New answers tagged npc
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This isn't a software nor has any GUI, but I use a simple wiki for this task, and I developped a quite simple plug-in to display backlink on a page (so on the Lex Luthor wiki page you can see "hates Superman", and without needing any addition from me, Lex Luthor pops out in the Superman page).
It's free, implements search engine, accessible from anywhere ...
6
Labyrinth is exactly what you want. You have the ability to populate multiple maps with characters, places & objects, link them together and write a bunch of notes for every one of them.
Also there are a time tracking tool and plugins for cryptography (yes, riddles) and relationship calculations.
I've found it preparing an investigative game and it ...
2
I asked this exact question on my blog after asking Relationship Mechanics for D&D/Pathfinder? here. I've gotten a large number of suggestions, none of which I have successfully used - they all basically seem to be too much work for the value they give.
Per suggestions from the post I've looked at yED, The Brain, Kumu, Freeplane, XMind, and Omnigraffle ...
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Not a tool per se, but there are some interesting techniques and shorthand conventions in the Smallville RPG book that does essentially what you want.
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I believe that what you are looking for best modelled as a graph.
Graphviz is a graph drawing tool and as such is suitable for modelling NPC relationships. However, it fails on your requirements: it is general thus complex, is not RPG specific, and has no GUI. However, since you widen your question, here is the comment expended as an answer. I have used ...
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The closest I've come to this was Xmind. It lets you make huge hierarchies of nodes and relationships between them. I've seen a bunch of other mind mapping software out there, but what I found helpful with this one was that you could zoom in and refocus on a single node and its children, ignoring the parts of the game that weren't quite relevant.
Where it ...
2
I agree that this is very like Fred in Angel. I second the remarks about building trust, showing vulnerability and exchanging stories. In real life a great deal of a relationship is established by sharing personal information. One way to drive this would be to make the NPC erratically psychic: this would allow her to make predictions that would be of great ...
7
"Like" can take a number of forms, each of which can be achieved in a different way.
One of the most reliable ways to get the players to like/respect an NPC is trust. Set up multiple scenarios where the NPC takes a big risk in trusting the players and having it payoff, and vice versa. This is the classic, "I got your back" situation, used very frequently ...
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Having her be useful in combat would certainly be nice, but its not essential. People you like do not need to be useful to you, much less useful in any particular way.
But she probably shouldn't be a liability either. She could either be useful in combat, or just really good at staying out of the way.
To be really likable, a character needs to be well ...
1
In combat have her consistantly using aid another (or similar buff) to one or all members of the team (via magic) and give her the ability to bestow blessings on the characters allowing them a reroll an attack or get temp hp (aka slight dodge) as an automatic interupt once a combat encounter so the characters will like her for helping them be more bamf and ...
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Align her with the party's own interests. Make her be a foil to someone the characters hate. Have her do things that the characters would want to do, but couldn't for purely social reasons. This would work especially well with the whole "half-mad" thing.
You should consider allowing some sort of compromise to be possible; maybe they still have to return ...
3
Make them believable and not ridiculous.
For instance, let's look at a Dark Heresy NPC I created.
Three times stronger than any character in the party (in combat, at least).
Inquisitor's pet, so anything he said was what their handler believed.
Complete disregard for his own safety, and that of party members.
The players were in shock when he died-and I ...
3
Make her a respected asset in the group - have her intelligently contribute to battles.
That, however, is not relevant to how much your players will like her - her likability is much more related to how you role play her character:
Give her memorable traits: have one, or two, major character traits, and several minor ones, that define her. She might be a ...
2
Should she be an asset in combat or should she need their protection?
I would vote for an equal. If she's too powerful she'll look like a DMPC. If she's needy, the players won't like that either. Make her contribute without stealing anyone's spotlight. If your players are particularly gamey, make her a healer or buffer.
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It is completely within the rules and traditions of RPGs for the party to be given control of an NPC.
That said, it might help to divide the control based on what's going on, and why the NPC was added:
Within a combat scenario of a tactically-focused game wherein much of the fun stems from the tactical decisions made by the players, then by all means, ...
1
In groups I've been in, we do this a lot, following several different models. Now you're right that in a trad game the players only have uncontestable direct control over the PCs and anything else is being delegated to them by the GM. (There are other games, like Ars Magica and its troupe style gaming, or indie games where people can affect other ...
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In the specific case mentioned here, I think it would be better for the game if the GM retained control of an NPC who travels consistently with the PCs. If one of the players consistently controls an NPC who's always there, then that NPC will tend to become that player's secondary PC and either languish in the shadows or exist solely to help out the ...
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Creatures' skills are listed at the bottom of their info sheet/card.
Creature sheets have ability modifier + half level, which is what you should be using, already calculated at the bottom of the sheet.
For example, a level 14 lich necromancer has the following ability stats at the bottom of his/her monster sheet:
Skills: Arcana +18, History +18, Insight ...
5
There are a number of ways I've seen people handle this:
Democratic NPC Control
This is perhaps the most schizophrenic option out there, since the NPC is literally following metaphorical voices in its head, contributed by the players. It essentially becomes a GPC (group player character), with some noticeable downsides. If players don't agree, a resolution ...
9
Some small groups give each player more than one character to play. Other small groups solve the problem by, yes, having NPCs tag along with the PC party. Sometimes, to simplify things, the GM will let one or all of the players control the NPC(s) that have joined them, but it's not common. Usually the GM retains control of NPCs that join up with the PCs' ...
9
Traditionally, not really
I mean, aside from stuff like dominate person, you typically play only your own character and the DM controls the rest.
But, especially for small groups, you can change that
It’s entirely up to your DM, and since you’re new players it may not be a good idea, but especially when there are only a few players in the ...
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