The Making of an NPC

The recurring Bad Guy is used throughout many books and films. Some say it is a cheap plot method, that may be so, but it works! Would star-wars be the same without Darth-Vader?

Like the essence of a plot, the essence of a good NPC is a conflict with the players. This is primarily for conflict of goals (opposing side) or simply for pride (revenge for previous slights or feeling threatened by their presence).

The NPC should be a match for the PCs but this needn't be through direct power, other examples are:

• Friends, The NPC simply knows a lot of people who would rather help him.
• Loyalty, someone owes him a favour.
• Political, the NPC holds political power in some community.
• Legal, the NPC has the backing of the law.
• Money, the NPC just has so much cash he can _buy_ his companions.
• Royalty, the NPC is a noble, lord, knight, and uses words like "treason".
• Magic, if not through himself he has some magical power or item.
• Religious, he has the backing of the church.
• Demonic, he is a witch and relies on imps to do his work.
• Guild, he has the backing of Ye-Stone-Masons guild.
• Fey, he has friends among the little people of the forest.
• Military, he has a greater position in the military than the players.

The "Playing" NPC (otherwise known as the DMPC), is a commonly used method by DMs, whereby they have an NPC who is one of the party. This is usually done so that the DM can play as well as DM, or sometimes to help fill a gap in the party (e.g. they don't have a cleric). More often then not the DM will find they are slightly biased towards their "special" NPC, then to other NPCs and this can cause problems.

If the DM is playing the NPC so that he can "join in" there are several points that he should be aware of that will effect the style of play. If the NPC just hangs around the party and doesn't make any "command" or "normal" decisions, then he is not being played as a proper character. If he must be with the party, then he should be role-played like any other character, he should argue, he should make points, and he should have no special "rights".

There is no real reason that the DM should play a character to fill out the numbers. Parties which do not have all the classes, or parties which have to go against extra-ordinary odds are often the most interesting. If the party doesn't have a cleric, let them find the occasional healing potion, if they don't have a wizard, let them find the occasional scroll/potion/wand. If they are under-staffed then you have more opportunity to pit them against the "lesser" and perhaps more interesting monsters.

Most importantly, just because it is your NPC doesn't give you the right to cheat. Certain items suddenly appearing in the backpack because you forgot, gaining a new magic item that you suddenly thought of. If this is YOUR player character, then you must apply the rules relevent to all player characters, or else this is severely unfair on the players.