Ever thought about having players volunteer as NPCs?

[vashala]

So you've got this big event going on and only one or two DMs to run it. What if you had other players who wanted to help, but were not necessarily at the correct level to play along? well, seeing as how this is a roleplay server in a fantasy setting, why not cut the ribbons to allow for NPC volunteers just like a LARP event!? The DMs could post somewhere on the forums about what character they need and at what time, then a player could volunteer for the position via PM. on the day or weekend of the event, the player logs on with that NPC and [tell]s the DM they're on. Thus, the DM could level that character appropriately and teleport them to where they need them to go!

At the end of the day, the DM could potentially award those NPC players experience to the characters of their choice. That way no one feels like a pawn, but instead a 'paid' actor!

How's that for an idea at 8:00am in the morning?

[Charraj]

Nah.

Playing NPCs is almost never a problem for DMs. Usually, DMs only need this kind of help if the players split into two groups and go to two different areas. And in such a case, it's infinitely more helpful to just get one more DM to help out.

Also, there still remains the issue that this idea would mean awarding free levels to players (probably players who are chummy with DMs). This has caused frustrating problems in the past, and I personally have absolutely no desire to see those problems come up again.

Besides, the only scenario in which a DM would need to give free levels to an "NPC" is if that "NPC" were going to fight the players. Can of PvP worms? No thanks. Believe it or not, this has been tried before, with less than stellar results.

Also, the player might act out his/her role in a way contrary to what the DM had in mind.

Soooo... yeah. I know you just want to be helpful, and maybe on another server it would work. But here, my gut instinct is "oh hellz no."