D&D 5E Aasimar guide (uh, the angel guide for the race, not a guide to being an aasimar)

[Not a Hobbit]

Dear ENworlders:

So of course it would happen to this first time, insecure, and easily flustered DM that one of the players wants to play an Aasimar paladin. That's great, I like paladins and I like Aasimar. But...

One of the perks of the race is that she has a spiritual guide to help her along. So how exactly does a DM go about playing this NPC? The paladin is a paladin of Selune, so we figured that she received messages in her dreams (great). So far I've been pretty cryptic; she had a vision of the town where the campaign begins, and she has been advised to "follow the path to the end".

I want to be able to provide more, but I don't want her to feel as if she is being railroaded into doing what I (the DM) want her to do. How can I achieve this balance. I thought of the warlock's patrons, but they can be more deceiving, or even flat out dishonest, instead of true good as the angel guide would be.

Any guidance would be appreciated.

Thanks.

--Scott

PS-I would like to thank all who offered suggestions and advice on my overly complex political world. I did ask the players and they all seemed pretty okay with me just giving them information as we went along. They seem interested in learning more about what is going on. Hopefully that will continue.

 

[cbwjm]

Honestly, I think what you've done so far is great. Another idea might be with the introduction of an NPC, depending on how you want it to go down, of course. You could send a dream of an NPC that will help the party, the paladin will trust them because she received a dream of them. Optionally, a dream of an NPC that they shouldn't trust. This would be especially good for an NPC in a position of power, perhaps a town mayor beloved by his people is shown in a dream as deceitful. Suddenly, you would have the paladin's player mistrustful of the NPC but unable to do anything as everyone else considers them to be an upstanding citizen.

 

[MechaTarrasque]

Another option is one I call "familiarity breeds contempt." I wouldn't use it for every player or every campaign, but if the guide showed up in the dreams every night (and only gave advice in aphorism of the day style: January 31st, be kind to strangers; February 1st, wash behind your ears), then the aasimar isn't being railroaded, because it is just background noise. Every so once in a while have the guide be really forceful about the aphorism, then that can lead to something.

If your group is open to being a little un-PC (politically correct) or is a little hipster, fortune cookie style aphorisms work really well, and pretty soon the players may start suggesting them to you.

 

[Lanliss]

By my reading Rail roading is exactly what the guide is meant to do. "Follow this quest from on high, or face ominous nightmares and restless sleep" is the route I would go with it.

 

[Savage Wombat]

If your player is really (really) into role-playing and character development - find out what the character wants to do and create a goal for the angelic guide that is in conflict with that. Voila, dramatic tension.

 

[Dustin Stinnett]

So like
My pc had a tough battle
The aasimar had a super close run with death (2 death fails right off the bat, then while the party failed 4 med checks the pc ended up getting all 3 successes. With everyone screaming of course)
But anyway
While they were unconscious they have a dream about seeming their guide
Who is practical and light hearted
She's going to be standing there in the too and ask if they are having a tough day
Then tell them to get back out there to fight the evil, and swing a mace at their chest and when they get hit they wake up with the big Gasp of air .
Also transforming because the fight just ended and everyone became lvl 3

 

[The Thrasson]

Selune is served by the Shards. Shinning blue haired females, who are actually planetars. The paladin could see them in his dreams. Since Selune is strongly associated with the moon, maybe have the guidance only happen on a special phase of the moon. You don't have to give the guidance all the time. As a DM, give yourself a break.

Don't forget that Selune is chaotic. In older editions, she had good and neutral lycanthropes in her portfolio. If the paladin is lawful, there could be conflict between him and his guide.

 

[Leatherhead]

Soooo, do we know who the Paladins Parents are? Because nightly chats with dear old Mom could be interesting to RP.

Aside from that: In addition to being the best person to hand out a clue if the party ever gets stuck on something, this is the perfect opportunity to introduce sidequests.

You can even combine the two!

 

[gyor]

Selune is served by the Shards. Shinning blue haired females, who are actually planetars. The paladin could see them in his dreams. Since Selune is strongly associated with the moon, maybe have the guidance only happen on a special phase of the moon. You don't have to give the guidance all the time. As a DM, give yourself a break.

Don't forget that Selune is chaotic. In older editions, she had good and neutral lycanthropes in her portfolio. If the paladin is lawful, there could be conflict between him and his guide.

In 5e even a Chaotic Good deities Angels are Lawful Good, I think because they always follow the God's orders. Still a CG God's Angels might appear Chaotic at times because the law they follow is created by a being who is Chaotic.

 

[Cap'n Kobold]

I would check with the player of the aasimar PC. Find out whether they want occasional cryptic guidance, or to roleplay with the guide as an NPC regularly.