Early level npc help [Archive] - Wizards Community

Early level npc help [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
ZealOdin
08-06-06, 11:27 PM I was wondering if a npc guide would be in order for a few low level sessions. The players are new, but i have been playing for and few years and dm-ed a few small games.

I would be putting the npc, a 1st lvl expert, to help the 1st lvl players understand the game a little more. Kind of a tutorial. I was wondering how I should go about his abilities.

I was thinking he either would fight poorly, but survive or just try and hide. Any comments would help
Ashok_Lal
08-08-06, 01:31 AM Both.

Have him Seem real good at what he does, but have the PCs be better.
This will give new PCs confidence & thay will come out of there shells. once they can do things on ther own have the DMPC die a horrible and Violent death.

This will put them on tender hooks and liven things up a bit.
Azezel
08-08-06, 06:01 AM I'd suggest not.

I think a 'tutorial' would be a good idea though. Roll up some pre-gens yourself and give 'em out to your characters, right at the entrnace to a dungeon.

Inside the dungeon is,ooh, lots of exciting stuff. Theres some fighting, where you teach them about combat. There's a couple of traps, and some locked doors.

There's some turnable undead.

There's a wall that requires a climb check.

There's an animated Door Knocker that needs a diplomacy check (and some rp) to open the door.

There are a couple of scrolls as treasure, so you can teach them how to add spells to a Wizard's book.

Make it clear to the players that this is a completely unrealistic dungeon and that they would never encounter all this stuff together in a real game, but that it will teach them the basics of 75% of all the stuff they will do.

This Tutorial should last one or two sessions.

After that, it's time for them to roll up their own characters and play a real game.
CryoSilver
08-08-06, 09:48 PM I'm not a huge fan of the DMPC as "guide;" a DMPC/NPC should never direct the story, but for purposes of teaching the game, it might be appropriate for new players.

My 2 rules: DMPCs are always weaker than the PCs and they never divulge information the PCs couldn't reasonably be expected to obtain.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
ZealOdin 08-06-06, 11:27 PM	I was wondering if a npc guide would be in order for a few low level sessions. The players are new, but i have been playing for and few years and dm-ed a few small games. I would be putting the npc, a 1st lvl expert, to help the 1st lvl players understand the game a little more. Kind of a tutorial. I was wondering how I should go about his abilities. I was thinking he either would fight poorly, but survive or just try and hide. Any comments would help
Ashok_Lal 08-08-06, 01:31 AM	Both. Have him Seem real good at what he does, but have the PCs be better. This will give new PCs confidence & thay will come out of there shells. once they can do things on ther own have the DMPC die a horrible and Violent death. This will put them on tender hooks and liven things up a bit.
Azezel 08-08-06, 06:01 AM	I'd suggest not. I think a 'tutorial' would be a good idea though. Roll up some pre-gens yourself and give 'em out to your characters, right at the entrnace to a dungeon. Inside the dungeon is,ooh, lots of exciting stuff. Theres some fighting, where you teach them about combat. There's a couple of traps, and some locked doors. There's some turnable undead. There's a wall that requires a climb check. There's an animated Door Knocker that needs a diplomacy check (and some rp) to open the door. There are a couple of scrolls as treasure, so you can teach them how to add spells to a Wizard's book. Make it clear to the players that this is a completely unrealistic dungeon and that they would never encounter all this stuff together in a real game, but that it will teach them the basics of 75% of all the stuff they will do. This Tutorial should last one or two sessions. After that, it's time for them to roll up their own characters and play a real game.
CryoSilver 08-08-06, 09:48 PM	I'm not a huge fan of the DMPC as "guide;" a DMPC/NPC should never direct the story, but for purposes of teaching the game, it might be appropriate for new players. My 2 rules: DMPCs are always weaker than the PCs and they never divulge information the PCs couldn't reasonably be expected to obtain.