Just curious what some of you other GMs do with reference to controlling NPCs. Obviously the GM controls the actions of the villains, monsters, villagers, major players, etc., but what about those NPCs who fill the ranks of the PC's party? Do you let the PC's control their actions for the most part, role their dice in combat, etc., or do you as the GM maintain total control of all NPC actions?

For example, say Sir Knight (a PC) has an NPC as a squire--call him Simple Squire. From turn to turn does the PC control the actions of Simple Squire, to include where he is on the map, where he moves each turn, and what he does in combat? (Method 1); or do you make your PCs interact with the NPCs and roll play the dialogue, but maintain control of what Simple Squire is doing at any given moment (Method 2).

Method 1

GM: You enter a long room with broken furniture cluttered about, knocked over book cases, etc. There is also a large wooden door at the far end of the room.

PC: I begin searching the right side of the room, while NPC Simple Squire searches the left side.

GM: You find nothing of interest.

PC: OK, Simple Squire draws his sword, and guards my left flank, while I examine the door....

Method 2

GM: You enter a long room with broken furniture cluttered about, knocked over book cases, etc. There is also a large wooden door at the far end of the room.

PC: I tell Simple Squire to search the left side of the room, while I begin searching the to the right.

GM: NPC Simple Squire says, "What does sir knight wish me to look for?"

PC: "You idiot! Look for a key to the door, some treasure, Lothrim's journal, your brain, a +12 sword of idiot slaying so I can be done with you...I dunno, just find me something useful for a change!"

GM: "Simple Squire sticks his tongue out at you, and then goes off to pout in the corner because you have hurt his feelings."

I generally let my players to control the NPCs they are closely associated with, like their squires or family members. I do reserve a right to veto a player's call if I feel it doesn't suit the NPCs character & situation, however.

In conflict situations, I generally let the players to handle all the characters on their side - there's no way I'm going to run their posse of 20 Agrikan warriors while keeping track of a dozen other NPCs...

If not all PCs are involved in a particular activity, their players can assume the role of NPCs - shopkeepers, guardsmen, courtiers etc. It keeps the action moving, and everyone has something to do.

Lately I've also been experimenting a bit more with shared creative responsibility. Players can describe & crerate NPCs as the situation warrants it. When the group rides to village, and I give a brief descrption of the place, players may state that their characters will head over to the common to speak with the group of lads playing a ballgame even though I did not specify that there was a game going on. This method works for us pretty well.

zak

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skiorht

If the pcs are "in charge" of a npc, they will give orders, and it is up to the GM how they are carried out. If thepcs are vague in their instructions, the npc will do what they think best. I also take into account the pcs treatment of the npc in their response.
A regular npc will have their own agenda and desires. One party member rewarded his henchman so much that the npc (on GM rolls and decision) left his employ to buy an inn (with a standing offer of free ale to the pc).
In combat, I usually roll for the npcs, but once again the pcs actions will influence their conduct.

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"Am I still on the roof?"

I tend to control the actions of the NPCs within the group under general roleplaying situations. However, to help keep the action flowing in battle, I always let players control the NPCs' combat actions.

Usually, the players don't know the attributes or exact skills of the NPCs (just observable descriptions such as "strong" or "good with a sword"), so I must keep track of their injuries on a condensed character sheet on my side of the GM screen.

If the NPC happens to be a PC whose player is absent on the day of our gaming session, though, I always let the other players decide amongst themselves who will fully control that character. The character must act consistently to how he/she was controlled by the original player, however, so I can veto certain actions if I think they are out of character.

-=W=-

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WarFlail (aka Bill Gant)

Then your players know about as much as I know about my NPCs. The vast majority of my NPCs are just a name and one or two lines of description. Even for important characters, I generally just note down their most important characteristics, and improvise like hell. If push comes to shove, I have about 20 detailled stock characters I can modify on the fly. If it seems that an NPC is going to be a recurring character, I usually make a more detailled character sheet, but those are few & far between.

If a player controls an NPC, they can ask me the NPC's skill levels when needed. Often I tell them to roll e.g. d20+50 and note the ML. Same goes for attributes.

zak

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skiorht

I did have an article about the "7 sentence NPC" that allowed you to define the main points of the character in a (relatively) quick way.

http://www.dnd.starflung.com/npcbuild.html

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"Am I still on the roof?"

Does this also include allowing them to roll the dice for NPC's attack and defence roles, etc.?

As GM I control the action of all characters except the Pcs themselves. More work, perhaps, but I consider it more realistic. The PCs who do have NPCs associated with them (right now there's a squire and a 'bodyguard' for lack of a better term) basically tell them what to do, but I do all the rolling and actual carrying out of instructions. Nor do the PCs have access to the NPC sheets - although they do have an idea of capabilities derived mostly from observation.

As to a stock of NPCs, I have near a hundred major and minor personages IMC full detailed on 2-page character sheets. For quick or unimportant ones, I use the dreaded Dongmaster's NPC pack which I highly recommend.

Can you link to useful sounding item, please?

As a GM, I always keep control over NPCs. They're one of the best tools I've got, and I'm not about to give my players the chance to mess 'em up!

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Keith Mann
I really must get around to changing my .sig

I thought it was under the Swords & Shields link on Lythia.com, but apparently not. Peter or Patrick can you help direct? Or is it no longer available?

Yes, the players make all the rolls.

-=W=-

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WarFlail (aka Bill Gant)

Would love to see the NPC pack. Also, has anyone ever found a site where Harn PCs and NPCs can be traded?

It seems like an obvious idea. We all have NPCs that we have really worked over, because they were important to our campaign at some time or other. It would be nice to be able to share them, just log on and fill out the character sheet.

Searchable would be nice, at least for profession.

Anyone doing such a thing?

Anyone with a spare server hanging around who wants to do such a thing.

To be most easy to use the fill in the blank would be formated as a Harnmaster character sheet. Perhaps all three variations could be availible.

Wm

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There is a chair and an NPC for visitors on Saturdays. We play most weeks. PM me. "You will always be my friend. You know too much."