l have heard the term "DMPC" while watching videos,but how exactaly is a dmpc diffrent from a normal npc? they are both played by the dm? and npc's can be party members,so what makes a dmpc a dmpc?
Both can seem similar in effect (a character played by the DM traveling with the party) but NPC in a party is usually quest-specific and temporary while DMPC is the result of the DM wanting to be a player but is stuck with DM-ing so he decides to do the next best thing.
The short clean answer is a DMPC would have a character sheet just like all of the players; while typically a NPC uses a monster stat block to keep everything simple.
The short clean answer is a DMPC would have a character sheet just like all of the players; while typically a NPC uses a monster stat block to keep everything simple.
I'd argue that it really doesn't matter whether they have the sheet or a simple stat block.
Character sheet is - IMO - the result of DM caring so much about their NPC that he turns that character into a DMPC and not a direct cause for an NPC to become a DMPC.
The short clean answer is a DMPC would have a character sheet just like all of the players; while typically a NPC uses a monster stat block to keep everything simple.
I'd argue that it really doesn't matter whether they have the sheet or a simple stat block.
Character sheet is - IMO - the result of DM caring so much about their NPC that he turns that character into a DMPC and not a direct cause for an NPC to become a DMPC.
It matters if the DM wants to play a character that grows/levels with the party through the adventure. NPC stat blocks are static. Sure, the DM can play a "Bandit" NPC with the party for a few levels, but once the party gets to Tier 2 and up the bandit is going to die pretty frequently. And yes, the DM can just increase it's HP and other stats, but then they're just homebrew NPCs instead of DMPCs. Blogofholding.com did an article on DMPCs that covers it pretty well.
I personally use DMPC's when I have a very small party of 1-2 players, and they need an extra boost of power. I don't care about them more than normal PC's, and they never take the spotlight away from the players, and I always use a character sheet for them, not a monster stat block.
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Please check out my homebrew, I would appreciate feedback:
DMPCs are usually as strong or stronger than the PCs, have a character sheet, travel with the PCs, and directly influence story outcomes. Regular NPCs usually only do 1 or 2 of those things at a time if at all.
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l have heard the term "DMPC" while watching videos,but how exactaly is a dmpc diffrent from a normal npc? they are both played by the dm? and npc's can be party members,so what makes a dmpc a dmpc?
Both can seem similar in effect (a character played by the DM traveling with the party) but NPC in a party is usually quest-specific and temporary while DMPC is the result of the DM wanting to be a player but is stuck with DM-ing so he decides to do the next best thing.
The short clean answer is a DMPC would have a character sheet just like all of the players; while typically a NPC uses a monster stat block to keep everything simple.
I'd argue that it really doesn't matter whether they have the sheet or a simple stat block.
Character sheet is - IMO - the result of DM caring so much about their NPC that he turns that character into a DMPC and not a direct cause for an NPC to become a DMPC.
It matters if the DM wants to play a character that grows/levels with the party through the adventure. NPC stat blocks are static. Sure, the DM can play a "Bandit" NPC with the party for a few levels, but once the party gets to Tier 2 and up the bandit is going to die pretty frequently. And yes, the DM can just increase it's HP and other stats, but then they're just homebrew NPCs instead of DMPCs. Blogofholding.com did an article on DMPCs that covers it pretty well.
I personally use DMPC's when I have a very small party of 1-2 players, and they need an extra boost of power. I don't care about them more than normal PC's, and they never take the spotlight away from the players, and I always use a character sheet for them, not a monster stat block.
Please check out my homebrew, I would appreciate feedback:
Spells, Monsters, Subclasses, Races, Arcknight Class, Occultist Class, World, Enigmatic Esoterica forms
DMPCs are usually as strong or stronger than the PCs, have a character sheet, travel with the PCs, and directly influence story outcomes. Regular NPCs usually only do 1 or 2 of those things at a time if at all.