From a purely technical standpoint, any character run by the DM would be a non-player character. But from a practical (and FUN!) You can still play by each rolling up a character (or characters — there’s no problem each running two or more characters) and having one person act as the chief dungeon master.
Can a GM play a character?
No. The GM should just cede the GM chair occasionally, and be a proper player. Mixing the two successfully is possible, but it’s going to be so rare that the answer to this “should” question is “no” for almost anyone who might consider it. (All that’s assuming a traditional GM/player split, of course.
How do I stop DMPC?
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Tip #1: Good DMPCs prompt Players into choices and decisions.
- Tip #2: Avoid DMPCs talking to NPCs much.
- Tip #3: Good DMPCs fill specific, short-term party gaps.
- Tip #4: Consider a DMPC with a death wish, or wanderlust.
- Tip #5: Have DMPCs play by the rules.
How do i DM and play a PC at the same time?
For this reason, every player in the campaign has their own PC, even me. That way regardless of the DM for the session everybody has a character they can play. When someone is DM’ing, their PC is either handled as a suboptimal DM-controlled PC (follow the advice in Keith Curtis’s answer for this technique) or as an “NPC-by-committee.”
Is there any way to play D & D without a DM?
I have no experience with it, but having just found it I’m going to give it a try for solo gaming. Endless RPG was created to allow the flexibility to play without a dedicated DM by having an iPhone, iPad and Android device present a random adventure in a player-friendly manner.
Can a DM control more than one NPC?
NPCs can be enemies or allies, regular folk or named monsters. However, new DMs who want a DM-PC are usually just unfamiliar with the concept playing the game without controlling a character. What you need to realise as a DM is that you already get to control multiple characters: every NPC in your campaign.
Can a new DM have a DMPC?
A new DM such as yourself should not have a DMPC. The DM already has the biggest job at the table, and it takes an experienced DM to handle the DM job well while also dividing their attention with a PC of their own. Aside from being a distraction, a DMPC brings special problems and risks of its own:
