How do I present a council meeting between 6 NPCs? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

How do I present a council meeting between 6 NPCs?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
viemexis
Nov 13, 2011 15:10:00 Since as a DM I have to be all the NPCs, it's usually best to avoid multiple NPCs being present in the same scene. But sometimes, it just needs to happen. For context:

In the first episode of the campaign, players arrived at the town to find it overrun with skeletons and the townspeople hiding in the keep. The PCs help clear out the skeletons.

I want to start the second episode with a council meeting (PCs invited, probably) between 6 NPCs about why this happened and what should be done about it. The council meeting is an important story element as a reward for the combat-heavy introduction. The trouble is, how do I represent so many NPCs without it being crazy and comical?

Some might say "don't try." That's an option, but here's my reasoning. For one thing NPCs talking to each other adds realism and characterization lacking in a lot of RPGs. It doesn't make sense that every conversation in the world is between 1 NPC and a big party of adventurers.

Plotwise, it accomplishes multiple things. It introduces the PCs to the important NPCs and their various agendas, which will be present throughout the campaign. It also gives them background on what recently happened in the town, and gives the PCs information and incentive to go on the next quest.

So any suggestions on how to run this meeting with so many NPCs? I guess I'd also be open to alternatives. How have more experienced DMs solved problems like this? One thing I'm planning to do is print out pictures representing the major NPCs so the players can have a visual reference for who's talking. Even so, talking for 6 people is somewhat crazy. And if the PCs are at the meeting, it will also make ad-libbing all the more challenging as I'll have to decide who will respond.

Thanks.
#2
ToeSama
Nov 13, 2011 23:37:20 This is a natural situatuon for a Skill Challenge. It will immerse the PCs in the conversation as they make an effort towards a goal, and will allows you to play all of the NPCs properly without the players becoming bored.

Happy Gaming
#3
warrl
Nov 14, 2011 12:36:27 Turn it over. The PCs need to be major characters in the scene, but at a town council meeting the members of the council tend to be major characters - and possibly one or two PCs at a time, because a single conversation doesn't have a dozen major characters at the same time. Not good.

So flip it. Appoint a mayor. He is the voice of the council and speaks for the town; the other councillors have areas of special interest, knowledge or expertise, but mostly keep their mouths shut.

Initially the mayor is determining what happened. Except he's already talked to the councillors before the PCs were brought in. So he and the council may question the PCs.

Next the mayor is deciding whether to hire the PCs. More questions.

At some point the mayor looks around at the council, counts nods, and the PCs are offered a job. Then they get to try to get information out of the mayor and council.

(What do you NOT see much of? The mayor and councillors talking to each other - aka the DM talking to himself while the players eavesdrop.)

You can embellish this if you like. The mayor is a figurehead and one of the others is the real boss of the town - or represents the real boss. Nothing really obvious, but there are subtle hints that the mayor is taking direction from someone else during the course of the conversation, and the party may spot whom.

Also, it's extremely likely that the party's high-charisma character will hog the scene. Make an effort to keep the other players involved. Specific questions outside the party face's expertise (e.g. weapon combat for a sorcerer) are one way to do this.
#4
viemexis
Nov 14, 2011 18:16:44 Thanks guys. I'll need to think about this. I'm used to writing, but not used to DMing, and I'm having to figure out the strengths and limitations of a different storytelling medium. I want this scene to be fairly short, yet present all the relevant info while characterizing the NPCs. If I were just writing the scene like a novel, it'd be easy. I've got to rethink my storytelling approach for D&D.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 viemexis Nov 13, 2011 15:10:00	Since as a DM I have to be all the NPCs, it's usually best to avoid multiple NPCs being present in the same scene. But sometimes, it just needs to happen. For context: In the first episode of the campaign, players arrived at the town to find it overrun with skeletons and the townspeople hiding in the keep. The PCs help clear out the skeletons. I want to start the second episode with a council meeting (PCs invited, probably) between 6 NPCs about why this happened and what should be done about it. The council meeting is an important story element as a reward for the combat-heavy introduction. The trouble is, how do I represent so many NPCs without it being crazy and comical? Some might say "don't try." That's an option, but here's my reasoning. For one thing NPCs talking to each other adds realism and characterization lacking in a lot of RPGs. It doesn't make sense that every conversation in the world is between 1 NPC and a big party of adventurers. Plotwise, it accomplishes multiple things. It introduces the PCs to the important NPCs and their various agendas, which will be present throughout the campaign. It also gives them background on what recently happened in the town, and gives the PCs information and incentive to go on the next quest. So any suggestions on how to run this meeting with so many NPCs? I guess I'd also be open to alternatives. How have more experienced DMs solved problems like this? One thing I'm planning to do is print out pictures representing the major NPCs so the players can have a visual reference for who's talking. Even so, talking for 6 people is somewhat crazy. And if the PCs are at the meeting, it will also make ad-libbing all the more challenging as I'll have to decide who will respond. Thanks.
#2 ToeSama Nov 13, 2011 23:37:20	This is a natural situatuon for a Skill Challenge. It will immerse the PCs in the conversation as they make an effort towards a goal, and will allows you to play all of the NPCs properly without the players becoming bored. Happy Gaming
#3 warrl Nov 14, 2011 12:36:27	Turn it over. The PCs need to be major characters in the scene, but at a town council meeting the members of the council tend to be major characters - and possibly one or two PCs at a time, because a single conversation doesn't have a dozen major characters at the same time. Not good. So flip it. Appoint a mayor. He is the voice of the council and speaks for the town; the other councillors have areas of special interest, knowledge or expertise, but mostly keep their mouths shut. Initially the mayor is determining what happened. Except he's already talked to the councillors before the PCs were brought in. So he and the council may question the PCs. Next the mayor is deciding whether to hire the PCs. More questions. At some point the mayor looks around at the council, counts nods, and the PCs are offered a job. Then they get to try to get information out of the mayor and council. (What do you NOT see much of? The mayor and councillors talking to each other - aka the DM talking to himself while the players eavesdrop.) You can embellish this if you like. The mayor is a figurehead and one of the others is the real boss of the town - or represents the real boss. Nothing really obvious, but there are subtle hints that the mayor is taking direction from someone else during the course of the conversation, and the party may spot whom. Also, it's extremely likely that the party's high-charisma character will hog the scene. Make an effort to keep the other players involved. Specific questions outside the party face's expertise (e.g. weapon combat for a sorcerer) are one way to do this.
#4 viemexis Nov 14, 2011 18:16:44	Thanks guys. I'll need to think about this. I'm used to writing, but not used to DMing, and I'm having to figure out the strengths and limitations of a different storytelling medium. I want this scene to be fairly short, yet present all the relevant info while characterizing the NPCs. If I were just writing the scene like a novel, it'd be easy. I've got to rethink my storytelling approach for D&D.