History Main / GMPC

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Not to be confused with [[UsefulNotes/{{UNIX}} Gnome]] Music Player Client.

* Mostly averted in ''WebVideo/CriticalRole'', but DM Creator/MatthewMercer will occasionally control an allied NPC (or an absent player character) in certain battles if the story works out that way. It's not until the final arc of the second season that a GMPC becomes a permanent member of the party, and it's mostly through player actions that [[spoiler:Essek Thelyss]] becomes a SixthRanger to the Mighty Nein and even joins them in the final battle, with Matt displaying a very impressive feat of DM'ing by keeping a powerful mage in character ''without'' overshadowing the rest of the party. Matt also has an infamous story about why he became a Dungeon Master, and it mostly boils down to his previous DM abusing his GMPC's privileges.

* Mostly averted in ''WebVideo/CriticalRole'', but DM Creator/MatthewMercer will occasionally control an allied NPC (or an absent player character) in certain battles if the story works out that way. Matt also has an infamous story about why he became a Dungeon Master, and it mostly boils down to his previous DM abusing his GMPC's privileges. It takes nearly 250 episodes before one NPC is attached to, travels with, fights with and is inducted into the main party.
** The second season eventually has [[spoiler: Essek]], who essentially becomes a SixthRanger to the team and even joins them in the final battle. Matt managing to keep a ''very'' powerful mage both in character and not overshadowing any of the party is a feat to behold.

* In ''LightNovel/SwordArtOnline'':

* ''Film/TheGamers: Dorkness Rising'': Sir Osric is a [[ThePaladin Paladin]] and therefore honour-bound to curb the [=PCs=]' amoral-to-homicidal impulses, which causes resentment among the players (and [[PlayerCharacters characters]]) for the "babysitter". Ultimately a {{Reconstruction}} as the GM learns to have more faith in his players and develops Sir Osric's personality accordingly, while the players become more invested in the story and ''slightly'' less prone to hijinks. [[spoiler:Ultimately, one player character uses her divinely-granted wish to bring Osric back from the dead -- a major milestone in roleplaying for the group.]]

* While not quite a fit in this section, the ''Roleplay/MSFHighForum'' has a few of these. Mitchell, current head GM, is known for trying to make sure his stay out of the fight, especially at climaxes. For instance, Michelle was busy fighting her evil twin in an ultimately irrelevant battle (And lost), and includes one in his planned Mahou Galaxy adventure, and Legion-based online game.

However, it's all too easy to screw up the GMPC, especially since the Game Master also controls the game world and plot. Thus, the GMPC has a tendency to turn into a plot device to [[{{Railroading}} keep the players on track]], stopping them from going OffTheRails. Even worse, the GM can take too much of a liking to his PC, and the character slowly but surely turns into a MarySue: defeating all the enemies singlehandedly, doing all the cool stuff, and gradually reducing the players to [[SpotlightStealingSquad supporting roles]]. He might also set up the adventure [[ThisLooksLikeAJobForAquaman to suit his character]], without considering the others.

* Mostly averted in ''WebVideo/CriticalRole'', but DM Creator/MatthewMercer will occasionally control an allied NPC (or an absent player character) in certain battles if the story works out that way. Matt also has an infamous story about why he became a Dungeon Master, and it mostly boils down to his previous DM abusing his GMPC's privileges.

* ''TabletopGame/MaidRPG'' is a sendup of the entire {{Meido}} trope in which the [=GMPC=] "Master" can have a powerful artifact known as the [[Manga/DeathNote Desu]] [[MemeticMutation Note]]. ...Do I really need to say it? The players' effectiveness depends on seeking out (or contending for) the Master's approval. On the other hand, the way the rules are set up, Masters tend to be pretty helpless in everyday situations (for the game's definition of "everyday"), and players usually have an explicit power to randomly derail plots they don't like, so it balances out: even the author's self-insert GMPC gets accidentally killed by his maids. Twice.

There ''is'' a middle ground, a GMPC who behaves pretty much the same as most player characters, but you don't seem to hear much about them. Presumably because they don't make as exciting stories. A GMPC may be employed temporarily to stop new players from killing themselves before they've learned. It can also occur legitimately in a campaign where the role of GM rotates among the players.

(It should be noted though, in general, a GMPC in any game isn't going to solve any issues, come up with ideas, or take charge of any plot important situation the GM has set up for the player to do (unless he's not a very good GM prone to RailRoading). Normally, this is fine when they're just an equal to you mook; this can get comical and bizarre if the GMPC is supposed to be your superior and/or a wizened, experienced character and the GM needs them to be incompetent, silent, or magically not available during crucial moments meant to be handled by the PC.)

* Several in the ''Literature/BinderOfShame''. For example, in "Achy Breaky Mythos," the GM had the players all play academics who had a "mutual friend," the adventurer Dick Marvil. The page quote came after Dick Marvil casually snapped the necks of nightgaunts who the [=PCs=] couldn't even scratch.

* In the D&D-themed ''Videogame/{{Borderlands 2}}'' DLC ''Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon Keep'', White Knight Roland serves this role, often appearing in the story just because Tina says so. The other players aren't very happy about this, partly because he's more or less a plot device and because [[spoiler:he's a clear sign that Tina is in denial of the real Roland's death. However, the ending shows that his character is meant to be a tribute to Roland, ultimately having a better fate than his ignoble death at the hands of Handsome Jack.]]

!!Examples of TabletopGames requiring [=GMPCs=]:

* ''TabletopGame/BlissStage'''s Authority Figure is one of these. Notable as one of the possible results of getting to OneHundredAndEight points of Bliss is for a Pilot to mutiny and take over LaResistance: If this happens, that pilot's player ''must'' become the new GM!