comes together when on a specifc task & if it is a personal undertaking they'll probably not have some observer. They are not stereotypical adventurers, they are driven by desperate need to survive (very unstable and war ravaged world).

When working for their home-realm, they'll do what they are ordered to but being that their culture is NG, it is reasonable and for their own good.

The current mission may require them to be attached to a company of 50-odd marines personally led by their Admiral. It would be a nice touch for him to reward acts of heroism he sees.

 

[Mallus]

A reporter writing a puff [snuff?] piece who tags along w/an adventuring party? Brilliant. Consider it stolen... will definitely use in my next campaign...

Hah, I could make him a gnome and name him "Edward R. Burrow".

Or not...

 

[BelXiror]

Only if the observer type will sign a waver to say that they are willing to take risks, any injury/death is not our fault, and he has to look after his own hiney.

 

[Faerl'Elghinn]

Very interesting question, and right up my- erm- alley in the "role play" versus "roll play" debate. I would certainly allow it, but would definitely require the observer to sign a release form. In some campaigns, my party would shine in the press. In others, the "observer" would probably become a vampire spawn within 3.5 rounds.

 

[Psion]

ALLOW?

As a DM, you can be sure that this is just the sort of complication I would not allow the PCs to squirm out of.

 

[DanMcS]

Unless there is a really big advantage for having this guy foisted on us by some uppity NPCs, he's just dead weight. He's a non-combatant we have to protect, he slows us down, he won't help fight. Not worth having. I would probably try to get the group to refuse a commission that included that kind of condition.