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Literature Text
My DMPC will not be the party leader.
My DMPC will not be as important as the PCs.
My DMPC will be whatever the party needs them to be.
My DMPC's moods will not reflect my own.
My DMPC will be as much a slave to the Dice as the PCs are.
My DMPC can die.
My DMPC will not have all the solutions.
My DMPC will be underpowered.
My DMPC is not perfect.
My DMPC is a support character.
My DMPC will not be as important as the PCs.
My DMPC will be whatever the party needs them to be.
My DMPC's moods will not reflect my own.
My DMPC will be as much a slave to the Dice as the PCs are.
My DMPC can die.
My DMPC will not have all the solutions.
My DMPC will be underpowered.
My DMPC is not perfect.
My DMPC is a support character.
I say DMPC, because D&D is what I play, but really, it could be GMPC as well. I tread fragile ground.
Anyway, I noticed I was getting pretty bad with the Inevitable (my DMPC in Black Earth), so I made myself up some rules to follow. A visual thing so I don't forget you know? Originally they were going to be geared more specifically to that character, but then I realized it would be better if they weren't, and maybe other people could take some wisdom from this.
I was hesitant to have a DMPC at all (i've never done it before), but my PCs party constantly argues and can take upwards of two hours to decide a course of action. Seriously, they once spent an hour buying breakfast... from a bread shop.
Anyway, I noticed I was getting pretty bad with the Inevitable (my DMPC in Black Earth), so I made myself up some rules to follow. A visual thing so I don't forget you know? Originally they were going to be geared more specifically to that character, but then I realized it would be better if they weren't, and maybe other people could take some wisdom from this.
Edit Thank you, everyone, for your wonderful advice - really, great suggestions for me to try and adapt to my style of DMing.I'll write up rules for him specifically later (being a time-traveler he really needs them, lest I get confused and contradict myself every other session). Also, his personality has gotten a bit wonky - which is really saying something since he's completely mad. (He's a generally cheerful fellow, but the PCs are just.... so obnoxious.)
I had hoped the resulting discussion would have been more about GMPCs in general than about how to handle slow PCs. I love my players, I really do. I'm a very lucky DM to have a group of people that work so well together (even if that work is slow).
I also feel inclined to give a bit more description as to why I included a DMPC in my game, since it seems like some people are under the impression it was just to moderate the PC party.
He's a tool to introduce more adventures - a time-traveler (this was the original concept). I'll admit I pretty much stole the idea from Doctor Who - but I wanted to be able to jump my players around settings and get them to the action.
I really want to play. I... never get to be a player. I've never been a player in a game that lasted more than 2-3 sessions. Having this character lets me have a way to interact with the game from the other side as well. I've got NPCs, sure, but they're not really... the same... They don't stick around long, they don't follow the same rules... /Edit
© 2011 - 2024 General-EbonRose
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Having never played any of these types of games and knowing very little to nothing about them, I've come across these rules with a different perspective. After reading that a DMPC is a support character; I feel that I have something to add. In real life, I believe that this describes all 'support' characters: family/friends, teachers/mentors, soldiers/police officers and most importantly - each other. We can all share in the wisdom that has been gained from games like this and others, just remember not to let the game outshine your reality. Play on players!! 