Need a way to add an adult to a cast of teenagers

I'm writing an RPG and I've got a main group of three 17 and 18 year olds. There's a man in his mid-20s that joins the party and begins traveling with them for personal (albeit benevolent) reasons he doesn't share right away. He's a major character, so I don't want something like a Fire Emblem-esque conversation that makes him join and then his presence is almost completely glossed over.

I need a good excuse for him to make or way for the kids to ask him along that seems realistic and not weird. Any ideas? Any RP Gs or fantasy works where something like this has occurred that you can suggest to me so I can take a look at?

Sounds almost exactly like the non-fanservice reason behind the nurse joining in High School Of The Dead - and similar ages, too. In that case, the mid-20s nurse joined because it's the freaking Zombie Apocalypse and one of the students saved her, then enforced by the fact that she's a) the only one who knows how to drive and b) the only one with medical training. Also a plot point where c) she takes them to a friend's house, where they acquire their guns, ammo, and much better vehicle.

As for your game, I'd recommend that they invite/bring him along because he has something that they need and don't have, probably some skill or knowledge (such as a or b above) that will clearly make their travel easier. It will also help if he has some kind of tie to the group that's not Shipping related; while a couple who are ages 18+25 isn't illegal, it will draw some attention and possibly flames.

That’s the epitome of privilege right there, not considering armed nazis a threat to your life. - Silasw

Yeah, I think I should have mentioned that he's not romantically or sexually interested in anyone in the group.

As far as ties go, he does happen to have one of sorts to the main character, but neither of the two are aware of it at this point.

The guy simultaneously has Laser-Guided Amnesia regarding certain past events and also isn't aware of the fact that he does. His joining primarily has to do with the circumstances being remarkably similar to the events he's forgotten. While he's a pretty nice guy, he's not going to just pal around with three kids for no personal benefit. His joining the party is the start of what makes the plot more than just "three kids looking for adventure".

So yeah, I think the problem is more along the lines of the kids being okay with this guy running with them and trusting him enough. If it's more that he has a skill they don't that problem disappears, so I'll look into that.

Thanks for what you've said so far, and if you or anyone else has more advice to give based on the additional information I would appreciate it.

Well, it doesn't necessarily have to be skill that he has that they want, just something. It can be a skill of some sort, but it can also be money, access to a vehicle and an appropriate driver's license or its equivalent, the ability to buy certain things without raising suspicion if the party wants and/or needs those things, and so on, and so on. Though, to be honest, at least some of it depends on the personalities of the teenage characters, because in the end it all boils down to what they think about it; if I were in your place I'd probably make a list of things each of the teenagers would look at and decide that this is a reason to allow the guy to be with them, and then just eliminate what you can't get until you have something you are comfortable with and then having the character do or have those things.

Also, and I say this now, if you play it well then it doesn't matter what ages both ends of a romance bond (so to say) are; just keep in mind that not every such bond has to end with people actually becoming a couple (what people see as romance might instead simply be a very close bond, between people comfortable with each other, based on one of the other out of The Four Loves) and you'll be fine. Now, I'm not saying that you have to include romance if you don't want to (because gratuitous romance is as tasty as muesli made of chalk and soap; that is, not at all), but some people shy from showing what looks like romance but really is just people being close with each other, and they do it because of the potential backslash from having "romance" which I think is a bit of a shame.

Oh, he very much does come to care about them, to varying degrees. He sticks around with them to the last battle.

It's worth noting that:

1.) I know I can't write a new relationship convincingly, so I'm not going to try.

2.) He's involved with someone already.

3.) I don't want shipping to be a part of the plot. The most I would be willing to have is a Love Triangle between the teens that's just in the background and doesn't really get resolved.

I'll have to think about this. Maybe if they're adventurer-types that are used to working with clients then they'd be fine with it.

That ... honestly sounds like the part I hated the most about Final Fantasy VIII. Assuming you meant alcohol here. Why are a bunch of teenagers barely old enough to be out of high school "used to working with clients"?? That part strains my ability to believe even more. It might be easier to make him a family member of some kind to one of the main characters rather than that.

That’s the epitome of privilege right there, not considering armed nazis a threat to your life. - Silasw

Didn't come for critiques on my plot just yet as it's still in development. Right now I'm just trying to work through the characters and how they fit together with the setting. What plot I do have in my head isn't quite like you've made it out to be, but it's not something I'm interested in elaborating on right now as it's not relevant to the topic at hand.

This guy is not a Squall knock-off; I have no idea where you would get that.

I should also note this is a fantasy setting, not a modern-times one. They aren't high-schoolers, there wouldn't be any restrictions on them being able to drink, and they would have been trained to fight at a young age. At this point they would have been wandering for about a year and a half. If I have to age everyone up about a year and a half I will.

edited 27th Jun '15 9:52:39 PM by HijackThis

No BlueNinja0, I did not. I meant anything that could count, as without knowing what the setting is and what exactly the characters are doing I have no idea what it could possibly be but I do know that in certain times and certain places there are things that people below a certain age simply can't buy without appearing conspicuous. Doesn't have to be alcohol, thought I guess it might be, and then again depending on the time and place nobody might actually give a damn if teenagers try to buy that so it might very well happen not to actually be about alcohol at all.