PC and characters and the Campaign • Collecting General • The Acaeum

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PC and characters and the Campaign
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HexMapper
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Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 8:02 pm

As I've intersected 4th edition rules, there is specific use of PC and character in the core rules. Appears subtle, yet, character would seem to refer to both PC and NPC.

As a Dungeon Master in the past and doing campaigns, the idea of who "governs" the NPC is an important concept. A curious question to other Dungeon Masters: do you follow strict to AD&D/D&D rules as to who "dictates" NPC actions or is it a shared duty between DM and PC? Does this impact on decision making and adventure/encounter outcomes in your campaign/states of role-play?

Bringing this up as the 4th edition includes PC or characters [PC and NPC] when discussing "skill challenges," "encounters," and general "storytelling/campaign structure" where both interaction of DM and PC could have quite an impact.

Of course, rules are often considered "guidelines."

MetaSigma
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Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 9:13 pm

HexMapper wrote:As I've intersected 4th edition rules, there is specific use of PC and character in the core rules. Appears subtle, yet, character would seem to refer to both PC and NPC.

As a Dungeon Master in the past and doing campaigns, the idea of who "governs" the NPC is an important concept. A curious question to other Dungeon Masters: do you follow strict to AD&D/D&D rules as to who "dictates" NPC actions or is it a shared duty between DM and PC? Does this impact on decision making and adventure/encounter outcomes in your campaign/states of role-play?

Bringing this up as the 4th edition includes PC or characters [PC and NPC] when discussing "skill challenges," "encounters," and general "storytelling/campaign structure" where both interaction of DM and PC could have quite an impact.

Of course, rules are often considered "guidelines."

I imagine I speak for a good many when I say, "Huh?"

Are you referring to NPC henchmen, hirelings, etc.? That would be the only situation where I might as a DM allow PCs to have some say over what an NPC does.

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Pipswich
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Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 9:48 pm

Are you talking of the use of diplomacy and intimidate (for instance) in 4th edition to cause an npc to stand down, etc. with a skill check. That does take some control from the dm, but a decent dm should be fine however the dice roll.

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wavemotion
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Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 10:36 pm

HexMapper wrote:As a Dungeon Master in the past and doing campaigns, the idea of who "governs" the NPC is an important concept.

Most of my best NPCs were largely governed by the players. Certain NPCs can't (e.g. most antagonists). There are whole Roleplaying games (Dirty Secrets comes to mind) whose core concept is rotating NPCs from player to player to build them up. It turns out 6 minds working together can build a really memorable character which they have investment in. As I get older and gain RPG experience, I definitely enjoy a more shared fantasy. I used to write piles and piles of notes and run stock adventures. No more - the best adventures are driven as much by the players as the DM. I do less work and the overall result is spectacular.

-Dave

xraygord
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Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 11:09 pm

The DM always controlled NPCs in games that I have played in. Thats how I would do it as a DM also.

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MetaSigma
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Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2010 8:05 pm

xraygord wrote:The DM always controlled NPCs in games that I have played in. Thats how I would do it as a DM also.

Me too. These guys might as well be speaking Chinese as far as I'm concerned... <sigh>

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ashmire13
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Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2010 4:18 am

Beyond henchmen and hirelings, I'd only have the DM controlling NPCs, whether Innkeep, farmhand or 12th level Cleric.

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puterdragon
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Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2010 10:57 am

Since NPC is a broad category, including villains, guides within the adventure, tribal or civic leaders, universally helpful wanderers (Elminster/Gandalf types), trainers, etc., the DMs I've known have managed those NPCs whose motivations were antagonistic or unknown.
As for henchmen/cohorts, followers, and hirelings, they tended to give them to us players to manage them in the campaign. In these cases, the NPCs' motivations were the same as for the PCs. But the DM always reserved veto power over these NPCs. We found this out when the NPCs' motivations changed or a hidden agenda was revealed (assassins, spies, thieves, etc.).
Some of our henchmen and hirelings were loyal to and managed by the party, and others were specificly loyal to and managed by one PC. Followers were always managed by the PC they followed.

Fun question.

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