First steps, NPC inventory use?

[GM Chyro]

Hello fellow GMs,

I'm running the infamous final encounter in 1st steps. Against my expectations, i've managed a partial tpw.
Currently Deandre, as sole villain survivor, took down the wizard with nl dmg. (2x nat 20) What's left is a summoner's eagle summon and a roc companion guarding its masters body.

Deandre's at -8 out of 12. On her combat gear, a potion of CLW is mentioned, have any of you ever let the NPC use their potions?

[Duiker]

GM Chyro wrote:

Hello fellow GMs,

I'm running the infamous final encounter in 1st steps. Against my expectations, i've managed a partial tpw.
Currently Deandre, as sole villain survivor, took down the wizard with nl dmg. (2x nat 20) What's left is a summoner's eagle summon and a roc companion guarding its masters body.

Deandre's at -8 out of 12. On her combat gear, a potion of CLW is mentioned, have any of you ever let the NPC use their potions?

Of course an NPC uses their potions if tactically appropriate. Enemies aren't just hit point bags filled with loot.

[kinevon]

Just remember that using a potion, even for an NPC, takes several actions, and most, if not all of them, provoke.

I have had NPCs try to use their potion of CLW or equivalent, and get knocked out instead, even with a 5' step. Sometimes they succeed, sometimes they fail. And, sometimes, what they can do surprises the players.

Wounded Wisp:

In one of the encounters, it is possible to get a martial NPC with the Step Up feat. I did, and one of the caster PCs was ... disappointed when he wound up having to try and cast defensively despite his 5' step... Or maybe it was an archer, who had to switch weapons...

[BigNorseWolf]

I wouldn't , partially because things are bad enough, and partially because who in that crowd would YOU trust with the information that you had a very expensive potion on your person?

[GM Chyro]

The summoned eagle saved the day.

@ BigNorseWolf; i felt that was the case of being bad enough too. I was just wondering, since the 3 who got hit by colorspray would be up in the next round, which would have meant 4 vs 1.