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InDungeons & Dragons, different optional rules are outlined for the Dungeon Master (DM) that could be included in campaigns, both short and long. One of these rules focuses on loyalty. More specifically, NPC party members' loyalty towards a group of adventures.
But what exactly is loyalty, and how could you measure it for an NPC? After all, they do whatever the DM wants, right? Well, this is a system to ensure that there are bonuses, as well as consequences, for how that NPC is treated, making the character feel more alive. It’s perfect for setting up for some big story moments, good and bad.
What Is Loyalty In D&D?
Loyalty isan optional rule that DMs can choose to implementin their games. So it isin no way necessary to haveif it doesn’t seem to fit your campaign or how you are running it. But, if it is something that sounds like it would work for your group,it is a way of tracking the mindset of an NPCwho is traveling with the group.
If an NPC remains loyal to the party, they will be helpful by fighting alongside the party, aiding with tasks and quests, and if they are extremely loyal,may even lay their life on the linefor your party. This can create some epic moments that tug at the heartstrings of your players orsome cinematic endingfor their beloved friend.
And, as you’re able to imagine,if the party treats an NPC poorlyby exhibiting abusive behavior toward them, treating them without any regard for their life or happiness, thenthat can lead the NPC to betray the party, sell them out, leave, etc.
How Does Loyalty Work?
There is a suggested system for tracking NPC loyalty.This is based on a numeric scale, ranging from zero to 20,the higher number being that the NPC is very loyal to the partyand would sacrifice themselves for the players.
The NPC will have a maximum loyalty scoreequal to the party’s highest Charisma scoreamong the players. The NPC’s starting loyalty would thenbe half of that number, allowing room for you to raise and lower the scorefrom there.
The optional rule for loyalty is located in theDungeon Master’s Guide on page 93.
Tracking And Changing Loyalty
Now that you have your baseline for loyalty in the party, you’ll want tobegin keeping track of how it raises, lowers, or does bothas time goes on.
If the party works together with the NPCand helps them reach a goal, gifts them wonderous items, or anything above and beyond just traveling and working together,you’ll roll 1d4 and add the result to the NPC’s loyalty score.
Likewise,if the party does something that upsets that NPCand goes against some of their core beliefs, thenyou will roll 1d4 and subtract that from the current loyalty score.
If the treatment the NPC receivesis worse than this, you would insteadroll 2d4 and subtract it. Here is a brief list of some of the things that would cause that outcome:
Track NPC loyaltyin secret. The partyshouldn’t know exactly where the loyalty lieswith their NPC. Instead, they should roleplay organically, not knowing which way the character is leaning.
Naturally,it is up to you as a DMto decide what else might add to or subtract from a loyalty score. You can have this based onquirks, ideals, alignments, backstory, or historywith the party. While it is a rule with an official way to count and track loyalty points, the beautiful thing about D&D isyou can alter the rule to best fit your needs.
Ways You Can Implement Loyalty In Your Game
While thebook’s main example is an NPC who travels with the party, there are, of course,other ways you can incorporate loyalty into your game.You can follow the book and have that be the main way you address and deal with loyalty. You can apply itto NPCs the party talks with a lot and key figures, and depending on how grand your adventure is, you can apply it to towns, cities, and the like.
Following The Book
If you do have eithera hirelingor another kind of NPC following your group, fighting beside them, exploring with them, and so on, thenfollowing the book can be your best option. It will bea simple, straightforward guide to this NPCstaying loyal and either working hard to help the party, or secretly working against the party.
Your biggest focus, if you’re following the book, will then beto decide the consequences or rewards for the playersandhow they treat this character. The rewards don’t have to be physical, butideas for how the NPC will repay the party. As for consequences, here are a few ideas:
Even if you are following the book,you can still alter some of the rules. As an example, lets say that your party and NPC have been getting along well. There’s been no ill-treatment orany reason for the NPC to dislike the player characters. But, in a quest they are undertaking, you present the party with a terrible situation.
They cansave the NPC’s family memberorsave another person, either important to the story or the party and they choose the latter.
Instead of making that a 2d4 roll to decide the loyalty penalty,you have it instantly drop to zero. The party doesn’t know, andthe NPC can deceive themby saying nothing has changed and they understand why the choice was made. Meanwhile, they begin plotting how they bring the party down.
Applying Loyalty To Non-Adventuring NPCs
Now, this is in no way saying you should track loyalty for every NPC your party comes across. But you may use it forpeople that the party is either in constant contact with or very important connectionsthey have. In my campaign, the party was in direct contact with the Queen of their country. Their relationship was going well, but then the party carried out a heist against a casino that caused the death of several innocent people.
In this case,the Queen’s loyalty toward the party droppedfrom regarding them highly to wanting to bring their relationship to a close. The party had saved her son’s life, soshe remained loyal enough not to immediately turn the party inbut dismissed them as people she could not rely on any further.
You, of course, don’t have to use this only with royalty or political contacts, but can withany NPC that has a working relationship with the party. Or evena romantic relationship.
If there is an enchanter the party always goes to for magic items, there’s no reason you may’thave a loyalty counter in the background. Then, in a big battle, the enchanter can join and aid the partyif they reach maximum loyalty. Or, if the partycauses that loyalty to be low, the enchanter can join up with the villain the party is facing down.
Loyalty Of Large Populations
Maybe your party isn’t questing with individuals, but insteadhold positions of powerin a large city, or even the country. In this case, you may avoid having loyalty counters with individuals andfocus more on whether local populations would be loyalto them.
It can be tracked the same. Have a zero to 20 scale, rolling your d4’s when something is done to bolster or hinder loyalty.
But, of course, that means thatthe benefits and consequences have to be more grandto match the circumstances.Do farmers go on strike, causing a famine?after your party gives a rousingwartime speechand promises benefits to volunteers? The bonuses and consequences are endless as they will have toapply to your campaignand what’s currently happening.
Altering Loyalty Rules
It was touched on previously, butyou can alter and change the rulesto best apply to your game. While many players may not include loyalty at all, there may beaspects about it you think would be helpfulin your campaign.
You can alter the scale it is tracked on, what causes loyalty shifts, andanything that makes your job as a DM easier. No D&D campaign is one size fits all, so the rules don’t have to be either.Only you know what will and won’t helpyou achieve your goals or help your players. Or keep them in check.
