Post/Author/DateTime	Post
kelvinaw273 02-21-07, 03:27 PM	This was originally posted on the DM board, but someone suggested I'd get more feedback here, so here goes. This thread is a poll - not a discussion. I only want people to post here in answer to the following questions. Added comments are fine, but I need numerical data. I have tried to make them unbiased and unleading, please bear with me: (1) If you have played in a game with a DMPC, how would you describe the average experience on a scale of 1-5: 1 = Game wrecked 5 = Brilliant game (2) If you have DMed in a game and used a DMPC, how would you describe the experience on a scale of 1-5: 1 = Awful 5 = Outstanding (3) From either Dm or Player's persepctive how would you rate the average usefulness and contribution to the party of the DMPCs you have played/seen played? 1 = Drain on resources, made no contribution. 5 = Essential, rounded things out perfectly. Remember - no debate, I just want poll answers. At the end I'll compile them and present them so we have some decent feedback on DMPCs from both sides of the fence. For the record, my own ratings are: (1) = 2 (2) = 1 (3) = 2
Vaalingrade Ashland 02-21-07, 03:29 PM	Again pointing out that not only is this against the CoC, but that this is exactly the configuration of useless posts that got discussion banned the first time.
kelvinaw273 02-21-07, 03:38 PM	If anyone feels I am in violation of the CoC as described by Wizards Community, please feel free to report this thread at once. For your convenience it is here: http://boards1.wizards.com/community_coc.php
bonethug0108 02-21-07, 03:45 PM	I don't see it as spam. He is asking a legitimate question, and trying to get different view points. 5, 4, and 5.
Vaalingrade Ashland 02-21-07, 03:48 PM	It isn't spam, Polls have always been shut down by the Wizo's because they don't foster discussion. This one explicitly says no discussion.
bonethug0108 02-21-07, 03:52 PM	It isn't spam, Polls have always been shut down by the Wizo's because they don't foster discussion. This one explicitly says no discussion. Oh.
Hakar_Kerarmor 02-22-07, 12:16 AM	3, 3 and 4 again.
kelvinaw273 02-22-07, 03:26 PM	It has been pointed out with the vagueries of the term DMPC, this poll is not going to give us much decent information that can't immediately be shot down in flames. Thank you everyone that has taken part, I shall let it die now and take some time to design some clearer, questions based on a concise definition of either a DM running a full player character or a DM running an NPC-Ally. Hopefully this will give us some answers that we can work with. Thanks again for your time and energy, everyone.
danielinthewolvesden 02-22-07, 08:23 PM	This was originally posted on the DM board, but someone suggested I'd get more feedback here, so here goes. (1) If you have played in a game with a DMPC, how would you describe the average experience on a scale of 1-5: 1 = Game wrecked 5 = Brilliant game (2) If you have DMed in a game and used a DMPC, how would you describe the experience on a scale of 1-5: 1 = Awful 5 = Outstanding (3) From either Dm or Player's persepctive how would you rate the average usefulness and contribution to the party of the DMPCs you have played/seen played? 1 = Drain on resources, made no contribution. 5 = Essential, rounded things out perfectly. That was me. IMHO: 1= 1 2.=2 3= 2
On_the_wings_of_TPK 02-22-07, 11:24 PM	It isn't spam, Polls have always been shut down by the Wizo's because they don't foster discussion. This one explicitly says no discussion. If you have such a problem with it why don't you report, and allow the wizos to do their jobs? 1/1/1
draco1119 02-23-07, 04:02 AM	It isn't spam, Polls have always been shut down by the Wizo's because they don't foster discussion. This one explicitly says no discussion. Another option is to ask a WizO to sanction(and possibly sticky) the poll. Just sayin'... 1) 3 2) 2 3) 4
Melayl 02-23-07, 04:09 AM	4/4/4
CCS 02-23-07, 01:42 PM	[QUOTE=kelvinaw273;11548232] (1) If you have played in a game with a DMPC, how would you describe the average experience on a scale of 1-5: 1 = Game wrecked 5 = Brilliant game Generally 1 to about 3. With most being a solid 2. (2) If you have DMed in a game and used a DMPC, how would you describe the experience on a scale of 1-5: 1 = Awful 5 = Outstanding Zero. I've never run an actual PC in the same adventure/campaign that I'm Dming. As the DM I've got enough to do as is without worrying about running a full character on top of it. And I've got far better ways to influance the story..... (3) From either Dm or Player's persepctive how would you rate the average usefulness and contribution to the party of the DMPCs you have played/seen played? 1 = Drain on resources, made no contribution. 5 = Essential, rounded things out perfectly. 1 pretty well sums it up. In a game I'm currently in our DM has been trying to run a DMPC. The character is usefull enough in combat, true. But overall it simply wastes XPs etc that could be better used by the real players. Also, the character in question simply doesn't fit witht he rest of us. Leading to such actions upon our part as; leaving him unconcious after combat as long as possible, having our characters speak in a language we know he doesn't share with us(yet), and eventually leaving the city without him. Of course we've also told the DM upfront that we, as players, disaprove of his efforts to be both DM & PC. We'll see if he's taken the hints next week....
pres_man 02-23-07, 02:29 PM	In a game I'm currently in our DM has been trying to run a DMPC. Could you define what you mean by this term? Do you mean he is trying to include an NPC ally with the party or do you mean something else? The character is usefull enough in combat, true. But overall it simply wastes XPs etc that could be better used by the real players. Are you saying your DM does not increase the difficulty of the encounters over what it would be if the character was not present in the group? Because if your DM would have scaled it down without the character, then in fact you might not be losing out on any xp. Now if it is exactly the same difficulty either way then 1)yes you are being screwed and 2)your DM needs to read over how to balance encounters again. Of course I do not know if the DM tells you how he divides the xp, he might not even figure the character in (some DMs don't ) and just gives it what the rest get, or something. Also, the character in question simply doesn't fit witht he rest of us. Leading to such actions upon our part as; leaving him unconcious after combat as long as possible, having our characters speak in a language we know he doesn't share with us(yet), and eventually leaving the city without him. Yeah, that is pretty bad. Of course not all characters are going to have the same goals, but if a character is suppose to be a part of the party for an extended amount of time it would be best if they were designed to not be disruptive. This is true for PCs as well as characters the DM may run. Nothing can ruin a game faster than a badly run party character by a DM except for a badly run party character by a player ("I had to cut his throat in the night, it is what my character would do."). Of course we've also told the DM upfront that we, as players, disaprove of his efforts to be both DM & PC. We'll see if he's taken the hints next week.... Now here is the real question. Is the problem about having an NPC ally as an equal party member? Are their similiar problems with cohorts or hirelings or such? Or is the problem with badly run party member characters? Or is he railroading the party (dump the character only to find him joining the party in the next town)? I don't want you to think I am saying including the character should be something you bend over and take. What I'm getting at is what is the underlying problem? A character concept in and of itself rarely is the problem, it is usually the person running it that is. (see paladins, CN rogues, evil PCs, etc)