Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Megrim_Lord 01-06-05, 08:43 PM	I'm starting a realms game with my RL group tomorrow, it's a 1st level game and I'm putting a lot of emphasis on roleplaying. There are 7 players in the group, and I'm going to run a DMPC to make it 8, more or less to simplify my calculations, as well as add another interesting character into the mix. the issue is this: I want my DMPC to be interesting and well developed, but I don't want to overshadow anyone else or use him to intrude on the PC's fun. Essentially I want a memorable character who is rather neutral as far as his role in the party goes. so far I have 4 character concepts reported into me 1: Either a Rashemi witch or Divine Bard, probably elven or human, definitely good aligned 2: NE Half Drow Artificer from the Underdark 3: N or CN Human or Half Elven Warlock (region unknown) 4: Good or neutral aligned Human or Half Elven Ranger (region unknown) The remaining 3 are wildcards, though one is rather predictable, and will most likely be a ghostwise halfling druid (on a sidenote: racially, most of my group is full of boring unoriginal @#^%&&^**!!!, they are almost always elven, half elven, or human 100% of the time) Currently, Im tempted to go with a LE character if no one else plays evil, probably a specialist wizard if no one goes caster, or a fighter if we need a tank. Either way, I'm mostly wondering what I can do to make this character stand out and be interesting to interact with, without him dominating the group or becoming too involved in things. What should I refrain from, and what parts of him should I emphasize? Should I flesh out his background and personality to compensate for his reduced role in the party? If I make "subquests" for the other PCs backstories, should I do one for him too? If he is evil, would a betrayal/revenge on him type subplot be a good idea later on?
Mirikon 01-07-05, 10:20 AM	Pick up a copy of Savage Species. A monster PC will add some variety to the group, and the LA will keep them from overshadowing the party. I'd suggest a Medusa or Harpy, myself.
LiXinjian 01-07-05, 10:08 PM	First of all, if you don't want this NPC to steal the spotlight, I wonder why you want to make it evil. That's a sure recipe for unwanted attention, bickering and, above all, unneeded suspicion. Neutral is probably best if you got a mixed group. I personally don't picture a monstrous NPC. And the LA certainly wouldn't keep it from overshadowing the PCs. I mean, come on! What's to keep the medusa from turning all the PCs enemies to stone? Or what's keeping the harpy from mesmerizing the opposition all the time?? It's not the fact that they both get only 1 lousy level of a PC class, that's for sure. The only way this would be doable is if you somehow took away the special powers of said monsters. A blind medusa would be fun to roleplay and interact with, if she laments the loss of her eyes (with her snaky hair reflecting her mood). A mute Harpy, its inability to speak the result of a deep scar, curse or strange illness could be fun. Those kinds of monstrous NPCs would add flavour to a party, and provide exotic adventure hooks. Not the usual kind. Why not make your DMNPC a bored aristocrat? Make his personality fun (not to the characters, to the players). He yawns a lot, never seems to be in a hurry, pretends to be a big shot, refuses to do chores, quotes obscure books, buys only the best stuff available (and every once in a while, shares his vast wealth with the PCs, by paying for the night at the inn, buys rounds, or whatnot), or complains that "oh, but at the castle, BOB always handles the[insert chore or task here]. I don't know how it's done. Really. ". The character is always writting to his father for more money (you don't want the NPC to carry too much wealth around: in case some PC decide it's worth it to rob him), and is always looking high and low for the messenger from the palace (a clumsy man who always ends up where he shouldn't be; it is a rare day the private hireling finds the aristocrat NPC to hand over the gold). You get lots of adventure hooks (looking for the butler, retrieving the lost gold, avenging the butler who got beat up, etc.), fun interactions between your NPC and the PCs, and also between the NPC and his clueless butler. The limited abilities of the DMNPC ensure he doesn't steal the spotlight but isn't helpless either. He can get them out of a tough spot, or simply make their days better when he decides to share some of his resources (most likely, within the first few days after having just received a new "shipment" of gold pieces). The butler provides comic relief, too. (I mentally picture the butler as that dumb soldier in Pirates of the Carribean. You know, the fat english man who's guarding the Interceptor with his skinny friend?) Just my suggestions.
