In Dungeons & Dragons, a good DMPC can elevate a campaign. A recurring character for the party to interact with can add a sense of fun and familiarity when done right. However, a bad DMPC can completely ruin a campaign's positive momentum. For this reason, a DMPC is an element that must be handled with incredible care.
The players will want to feel immersed in the world of the campaign, and having familiar faces around aids in that. They can familiarize themselves with the royalty, as well as the local shopkeeps they do business with. However, a DMPC is another sort of creature, essentially another player character that is controlled by the Dungeon Master, hence the term «DMPC». Whether the DM customizes a pre-existing D&D NPC or creates a new one from scratch, the intention is the same. Most often, they are allies, fellow adventurers, or quest givers, although they could fill other roles as well.
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Because a DMPC can have such a strong effect on a campaign, it is very important to make them as high-quality as possible. There are a few good guidelines to keep in mind when writing a DMPC that will keep the Dungeon Master on the right track. Establishing good habits for making DMPCs is a useful skill for DMs of all experience levels.
Consistency is an important rule to apply in any campaign. If the plot is disjointed, then it's harder to follow and therefore harder for the players to remain invested. Following this theme, a DMPC that is planned to be involved long-term should feel like a logical extension of the campaign, and one that can provide plenty of fun roleplay opportunities in D&D at that. Just inserting a wandering fellow who happens to keep showing up in the same
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