How to carry out an NPC party member in DND

DMPCs – An NPC that is also a permanent member of the party – are a topic of controversy in dungeons & dragons, where some claim that they can destroy campaigns as a whole, while others are not seeing what the big thing is. As in most situations, there are truth on both sides; DMPCs can work, but the game can disturb the wrong execution.

We therefore recommend thinking thoroughly whether you believe that a DMPC benefits your adventure. Suppose you are here because the answer is, we give you some suggestions on how you can make sure that your character does not destroy the game for your players and instead prevents a lot from preventing it.

5

Let the players select the DMPC

Or be part of the creation process

A DMPC does not have to be someone related to the current story (although this can be the case). You can be another adventurer who also took the contract in which the players are, someone you previously saved, or the funny goblin of the party that was adopted after destroying your clan – we were all there.

If a character gets so high that the players only have them nearby, you can promote the idea of ​​promoting this character to a DMPC. In this way, the players are already receptive to the idea. The worst thing you can do with a DMPC is to force you to the party, which only causes the players not to like the character, even if they are well written.

If you have to prepare a DMPC in advance because you are related to history in any way, it is okay to leave the players part of the creative process. Ask what kind of character you would like for your composition and let your class, types or whatever you can do without breaking the plot. You don't have to do this yourself.

An interesting example would be IREENA from the curse of Strahd. If the party lacks a key role, you can easily turn it into a DMPC that is also a key figure in the story. Give her which class the group needs and you can get started.

4

Let the players have control over the DMPC

Be part of the team

This tip may be more difficult if you and your group concentrate a lot on the story you tell, but all in all if the players want the DMPC do something, then do what you ask you. If you need someone who watches the door, stay behind. If you need someone who wears the heavy object, wear it and so on.

It can even go so far to tell you which attacks and spells you want to use in your train, and that's okay. The character is there to help you, and if you need it at the moment, do it. If you abuse this force through the DMPC and constantly force the character to do things with which you are not familiar, you can have a dramatic moment of role -playing game or simply leave the DMPC the party. After all, drama is good for the story.

Nevertheless, most players are aware that the character is only there to help me with Metagame to know too much about the encounter. It may not like it if you agree with the character and way of how you work, and you can use the character to save you in front of an unexpected TPK, but only with the lifting and doing what You need to solve most problems.

3

Concentrate on a supportive role

Salvation or tank or the like

First and foremost, your DMPC should play a role that your party is missing. For example, a sewer is an amazing option for a DMPC If The group has no committed healer. As already mentioned, you can also ask the players what role the DMPC should play in combat.

If the group lacks a front, make it a front. If the group has no supporting magic, they do a magic core whose spell is not damage -oriented. If the group is perfectly balanced, players can be something like a small, familiar character that can fly and always gives help with help or something.

If the party is completely balanced, you may want to consider scraping the DMPC as a whole, unless you need it too much for the story or players like the character.

It is more than okay to make your character able to do damage, but we do not recommend that you concentrate too much on it. You can (and will) get some kills, usually from henchmen and occasional luck on a bigger villain, but the idea is to have a character that helps the players do the cool things instead of doing the cool things themselves.

2

Do not fix any problems, just lead them if necessary

Since the side character

If we say that your DMPC has to play a supportive role, we mean not only fight, but in general. For example, take IREENA again. It is a key figure in the curse of Strahd, and part of the plot revolves around its mere existence. However, if you leave her yourself, she will not achieve anything.

A DMPC can give ideas if you find that the group is stuck in a problem or puzzle, but not only offer you the solution. In theory, the DMPC is just as stuck on this topic. So you can only help brainstorming solutions. If you don't believe that you can do so without giving the solution accidentally, it is best to stay calm.

Alternatively, you can use them to have discussions in moments of role -playing. Be the shoulder on which the PC will cry, help you to deal with your personal problems during the action and to be at your side if you don't know what to do.

1

Make them part of the story occasionally

Just don't hog the limelight

The biggest concern that people with DMPCs have is when they overshadow the other characters in the story. Don't let your DMPC become a protagonist. If you want full control over the protagonist and the other characters, you should write this story instead of turning them into a D&D adventure.

That means it is okay if this character has a narrative meaning and occasionally lifts off. Even large TV series occasionally have episodes that devote themselves to a supporting character. We even used IREENA as an example here. Sometimes the story focuses on it, and that's okay.

We even encourage this occasional limelight when the narrative is a large part of your campaign because this figure that follows the party is boring. You will only follow the group, do what they are told and have no opinion. Develop your story like you with every relevant NPC; Just don't allow your action to take over the game and you are good.