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.
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.
A D&D DMPC Should Have A Good Reason To Be In The Campaign
Consistency is an important rule to apply in any campaign. If the plot is disted, 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 areas that the party travels to can feel like the DM just splashing something in rather than planning it out. The DMPC's appearances need to have a purpose in some way.
Think of ways to weave the DMPC's appearances with the story. If the party is on the trail of a villain, a good DMPC could be a knight or bounty hunter that is following the same enemy. The party could then share information if the DMPC is friendly, or gain a renewed desire to track down the villain if the DMPC is more of a rival. Likewise, a party searching for an ancient treasure could encounter a loremaster or archaeologist DMPC who could offer pieces of their own knowledge once the party has shown their skills. A good DMPC can also provide interesting encounters during travel in D&D to add more flavor to the party's journey.
A DMPC needs to make sense in both flavor and role for the campaign that they appear in. Be they ally, opponent, or somewhere in between, they should play a role in advancing the storyline and keeping the players invested. A good DMPC will always have a reason to show up when they do, and the scene should leave an impact when they leave.
A DMPC In D&D Should Have A Meaningful Dynamic With The Party
One can spend hours crafting a DMPC's backstory and motivations, but if they don't have decent interactions with the party, then most of that hard work isn't going to come across. The DMPC is a part of the Dungeon Master's world, and like everything else in that world, the party's reactions will have a significant effect. After all, player characters in tabletop RPGs don't always make sensible choices, and the Dungeon Master needs to be flexible as a result. Nevertheless, if the DMPC isn't memorable or enjoyable, then they won't be adding anything of worth to the campaign.
The DM should take the party, their personalities, and their roleplaying styles into when planning interactions with the DMPC. The DMPC should be able to play a role in their encounters that makes their meetings feel special. For a party that likes joking around, a quick-witted DMPC who can match words with their repartee would be a solid choice. Likewise, a party who greatly enjoys combat may appreciate the company of a fellow warrior that they can match their skills against, possibly with a wager on the line. There are several places where D&D characters can find information or a bit of fun, and most of them could be used to introduce a DMPC in a fun and creative way.
A DMPC is supposed to be a fun part of the campaign, and ideally, the party will enjoy their appearances in the adventure. The best way to accomplish this is to make sure that the DMPC is tailored for a role that lets them interact with the party in interesting ways that the players find fun. After all, the goal of Dungeons & Dragons is to be a fun game, and the DMPC should be a part of that goal.
The DMPC's Role In A D&D Campaign Should Lead To Something
Ultimately, the DMPC isn't the main character of the campaign, and the time will come when the party has their last interaction with them. Endgame is crucial in every D&D campaign because it is where everything the party has done culminates, including whatever the DMPC has been involved in. If they have played a significant role, then there will be extra pressure to make sure that their sendoff is executed well. Sometimes, the DMPC's biggest impact will be in the players' last impression of them.
While a DMPC's final scene doesn't need to be the biggest moment of the campaign, it should be a meaningful sendoff. For example, near the end of the campaign, the final villain could directly threaten the hub city of the campaign. They send a recurring enemy to the city, where said villain takes on a monstrous transformation for an epic Dungeons & Dragons boss fight where the party and DMPC must work together to defend the city. Following the battle, the DMPC could elect to stay behind, either due to injury or to help repair the city. Either way, their role is done, and they go out on a high note with the party.
If the DM wants players to be invested in their interactions with the DMPC, then they need to put in the work to make sure that it amounts to something. A small story arc with a recurring character that doesn't derail the main plot too much can add to the enjoyment of an adventure and make the campaign setting feel more like a living world. A satisfying end to a DMPC's involvement with the story can also generate more urgency for a Dungeons & Dragons campaign in its final chapter.
A DMPC is a tricky element to incorporate into D&D campaign, but done well, it can be incredibly rewarding. Working hard to make a good DMPC that the players can have fun with can be one of the most enjoyable parts of making a campaign. With a well-made DMPC, a Dungeons & Dragons campaign can be elevated into something fantastic.
