What do you use established NPCs for? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

What do you use established NPCs for?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Charles_Phipps
Mar 11, 2005 13:08:53 I was curious if we could get a general sentiment about what the usage of established NPcs in Dragonlance campaigns is. Do your player's ever feel left out that they are not the people who will crush the Dark Queen or do you allow them to do so in the Dragonlance modules? What about the highlords and other evils? Do you have the players have a crack at overthrowing them or not? How do they interact with folk from Otik to Gunther?

Enquiring DMs want to know
#2
raistlinrox
Mar 11, 2005 14:09:11 Although I'm a huge fan of statting out the characters in the stories, I've never actually used said stats for anyone. My players just haven't run into anyone famous yet (except for the wizard who met Jenna and Dalamar at the Tower for his Test, but I didn't need any stats just for the conversation).

I tend to let my players be the heroes, if I were to run the original modules I'd be more inclined to let the players create their own,if they wanted to. If they wanted to use the original heroes, then that would be fine as well.
#3
valharic
Mar 11, 2005 14:16:06 My PC's are the Heroes of the Lance. The known characters exist in the world but have not become famous for what happened in the books/modules. I've shaped my world around the PC's actions. To many of the players read the books. So to keep it interesting I've done that.

So far they've only met Tika and Otik, but that is prior to the war.
#4
zombiegleemax
Mar 11, 2005 14:16:47 I don't use them, I prefer to have more...control of my NPCs.
#5
Dragonhelm
Mar 11, 2005 14:32:34 I tend to think of established characters in terms of "tiers". First-tier characters would be the ones along the lines of the Heroes of the Lance, Heroes of the Heart, etc. The players wouldn't meet these characters at all, unless really necessary or as a brief cameo.

What I call second-tier characters would be ones who are secondary to the story, but still important to the setting. I could potentially seeing player characters meeting people like Coryn, Jenna, Dalamar, Gunthar uth Wistan, etc. I think I would try to minimize this, but it's not so bad to use secondary-tier characters.

For example, the module Knight's Sword has a section towards the beginning when several prospective knights are brought before the knight's council. One of them is actually an assassin, and lunges towards Lord Gunthar uth Wistan, who steps back, loses his footing, and is prone. Only the hero knight can stop him. When this is done with, they go back to calling out the names of the prospective knights. When the hero knight's name is called, his sponsor is mentioned, and Lord Gunthar adds his name as a co-sponsor.
#6
hatrel
Mar 11, 2005 15:39:40 I often try to avoid the actual stories to keep them from metagaming too much, but I do not mind them actually meeting some of the figures from said stories. But I must initiate it. If they decide to go to Solace to see the Inn and it's figures of the time and I want them in Palanthas, they will go to Palanthas, :D :D :D :D
#7
zombiegleemax
Mar 11, 2005 19:13:18 Hehe...we met Raistlin in an alternate reality once. ;) But that is the extent of what are described as 'Tier 1' characters above. Generally our DM lets us talk to the 'Tier 2' NPCs, but engage in neither conflict nor partnerships with them. They may affect the general storyline by giving advice, but their own motivations are never revealed.

This is how it should be. The PCs are the center of the story, and any NPC that detracts from that is really just making the players enjoy themselves less. The best part about playing D&D in a world you know well is that you can affect that world with your character. If you want to watch other characters have an impact...well, that is what the novels are for.
#8
Charles_Phipps
Mar 11, 2005 21:05:15 I have six rules that I keep in mind when writing my histories of the Dragonlance chronicles.

1. The Characters are heroes every bit as huge as the Companions

This is the most important aspect of the story. The heroes in your stories should have a role every bit as vital as the heroes of the Lance in the Tales. Maybe their story is different but its no less vital.

The Return of Chemosh, leading the armies to attack Nekara while Tanis cowardly assassinates Arikan on the inside, commanding the armies of Solmania to attack the Blue Lady's forces, defeating the Black Dragon and so forth highlords....

Heroes' legends should be grand indeed.

2. Just because it wasn't mentioned in the novels, doesn't mean it didn't happen

Did you know that Kitiara actually married some poor PC of ours and left him lovesick and believing she'd died while using the man to claim the birthright (and treasure) of the Uth Matar family? Did you know that Raistlin had another apprentice than Dalamar? One whom he sent to steal the book of Gilean while he was fighting Takhasis? No? Well, they would have distracted from the story so storytellers usually leave them out.

Being Tanis' rival for Laurana may not end up very good but that doesn't mean it didn't occur.

3. As long as you bend the story without breaking it, you're fine

Yes, certainly its highly improbable that your characters are doing things that are never mentioned in the novels but so long as you don't make things that deliberately contradict the illusion you are in a shared world with the Companions and other heroes, you should reap considerable enjoyment from this fact.

4. The Books are a wonderful source of villains, love interests, allies, and rivals

This cannot be understated enough that many stories take on different resonance when read through the eyes of a role-playing experience. Derek Crownguard is a perfect type of character for this. In the story he is a mere cariacture of a knight gone wrong but if your players are mature enough to acecpt him as a friend pre-war of the Lance then his death becomes all the more tragic.

5. Destiny does not necessarily mean boring

One of the interesting parrallels is Greek tragedy and you don't have to be wrong if players know exactly how some poor schmuck is going to end up if you incorporate him. It adds a bit of drama in some respects that Derek will slowly degenerate to arrogance, anger, and eventually insanity despite the player's best efforts.

6. Don't thwart the players efforts

The players will sometimes act in a manner that make a story impossible or darn close to it. Don't be afraid to diverge on these occasions, though also be fully prepared to have it happen still in a similiar fashion. Don't deliberately try to step on a player's toes though.
#9
cam_banks
Mar 11, 2005 21:09:17 I write up a heck of a lot of these NPCs, so I certainly hope people use them! One obvious use for the personalities and their stat blocks in the Sovereign Press DL books is to serve as examples and ready-to-go encounters. Change a few names and you've got an instant NPC. I think they definitely end up being useful as a resource, whether you use them as they were intended or make up some other helpful purpose!

Cheers,
Cam
#10
zombiegleemax
Mar 14, 2005 10:31:13 I use them quite frequently, mainly to add verisimilitude to my DL3.5 games. I ran a DL3.0 game, before the official DL new edition came out (mostly using homebrewed notes I'd designed in my freetime), and the PCs (a kender rogue, a minotaur cleric of Mishakal, a magically-bred half-minotaur fighter (the brother to the minotaur cleric), a human ranger, and an elven Red Robe dark elf) travelled all over Ansalon, and even through time, meeting all sorts of NPCs from the novels.

--they even got to meet Raistlin back during the final days of Istar! NB
#11
kalanth
Mar 14, 2005 20:16:51 I have yet to ever use any established NPCs. I have a campaign in the running now where the players are (unwittingly) chasing after Mina, but thats the only realy NPC I plan to use. I feel that the new era of DL is now more focused on creating new heroes, and my PCs are those heroes that I plan to create.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Charles_Phipps Mar 11, 2005 13:08:53	I was curious if we could get a general sentiment about what the usage of established NPcs in Dragonlance campaigns is. Do your player's ever feel left out that they are not the people who will crush the Dark Queen or do you allow them to do so in the Dragonlance modules? What about the highlords and other evils? Do you have the players have a crack at overthrowing them or not? How do they interact with folk from Otik to Gunther? Enquiring DMs want to know
#2 raistlinrox Mar 11, 2005 14:09:11	Although I'm a huge fan of statting out the characters in the stories, I've never actually used said stats for anyone. My players just haven't run into anyone famous yet (except for the wizard who met Jenna and Dalamar at the Tower for his Test, but I didn't need any stats just for the conversation). I tend to let my players be the heroes, if I were to run the original modules I'd be more inclined to let the players create their own,if they wanted to. If they wanted to use the original heroes, then that would be fine as well.
#3 valharic Mar 11, 2005 14:16:06	My PC's are the Heroes of the Lance. The known characters exist in the world but have not become famous for what happened in the books/modules. I've shaped my world around the PC's actions. To many of the players read the books. So to keep it interesting I've done that. So far they've only met Tika and Otik, but that is prior to the war.
#4 zombiegleemax Mar 11, 2005 14:16:47	I don't use them, I prefer to have more...control of my NPCs.
#5 Dragonhelm Mar 11, 2005 14:32:34	I tend to think of established characters in terms of "tiers". First-tier characters would be the ones along the lines of the Heroes of the Lance, Heroes of the Heart, etc. The players wouldn't meet these characters at all, unless really necessary or as a brief cameo. What I call second-tier characters would be ones who are secondary to the story, but still important to the setting. I could potentially seeing player characters meeting people like Coryn, Jenna, Dalamar, Gunthar uth Wistan, etc. I think I would try to minimize this, but it's not so bad to use secondary-tier characters. For example, the module Knight's Sword has a section towards the beginning when several prospective knights are brought before the knight's council. One of them is actually an assassin, and lunges towards Lord Gunthar uth Wistan, who steps back, loses his footing, and is prone. Only the hero knight can stop him. When this is done with, they go back to calling out the names of the prospective knights. When the hero knight's name is called, his sponsor is mentioned, and Lord Gunthar adds his name as a co-sponsor.
#6 hatrel Mar 11, 2005 15:39:40	I often try to avoid the actual stories to keep them from metagaming too much, but I do not mind them actually meeting some of the figures from said stories. But I must initiate it. If they decide to go to Solace to see the Inn and it's figures of the time and I want them in Palanthas, they will go to Palanthas, :D :D :D :D
#7 zombiegleemax Mar 11, 2005 19:13:18	Hehe...we met Raistlin in an alternate reality once. ;) But that is the extent of what are described as 'Tier 1' characters above. Generally our DM lets us talk to the 'Tier 2' NPCs, but engage in neither conflict nor partnerships with them. They may affect the general storyline by giving advice, but their own motivations are never revealed. This is how it should be. The PCs are the center of the story, and any NPC that detracts from that is really just making the players enjoy themselves less. The best part about playing D&D in a world you know well is that you can affect that world with your character. If you want to watch other characters have an impact...well, that is what the novels are for.
#8 Charles_Phipps Mar 11, 2005 21:05:15	I have six rules that I keep in mind when writing my histories of the Dragonlance chronicles. 1. The Characters are heroes every bit as huge as the Companions This is the most important aspect of the story. The heroes in your stories should have a role every bit as vital as the heroes of the Lance in the Tales. Maybe their story is different but its no less vital. The Return of Chemosh, leading the armies to attack Nekara while Tanis cowardly assassinates Arikan on the inside, commanding the armies of Solmania to attack the Blue Lady's forces, defeating the Black Dragon and so forth highlords.... Heroes' legends should be grand indeed. 2. Just because it wasn't mentioned in the novels, doesn't mean it didn't happen Did you know that Kitiara actually married some poor PC of ours and left him lovesick and believing she'd died while using the man to claim the birthright (and treasure) of the Uth Matar family? Did you know that Raistlin had another apprentice than Dalamar? One whom he sent to steal the book of Gilean while he was fighting Takhasis? No? Well, they would have distracted from the story so storytellers usually leave them out. Being Tanis' rival for Laurana may not end up very good but that doesn't mean it didn't occur. 3. As long as you bend the story without breaking it, you're fine Yes, certainly its highly improbable that your characters are doing things that are never mentioned in the novels but so long as you don't make things that deliberately contradict the illusion you are in a shared world with the Companions and other heroes, you should reap considerable enjoyment from this fact. 4. The Books are a wonderful source of villains, love interests, allies, and rivals This cannot be understated enough that many stories take on different resonance when read through the eyes of a role-playing experience. Derek Crownguard is a perfect type of character for this. In the story he is a mere cariacture of a knight gone wrong but if your players are mature enough to acecpt him as a friend pre-war of the Lance then his death becomes all the more tragic. 5. Destiny does not necessarily mean boring One of the interesting parrallels is Greek tragedy and you don't have to be wrong if players know exactly how some poor schmuck is going to end up if you incorporate him. It adds a bit of drama in some respects that Derek will slowly degenerate to arrogance, anger, and eventually insanity despite the player's best efforts. 6. Don't thwart the players efforts The players will sometimes act in a manner that make a story impossible or darn close to it. Don't be afraid to diverge on these occasions, though also be fully prepared to have it happen still in a similiar fashion. Don't deliberately try to step on a player's toes though.
#9 cam_banks Mar 11, 2005 21:09:17	I write up a heck of a lot of these NPCs, so I certainly hope people use them! One obvious use for the personalities and their stat blocks in the Sovereign Press DL books is to serve as examples and ready-to-go encounters. Change a few names and you've got an instant NPC. I think they definitely end up being useful as a resource, whether you use them as they were intended or make up some other helpful purpose! Cheers, Cam
#10 zombiegleemax Mar 14, 2005 10:31:13	I use them quite frequently, mainly to add verisimilitude to my DL3.5 games. I ran a DL3.0 game, before the official DL new edition came out (mostly using homebrewed notes I'd designed in my freetime), and the PCs (a kender rogue, a minotaur cleric of Mishakal, a magically-bred half-minotaur fighter (the brother to the minotaur cleric), a human ranger, and an elven Red Robe dark elf) travelled all over Ansalon, and even through time, meeting all sorts of NPCs from the novels. --they even got to meet Raistlin back during the final days of Istar! NB
#11 kalanth Mar 14, 2005 20:16:51	I have yet to ever use any established NPCs. I have a campaign in the running now where the players are (unwittingly) chasing after Mina, but thats the only realy NPC I plan to use. I feel that the new era of DL is now more focused on creating new heroes, and my PCs are those heroes that I plan to create.