Desthro's page

DM/GM PCs
---------
DM/GM PCs have a place at any table, but like with all things DM/GM you have to implement it correctly. People can say it is a bad idea, but sometimes it is completely and totally necessary, and it really does depend on the the DM/GM's skill, and their ability to unfold a story. I happen to know a wonderful GM/DM who is also an incredible player, and every game that I have been involved in where there has been a DM/GM PC with him, it has never failed to be a more than excellent experience. Some might disagree with me, but I've yet to experience a negative outcome when he introduces a DM/GM PC. If anything, they are NPCs that we get to interact with every waking moment.

Reasons to have a DM/GM PC
--------------------------
There are a multitude of reasons to have one in the player party. The aforementioned GM/DM and myself are playing a game via E-mail that only has one player, me. Having a GM/DM controlled PC is almost inevitable in that case, as my character will inevitably make friends, recruit other adventurers, etc.

Plot-level characters. I have two DM/GM PCs that I use to drive plot in a far-reaching universal campaign. PCs have been built and screwed by them so many times that the players don't even know if they should trust them or not, which is as it should be (for this game.)

To experiment with homebrew material. Nothing like a good playtest than introducing that one character to the party and putting them all through their paces. (If it's underwhelming and the party is being threatened, you can always 'adjust' the combat in the player's favor, and likewise if the character is too strong!)

To have fun. Being a DM/GM is a lot of hard, and rewarding, work, and I know many a DM/GM that DM/GM exclusively for a very long while. It's nice to be able to play both aspects of a campaign you are running. A lot of what I read in this thread comes from a player perspective, but what about the DM/GM perspective? Usually I find very little to support the DM/GM with their difficult work from their players.

Leadership. This is a touchy subject, but I played a character where her background included her being married to a semi-important NPC. The DM said that if I wanted him to tag along in the party, I would need to take the Leadership feat. I agreed, but he needed to RP the spouse, because RPing both ends of that seemed difficult to me. He agreed, and a DM/GM PC in the party was born. (Sort of.)

Conclusion
----------
I am sure there are a LOT more reasons to have such a character in the party. Given the DM/GMs purview of things, it is easy to overshadow the players and make mistakes. A good group will let you know how they are feeling and what you can do to improve. That's what friends are for. You don't get good at something by thinking about riding a bike, you go and ride the bike and fall down a lot. Storytelling skills are no different. DM/DM PCs are not really any different than NPCs that stick around a REALLY long time, and if the DM/GM likes them, he/she may use them to play in a game where he/she isn't the DM/GM. Help build the skills of your DM/GM through effective communication, and not only will your experience improve, but your skill as a player will improve as well.