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?

Knights of Solamnia crossing castlegrounds in DND.

Knights of Solamnia via Wizards Of The Coast

After all, they do whatever the DM wants, right?

It’s perfect for setting up for some big story moments, good and bad.

What Is Loyalty In D&D?

The Vampire Strahd ambushes a party in D&D in front of his castle at night.

Drelnza by Taras Susak

Loyalty isan optional rule that DMs can choose to implementin their games.

How Does Loyalty Work?

The NPC will have a maximum loyalty scoreequal to the party’s highest Charisma scoreamong the players.

Drelnza, from Dungeons & Dragons sitting and holding a sword in both hands.

Drelnza by Taras Susak

The optional rule for loyalty is located in theDungeon Master’s Guide on page 93.

If the treatment the NPC receivesis worse than this, you would insteadroll 2d4 and subtract it.

The partyshouldn’t know exactly where the loyalty lieswith their NPC.

Kas the Betrayer looking distraught, dragging his sword behind him in DND Vecna Eve of Ruin.

The Torment of Kas by Robson Michel

Instead, they should roleplay organically, not knowing which way the character is leaning.

you could have this based onquirks, ideals, alignments, backstory, or historywith the party.

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A rogue steals treasure while her accomplices attack guards in DND.

Concept Art from Keys from the Golden Vault by Evyn Fong

The rewards don’t have to be physical, butideas for how the NPC will repay the party.

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.

Rerak, Strahd, and Vecna, from Dungeons & Dragons

But, in a quest they are undertaking, you present the party with a terrible situation.

Meanwhile, they begin plotting how they bring the party down.

In my campaign, the party was in direct contact with the Queen of their country.

DND: Dabus patrolling the city in Planescape.

Dabus Protecting the City of Doors by Terraform Studios

Or evena romantic relationship.

Then, in a big battle, the enchanter can join and aid the partyif they reach maximum loyalty.

It can be tracked the same.

The wizard Kaz and Archlich Vecna sit at a table and chat in the past, as both are regular humans at the time.

Kas and Vecna by Lily Abullina

The bonuses and consequences are endless as they will have toapply to your campaignand what’s currently happening.

Or keep them in check.

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A table of D&D players and their character counterparts from DND Player’s Handbook 2024.

D&D Player’s Around The Table by John Grello

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Dungeons & Dragons Strixhaven Curriculum Of Chaos via Wizards Of The Coast, edited to depict Pawn Stars Rick Harrison

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