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From: patrick@mcc-db2.UUCP (Patrick McGehearty)
Newsgroups: net.games.frp
Subject: Re: multiple characters
Message-ID: <369@mcc-db2.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 8-Jan-86 10:19:19 EST
Article-I.D.: mcc-db2.369
Posted: Wed Jan  8 10:19:19 1986
Date-Received: Thu, 9-Jan-86 03:08:14 EST
References: <688@ihlts.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: MCC (Austin, TX)
Lines: 32

It is obvious from all the discussion that the issue of whether
to have multiple characters has more than one point of view.

In my most recent campaign (mid-level 6-9), I was concerned that
if each person had only one character, and that character died
in an irrecoverable way (ie eaten by a Remoraz or failed raise roll)
that individual would be at a long term disadvantage to the
rest of the group if he/she were forced to start over with
a low level character.  Having observed that this sort of
disadvantage has caused people to lose interest in a campaign
caused me to look for a solution.  However, I felt that
characters in the mid-levels need lots of attention to be
run well (especially spell casters).  Therefore, I did not
want to have two or more characters per person.
So I created several party NPCs.  These characters are one or
more levels below the party average, but still useful.
During normal adventuring, they are run by people who
are not part of the current critical action.  I only intervene
if they are placed in obvious extreme risk or seem to be
getting shorted during treasure division.  In this way, if
some person's prime character is wiped out, they can immediately
assume a new character.  Of course, losing a couple of levels
is still painful and an incentive not to be too rash.
So far (100+ playing hours) they have not lost a party member.
(Several close calls)  Since they do not seem to need the
full set of auxilaries that were provided, I am gradually
finding excuses to semi-retire them.  Then they are known
to the group as reliable adventurers, but not always along
to get a share of loot and take up playing time.

Anybody else tried any novel solutions to the multiple character
per person problem?