Re: Npc overload!!
I agree with Vondy's post and would like to expand on something mentioned in passing: the communal campaign blog. This is an electronic descendant of Aaron Allston's concept of "Blue Booking," published in his Strike Force campaign sourcebook (Hero Games # 42, published by Iron Crown Enterprises, 1988, p. 12.).
A communal blog would allow players who wish to do so, including the GM, an avenue to depict the off-stage activities that so often bore the wits out of the combat junkies: internal monologues, NPC interactions, romantic moments and other subplots. With reasonably mature, trustworthy players, it can even be a way to run solo adventures without leaving the other players watching DVDs and chasing snacks. Events that occur on the blog stage can be mentioned in passing, and events that are covered by a single die roll can be expanded. The GM would not be expected to give a bonus to experience for posting to the communal blog unless such a bonus was declared as a feature of the campaign from the blog's inception.
The communal blog adds depth and texture to the campaign world, allows players to contribute to the creativity and may even turn the spotlight on some of those NPCs who get crowded out when the fight gets heated.
