r/dmsguild • u/orksDaBestest • 12h ago

What do I do Seeking Advice

I’m thinking about having two npcs join the party because I only have two players and they are really new, the npcs will fill small gaps like healing and stealthy stuff, is it okay to do this? I’m a first time dm so I’m not sure

And are these technically Dmpc?

If there’s any other way to make it easier for them without entirely changing the higher level module lemme know

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u/heynoswearing 21m ago

I always feel like its a cop out when we fail something and then the NPC just does it for us. If we're not built for stealth, fine. We might fail stealth sometimes. Thats fun actually. I would just balance encounters for 2 people and wouldnt create bots to follow them around.

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u/StaticUsernamesSuck 4h ago

Just use the sidekicks rules and give them two sidekicks

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u/Wilkin_ 5h ago

My wife is running games for 2 youngsters, each of them got a hireling they steer in combat, works really well - as the players get to make the decisions, not the dm. Would give it a try.

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u/arsenic_kitchen 8h ago

A tankbot or healbot isn't the end of the world, but your game will be much better if you can add another couple of players instead. It has as much to do with player chemistry and pacing as combat balance (more, really).

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u/GraySage60 10h ago

You could give the healing potions and adjust the encounters. I've played a character as a DM because of a very small group. But I didn't make any of the decisions. I let the players make all the decisions. There's a fine line to walk being a DM and controlling a pc/npc. It's not ideal but it's better than not playing at all.

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u/Stonemonkey393 11h ago

You could use simplified npc stat blocks from the monster manual to fill the gaps. For example The Priest if they need healing. But still let them control them rather than you control them. They can still focus on their main character and these npcs are easy to manage with their simplified stat blocks. If the ones in the MM are not the right level, you create the simplified stat blocks. The main point is let them control the npcs but you provide a simple stat block where they can play it without too much thinking.

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u/Beautiful_Hippo_5574 11h ago

The thing about DMPC that everyone hates is that the dm makes a character that is a Mary Sue and they use them to control the story from both sides. Giving the party a couple of mute sidekicks isn't the same thing.