Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Rya.Reisender Jun 18, 2015 23:10:50	(Warning - Lost Mine of Phandelver spoilers ahead.)   So I'm running Lost Mine of Phandelver and the group is currently in Phandalin. But now at almost every NPC they meet they try to recruit him into the group to get rid of the Redbrands. Like the whole village wants the Redbrands gone and there's also Sildar. Some of the NPCs like Daran Edermath, an adventure veteran, and Halia Thornton, a guildmaster who is said not even the Redbrands dare to bother, and of course Sildar should all reasonably be able to fight (and much better than any of the PCs too), so I find it hard coming up with reasons why they would decline when the group asks if they want to join beating up the Redbrands.   If I allow it, it might end up with me having to play half of the party members and the group hardly gets any XP due to it being shared by so many. I also read that NPC party members are a bad idea and DM should try to avoid it. But how? Should I just tell the players they shouldn't try to recruit NPCs because that would just reduce the fun?
#2 BoldItalic Jun 19, 2015 1:43:23	Allow them to be recruited but make them a liability, rather an asset.   Apart from Sildar, none of the NPCs have stat blocks so you would have to invent them. Give them 1hp each, no plusses, no proficiencies, no skills, no equipment, no weapons and no armour. The PCs will have to buy them some kit and, of course, the NPCs will demand only the best ;) Can the PCs afford it?   Then, when it comes to actual fighting, it turns out they are totally inexperienced, act like clowns and always roll badly (you could make all their rolls on a d10, onstead of a d20, so they almost always fail at everything). Play it for laughs. They are weak, they drop fast and use up healing resources.   Then award inspiration to the NPCs for playing to their flaws.   Okay, disregard all of the above. It's a terrible idea.
#3 Razintarr Jun 19, 2015 4:08:31	(​Some more spoilers here!)   Rya.Reisender wrote:
#4 Rya.Reisender Jun 19, 2015 4:20:54	Daran Edermath and Sildar Hallwinter are the hardest ones to reason out of. Daran could get his Orchard set on fire, but on the other hand, fighting evil for justice is what he is all about, so if the players point that out to him...   I mean I could go with "As much as I'd love to fight for justice again, I'd probably just be a hindrance for you now. The time for new heroes has come.", just not sure if that doesn't just seem like I keep coming up with bad excuses why nobody joins the players.   I guess it comes down to me having to tell my players that I heard it isn't such a good idea to have NPC party members and ask them if they really badly want the NPCs in their group and if they still say yes, I guess I'll improvise.
#5 Greenstone.Walker Jun 19, 2015 5:10:50	Sildar is a bit of a special case. he has been hired by Gundren, the same as the PCs. It makes sense for him to fight alongside the PCs.   Most of the townsfolk have something to protect. The merchants won't allow their guards to go with the PCs, as that would leave their shops unattended. The townmaster is cvertainly no help.   On the other hand, if the PCs to get people to help. that is a creative solution to the problem. Help people to help themselves, after all. If the PCs can give the townsfolk confidence to fight off these bandits, then the townsfolk will be better prepared when the next bandits try to take over the town.   Though if the players expect the NPCs to do most of the work, they'd better be ready when you give the NPCs the bulk of the XP.
#6 Rya.Reisender Jun 19, 2015 5:15:07	Hmmm, I wonder, maybe I should let the NPCs join but then create a reason to split up and let the NPCs form their own group, for example to stand watch outside the manor. That won't help the PCs at all because Glasstaff will escape through the secret passage instead, but they will at least say something like "That's strange, we didn't see any wizard coming out."
#7 akr71 Jun 19, 2015 6:01:45	Yes, Daran is a retired adventurer, but nothing says he is able-bodied anymore.  Maybe he took a serious injury to his sword arm.  For that matter, we don't even know what class...   The adventure says Sildar will fight if he has to - he's in his 50's but can still hold his own.
#8 Ralif_Redhammer Jun 19, 2015 7:20:17	I’d definitely point out that the NPCs will get their share of the XP, and want a fair share of the treasure. That should help put the kibosh on that.   I feel you. In my current gaming group, it seems like they’re always trying to get help from someone. So much for the bravery and daring of adventurers.
#9 iserith Jun 19, 2015 7:32:22	I would have the quest-giving NPCs offer their help (plus help to rally townsfolk) if the quests they have are completed. This is a way for the PCs - who are probably relatively unknown, unless you have established fiction to the contrary - to prove themselves equal to the task of defeating the Redbrands. So if they go out and do the banshee quest, Wyvern Tor, the Old Owl Well, etc. then the town will be successfully rallied by these NPCs. Glasstaff and the Redbrands, now overwhelmed by a popular uprising, get the hell out of dodge. (They may or may not be encountered later. Add some to the random encounter table and put some in Wave Echo Cave.) Left behind in the lair are the nothic, the skeletons, and maybe a few bugbears who are trying to loot what they can before leaving.
(Reply to #4) CCS	Rya.Reisender wrote:
#11 Satyrn Jun 19, 2015 10:57:25	I have had an ogre hanging out with low level PCs and it works fine because I leave him in the background.  When combat starts he does nothing useful unless the PCs interact with him,  and at that point is the players who are accomplishing the feat,  not the the ogre.   For you,  your players want to recruit these people,  so you really should let them. But keep them in the background In a way that works for you.  That may mean parcelling off  couple enemies for them to engage with while the players focus on the main fight. Maybe the recruits only perform actions when directed by the players (and the players deal with all the rolling) Maybe treat the mass of recruits as a swarm that all act together. Or no matter how many recruits they have, only one influences combat each round (only one gets a real turn). Or something.   But don't treat them like PCs. They shouldn't get XP, for example, and you don't have to follow any of the other rules that affect players. You can find the right balance by figuring out what your players want and explaining what you want out of it.