Does anyone else has the problem that there seem to be a few too many NPCs in the caravan to keep them all straight and give each of them some deserved development?
The problem that most of the AP is with the PCs far away from the caravan and the NPCs doesn't particularly help with fleshing them out.
For me it's definitely the case, and I'm only halfway through the AP, we just finished book 3, and the group arrived in Ordu-Aganhai. Some of it may be my own fault, as I added two NPCs that shouldn't be there, and another hasn't left when she was supposed to, though those two are my favorites really.
Here's the NPCs I have and the problems with them:
Zaiobe: I didn't have her turn on the PCs after killing Kikonu, the way it was written was just a bit weird. In fact the party Samurai had convinced her to share the distance telepathic link with her, and during the fight against the Decapus when they were in serious trouble they called her for help. I also made her more neutral and not a Pazuzu worshipper. Though i've not really decided if Pazuzu might not be behind her curse and powers after all. Another idea I had was to make the source of her powers the Oni, and they find out more about that once they enter the House of Withered Blossoms.
She and the samurai have become close friends since then, nothing romantic or so, just platonic. It's funny seeing the reaction of townspeople sometimes when the caravan comes into town with a harpy.
They often use the telepathic link to stay in contact with the caravan when the party is away on a mission.
Shayliss Vinder: I stole her from RotRL because I really liked her there. I described it that after the events in RotRL (won't mention details) her father kept her on a super tight leash, being worried about her and all, almost never letting her out of her sight. When she heard the caravan was leaving, she ran away from home, catching up to the caravan in the last minute and begging them to take her along.
I really like her, and she's probably my most fleshed out NPC. The Samurai has sorta taken her under her wings and teaches her how to fight and survive, as she feels responsible since she allowed her to come along.
Kelda and Ulf: They barely happen to do anything really. I usually forget they're even there, unless it's something they need to do. Kelda should have left after Kalsgard but the PCs convinced her to stay and come along. I had Ulf and Kelda start a relationship during the trek over the Crown of the World and now they've announced that they'll be leaving, searching for a caravan that needs a guide into the other direction.
So luckily I'll be rid of them soon ;)
Helgarvald: That's probably my biggest problem NPC. I have absolutely no clue what to do with him. Her. It. His motivations are a real mystery to me, as is his personality really. In hindsight I wished I hadn't introduced him and have the PCs find out about the Rimerunner's Guild another way. Currently his biggest contribution is that he's the helmet for the fighter, and from time to time gets asked to Detect Evil on someone.
I think it was mentioned that he's looking for a greater source of Good that can lead him home again, so currently I'm considering that maybe after defeating the Oni in the Forest of Spirits the Kami help him with that.
Spivey: Her I kinda like, the PCs get along well with her, and she's been the NPC that accompanied them most often so far. Mostly because for a time they had no healer and figured a tiny, flying healer has a higher survivability chance than Koya.
Her main reasons so far to come along are (in no particular order) that it's fun, that the oni are evil, that the PCs are her friends and she really has nothing better to do. I figure unless she dies or something, she'll stick around to the end.
Unnamed NPCs: They also have a whole bunch of hired help, drivers, cooks and wainwright for example. They barely come up at all unless whatever it is they do matters.
They're kinda needed for the caravan to function, but they're super boring.
Probably should give them names, maybe that helps?
Now... the 4 main NPCs.
Ameiko: Obviously the "star" of the AP. Both the fighter and the samurai are wooing her, with the Samurai having a huge lead.
However it always feels like she's completely indecisive, since the AP usually has the PCs make the decissions not the NPCs. I guess that's a good thing on the one hand, but if that NPC wants to really be an Empress, it just feels weird.
Sandru: I dunno. Another one that only really comes up when it has to do with the Caravan. Hardly had time to develop him, the fact that nobody was interested in him romantically also limits his screentime, I guess.
Koya: She has a bigger role as the fortune-teller, but usually is only consulted when the PCs need a spell cast, an item identified or need to ask for information about stuff they have no Knowledge skills about themselves.
Shalelu: She got some development at the beginning when a cleric was interested in her. But since that player left the group, she hardly comes up anymore.
So... why am I writing all this?
I dunno really to be honest. Not fully at least.
Partly just to get it of my chest I suppose, because it's frustrating me a little. I would love to develop those NPCs more, but the opportunities just barely arise.
But I guess also to see if anyone probably got some advice. Should I "thin the herd" a bit and then concentrate a bit more on what's left? That would probably mean killing them, as most that I will not get rid of already would not just leave. And killing has the problem that the PCs are now level 10, so they might just decide to rezz them again.
Or maybe I just want to hear other peoples stories and experiences with that, see how they handled it.
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You can simply forget about the NPCs that don't interest the players. I don't think it harms the campaign much. They're there if you want to have someone kidnapped or threatened or murdered / turned undead to boost the reputation of a villain.
Just keeping up with the new NPCs (especially in book 5) is enough trouble.
As for 'indecisive' Ameiko, she can still look like a leader.
Ameiko: "Options, people?"
Sandru: "I propose we stick to the road because..."
Koya: "I propose we go into the forest because..."
The PCs give their opinion.
Ameiko makes the final decision, probably agreeing with the majority of the PCs.
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You can simply forget about the NPCs that don't interest the players. I don't think it harms the campaign much. They're there if you want to have someone kidnapped or threatened or murdered / turned undead to boost the reputation of a villain.
Just keeping up with the new NPCs (especially in book 5) is enough trouble.
Same here. Picture directing a movie. You do not cast for the characters that will never appear in the movies (ie, all those poor people in the faraway city that gets nuked at the beginning of the story). Just for those who do make it in the final cut (ie, the lone survivor in the city) and then you develop them only as much as needed.
This will save you time and effort you will spend on the parts of the plot and setting that your players enjoy and actually interact with.
Also I have no problem with an Emperor being a figurehead, and the players being the real powers behind the throne and making all the important decisions. That said, I like Matthews' idea as a neat solution to avoid players debating without end on the best course of action.
Most of my prep time as a GM in Jade Regent goes to think about plots involving the NPCs, so I do agree this is an issue for the AP. That said it's being very rewarding for me.
Quatar your cast of NPCs is far too huge in my opinion, what will you do when they find Miyaro, Hirabashi Jiro and Habesuta Hatsue? I think I would forget about some of the NPCs.
But if you want strategies to put more spice on your NPCs:
- Use the story of the mayor NPCs as plot hooks as much as you can: Sandru had two brothers, Alder and Jubrayl Vhiski. I made Jubrayl appear as a villain in Enganoka. I even put my pcs in Ameiko's dreams to make them play through the death of Alder Vhiski while they were fighting a few baku monsters. The dragon Shalelu killed could have some vengeful relatives.
- NPCs have feelings too and nobody said they can only fall in love with PCs: nobody was putting attention on Shalelu or Spivey on my campaign, so I made a love triangle between Shalelu, Spivey and Ulf. NPCs can ask for help to get their romantic objectives, as my Spivey did.
- Just kill'em: unfortunately is quite human to ignore the deeds of some people till they are dead. You have a huge cast of NPCs and it could be a shock for your PCs if one of the evil guys in the books kills an NPC they know in front of them. Hirabashi Jiro died in a big battle in my campaign.
My Ameiko totally behaves like Matthew suggested.