Post/Author/DateTime	Post
georgebartonis 10-04-07, 09:51 PM	I read somewhere in the 2ed (don't ask me where) that a DM can play and Dm. Is this still true. I have been doing this for a while and have no problems. Mind you I have an easy time keeping plyer knowledge from charcter knowledge and dm knowledge from character knowledge. I can also think on my feet.
ericSHINRA 10-04-07, 10:15 PM	Uh, ok. That's nice. Even if your DMing, you're still 'playing' the game regardless whether or not you actually have a DMPC(Dungeon Master Player Character). A lot of DMs do this.
cloudncali 10-04-07, 10:15 PM	im not sure if its in the books still but your DM so DO IT!!! remember being DM is like Being God of your universe but with a manual... and if your **** off the PCs they will go home... but yeah just do it if you want to just because it says you cant or can dosnt mean you have to, i do a degree of rule bending my self :eek:
Ultima0071 10-04-07, 11:11 PM	DMPC (Dungeon Master Player Character) ^ | | | | Hmm, never heard of one...
CCS 10-05-07, 12:02 AM	Well, being the DM IS one way of playing this game. Always has been. Players #1 - x each control a specific individual. Whoever's Dming simply controls EVERYTHING ELSE. Random townsfolk, NPC hirelings, all the monsters, the weather, gods..... Even "chance" itself. Hell, the DM even gets to write the adventures! So why is it that so many of you can't seem to realize that the DM simply has no need to run a dedicated character in the same fashion as players #1-x? Granted, there's a small reason in groups where the DM position rotates, but all of the action stays centered upon one set of characters. I can see you wanting to maintain controll of your charactrer so that they continue to advance while you serve your rotation in the chair. But in this situation I think it'd be best to sit down with those who'll be sharing DM duties and work together to craft a character you'll all enjoy taking turns running. 1 character, multiple users. I can also see how the DM running a PC could be EASIER here in 3.x - what with it's over reliance upon minitures combat. Done right the DM could wright up "adventures" that were little more than a minitures wargame. In fact I've seen it done. With virtually no additional RP/info the actions much the same as playing a game of 40k, Warmachine, etc. Or a board game. You just set the victory conditions, roll dice & keep track of the paper work.... Regardless, there's no good reason for any DM to be running their own character in a session they're DMing. Because regardless of how great you claim to be at seperating DM/Player knowledge, it's simply a conflict of interest.
pres_man 10-05-07, 01:08 AM	There are several reasons why a DM might wish to run a character as a party member. A few of these are: 1. Small number of players. 2. Party is missing some "vital" aspect (this may be due to small party size or just player character composition). 3. DM wants a consistent character that can be used for various reasons, such as to aid in roleplaying, to remind the other character (and their players) of various details that may have been forgotten, give hints to aid the party, etc. 4. DM wants a "realistic" feel that there are other "heroes" out there and they may from time to time join forces with the party. As for a reason not to, the most legitimate reason I have heard is that any increase in party size decreases the amount of time that can spent gaming. As for some personal experience of my own, a couple of sessions ago the long term character I was running as a DM (a bard) for various reasons had to be left behind for a time. When the party got into the fight with the bad guys, that loss of the +1 from courage became noticeable to them. The lack of the character actually lessened their enjoyment (their characters were less effective without his aid). That is because instead of "stealing their thunder" he actually enhanced it.
Kamin_Majere 10-05-07, 07:39 AM	Typically as a DM you play WAY more than the players do. They deal with a single character and play them as best they can. The DM on the other hand gets to play every single NPC on the planet that te PC's interact with. Thats way more fun, its like multipule personality disorder with out the stay in a rubber room:D I have in the past used a DMPC, but it was mostly due to rotating DM's and we all had our characters that would fade to the back groud when we were DM and then became a full on PC again when we got to sit in the player seat again.
Ariakus 10-05-07, 08:10 AM	I've always known them as NPC's (Non-Player-Characters)...you run them to both boost game play by either helping or hindering, or even make them the jester like Fizban from Dragonlance...he didn't seem to have a roll other than comedy for quite some time but turned out to be the highest god of the Good Pantheon who was helping the good guys in the Dragon Wars. You create them, you run them...it's the same thing as playing them...but you use them to benefit the overall game.
Grod_The_Giant 10-05-07, 03:31 PM	I use DMPCs all the time...I find them useful for helping the party along, filling vital, unfilled roles, and so on. Basically, though, if it's been working for you, and everyone is OK with it and has fun, keep going. Otherwise, stop.