I recently started an adventure for my lvl 5 characters (3 players) where they are trapped in a ship with no equipment and they have no memory of how they got there. I am trying to figure out a good NPC to help them because 1 of them is a Champion fighter, another is an Undying Light warlock, and the other one is an Oath of Devotion paladin. I know that this is the perfect group, but i am putting in CR 10-13 monsters and want an NPC that can help ALL of the characters in battle like buffing the fighter, help with spellcasting, and heal. I was thinking of cleric but we already have a paladin. And a druid doesn't have much healing spells. Any recommendations?
Beware the DM controlled player character! Buff your party through pick ups, or balance your encounters to just them.
It's almost impossible to separate DM knowledge from NPC knowledge, and instinctively I think players know this. So if an NPC plays an integral roll in a combat encounter, it will always cheapen the encounter for your players.
Why are you putting a CR 10 or higher against level 5 characters with no equipment? (really no equipment, no weapons, armor, spell focus. All they can do is punch the thing, or maybe make an improvised weapon?) I mean CR is imperfect, but that seems like a recipe for a tpk. And if you are counting on the NPC to bail them out, then the fight is too hard. They should be the heroes of the story, not just nearby when a bigger, tougher NPC does the heavy lifting.
I recently started an adventure for my lvl 5 characters (3 players) where they are trapped in a ship with no equipment and they have no memory of how they got there. I am trying to figure out a good NPC to help them because 1 of them is a Champion fighter, another is an Undying Light warlock, and the other one is an Oath of Devotion paladin. I know that this is the perfect group, but i am putting in CR 10-13 monsters and want an NPC that can help ALL of the characters in battle like buffing the fighter, help with spellcasting, and heal. I was thinking of cleric but we already have a paladin. And a druid doesn't have much healing spells. Any recommendations?
Beware the DM controlled player character! Buff your party through pick ups, or balance your encounters to just them.
It's almost impossible to separate DM knowledge from NPC knowledge, and instinctively I think players know this. So if an NPC plays an integral roll in a combat encounter, it will always cheapen the encounter for your players.
Why are you putting a CR 10 or higher against level 5 characters with no equipment? (really no equipment, no weapons, armor, spell focus. All they can do is punch the thing, or maybe make an improvised weapon?) I mean CR is imperfect, but that seems like a recipe for a tpk. And if you are counting on the NPC to bail them out, then the fight is too hard. They should be the heroes of the story, not just nearby when a bigger, tougher NPC does the heavy lifting.
Thanks! I actually forgot to say, the NPC gives them equipment and magic items. This really helped