Mirikon 01-07-05, 11:33 PM	First of all, if you don't want this NPC to steal the spotlight, I wonder why you want to make it evil. That's a sure recipe for unwanted attention, bickering and, above all, unneeded suspicion. Neutral is probably best if you got a mixed group. I personally don't picture a monstrous NPC. And the LA certainly wouldn't keep it from overshadowing the PCs. I mean, come on! What's to keep the medusa from turning all the PCs enemies to stone? Or what's keeping the harpy from mesmerizing the opposition all the time?? It's not the fact that they both get only 1 lousy level of a PC class, that's for sure. The only way this would be doable is if you somehow took away the special powers of said monsters. A blind medusa would be fun to roleplay and interact with, if she laments the loss of her eyes (with her snaky hair reflecting her mood). A mute Harpy, its inability to speak the result of a deep scar, curse or strange illness could be fun. Those kinds of monstrous NPCs would add flavour to a party, and provide exotic adventure hooks. Not the usual kind. Why not make your DMNPC a bored aristocrat? Make his personality fun (not to the characters, to the players). He yawns a lot, never seems to be in a hurry, pretends to be a big shot, refuses to do chores, quotes obscure books, buys only the best stuff available (and every once in a while, shares his vast wealth with the PCs, by paying for the night at the inn, buys rounds, or whatnot), or complains that "oh, but at the castle, BOB always handles the[insert chore or task here]. I don't know how it's done. Really. ". The character is always writting to his father for more money (you don't want the NPC to carry too much wealth around: in case some PC decide it's worth it to rob him), and is always looking high and low for the messenger from the palace (a clumsy man who always ends up where he shouldn't be; it is a rare day the private hireling finds the aristocrat NPC to hand over the gold). You get lots of adventure hooks (looking for the butler, retrieving the lost gold, avenging the butler who got beat up, etc.), fun interactions between your NPC and the PCs, and also between the NPC and his clueless butler. The limited abilities of the DMNPC ensure he doesn't steal the spotlight but isn't helpless either. He can get them out of a tough spot, or simply make their days better when he decides to share some of his resources (most likely, within the first few days after having just received a new "shipment" of gold pieces). The butler provides comic relief, too. (I mentally picture the butler as that dumb soldier in Pirates of the Carribean. You know, the fat english man who's guarding the Interceptor with his skinny friend?) Just my suggestions. Look at the monster classes from Savage Species. A medusa doesn't get the gaze attack at all until 6th level. Even then it is 10ft, 1/day, standard action, single target. It moves up little by little until at 10th level it is standard gaze attack, 30 ft. Similar thing happens with the Harpy. By that time, if the party hasn't worked out some kind of system they wanna work with, then they deserve whatever happens to them.
LiXinjian 01-08-05, 01:08 AM	My bad for not checking the monstrous classes. I thought you meant a Medusa with class levels. Sorry about that. But I still don't think it's a good idea. It'll ostracize the party more than anything, IMHO. Travelling around with a Medusa? With a Harpy?! Plus, other than the novelty/weirdness/pseudo-cool factor, it doesn't seem to bring much around the table. Also, this same cool factor might be stealing the spotlight from the PCs: "Oh, my character's not cool enough. I want to play a Medusa instead." And Players generally resent DMs who abuse the opportunity to play characters they can't play themselves. Therefore, unless the PCs can play monstrous characters, I believe it's a no-go for the monstrous Medusa, Harpy, Troll or whatever. Anyhoo...
Mirikon 01-08-05, 03:43 PM	The party would only be ostracized if the medusa showed her face. No different from having a non-evil drow in your party. However, it does provide some nice roleplaying hooks, and perhaps the Medusa (with the high CHA) could be the party spokesperson when dealing with evil NPCs. Depends on the campaign, though.
Megrim_Lord 01-08-05, 05:49 PM	I've been blackballed and berated by my group in the past for drumming up oddball monster PCs, so I think that idea is out, though it would be highly amusing. The bored aristocrat idea is something I might have to play with as well. Right now my two concepts under consideration is a monk/rogue or maybe a samurai from Kara Tur, and a young overeager prodigal sorcerer from waterdeep with the Spellcasting Prodigy and Precocious Apprentice feats to emphasize it
necrodude16 01-08-05, 06:30 PM	hey megrim lord its been a long time...... Do the overeager wizard dude but make him a koblod.... :D :D :D
Mirikon 01-08-05, 06:34 PM	Ah, a kobold sorcerer would be fun. And it would liven up the party some.
Megrim_Lord 01-08-05, 09:09 PM	Now that's an idea... the only downside is I'd have to lose out on a feat, so I'd probably end up dumping Precocious Apprentice.