Complete Book of NPC`s [Archive] - Wizards Community

Complete Book of NPC`s [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
warghoul
02-16-07, 03:13 AM Me and a good friend is working on a book of nonplayer characters. I`m just fishing for some ideas. We want to have a book that lists the stats and abilities for your basic npc (farmer, porter, barkeep, baker, town guard, and ect.). I`m wondering besides ability scores what else should be included?
I`m thinking a few lines for flavor.
bonethug0108
02-16-07, 03:24 AM Maybe include a basic rundown of their average day. Such as a farmer's chores or what a guard does when he's off or on duty.
warghoul
02-16-07, 04:07 AM Thanks for the good input.
bonethug0108
02-16-07, 04:10 AM No problem.:)

Can't think of any other real flavor, unless you want to add specifics about an individual. I take it this is meant to be more generic, though.
warghoul
02-16-07, 04:26 AM Pretty generic. wanting a good book for Dm`s. you need a few 'locals' flip to page 22 or something.
Seeker95
02-16-07, 09:01 AM Check out some of the other books on NPCs that are out there. They work well for me so far.

I would suggest that you limit each NPC to no more than half a page. I rarely need more information than that. 2 NPCs per page can go a long way.

Or...

One NPC per page, with one set of stats but then add "NPC by two by five by five" -- on each page, offer five male names and five female names, five two sentence backgrounds, and five equipment packages. Each page would essentially have 50 slightly different NPCs by mixing and matching.
Leress
02-16-07, 04:08 PM There was an NPC book called "Everyone Else" it was a book of all kinds of regular people.
Tusalu
02-16-07, 05:00 PM Just what the game needed.
How often don´t you sit and try to calculate what sleight of hand modifier a pickpocket has, or the attack bonus of a bandit, or the fortitude save of a beggar.
Iddig Ap Nil
02-16-07, 05:51 PM I'm the good friend, my original idea was ability scores, basic skills and feats (if any), how they fit into the society in general, and brief, very generic background story that the DM could use to flesh out the character, with the thought that Bubba the Hog Driver may become a recurring NPC and can be expanded upon later by the DM.

(if that makes any sense, I'm presently at work and am distracted with the upcoming newscasts)
bonethug0108
02-16-07, 06:39 PM I'm the good friend, my original idea was ability scores, basic skills and feats (if any), how they fit into the society in general, and brief, very generic background story that the DM could use to flesh out the character, with the thought that Bubba the Hog Driver may become a recurring NPC and can be expanded upon later by the DM.

(if that makes any sense, I'm presently at work and am distracted with the upcoming newscasts)

It makes perfect sense. It sure sounds useful.
TwiddleStootch
02-16-07, 07:45 PM well ability score should be 10s and 11s, + or - racial modifiers and skills should include Profession (What ever it is they do) and some others that relate to their job, Intimidate for guards, handle animal for a farmer, Craft skills for craftsmen, Knowledge (Local) for the barkeep and the like.
Feats would probably be Skill Focus with some of their skills, or some of the +2/+2 skill feats to add flavor
IrishRover
02-17-07, 11:55 PM I like the idea of having a few ordinary folks statted out. Include 3 versions of each at different levels, like in the Fight Club and such.

Also include some semi-ordinary adventurer types. Too many NPC's are strange; ordinary fighters or sorcerers and such are uncommon.

Some of these people should be the rogue that never leaves Waterdeep, the Guard Captain, the Ranger that usually stays in her home woods, the dwarven fighter that has a ton of experinace fighting against typical dwarven enemies, but wouldn't recognise the demon Lord until it introduced itself .

This is the sort of NPC that we could use more of--ones that are powerful, important, but not necessarily fun to build.

Give them motives, perahspa secret or two to make them interesing.

(And, of course, by filing off the serial numbers and giving them a new paint job, they can be used again.)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
warghoul 02-16-07, 03:13 AM	Me and a good friend is working on a book of nonplayer characters. I`m just fishing for some ideas. We want to have a book that lists the stats and abilities for your basic npc (farmer, porter, barkeep, baker, town guard, and ect.). I`m wondering besides ability scores what else should be included? I`m thinking a few lines for flavor.
bonethug0108 02-16-07, 03:24 AM	Maybe include a basic rundown of their average day. Such as a farmer's chores or what a guard does when he's off or on duty.
warghoul 02-16-07, 04:07 AM	Thanks for the good input.
bonethug0108 02-16-07, 04:10 AM	No problem.:) Can't think of any other real flavor, unless you want to add specifics about an individual. I take it this is meant to be more generic, though.
warghoul 02-16-07, 04:26 AM	Pretty generic. wanting a good book for Dm`s. you need a few 'locals' flip to page 22 or something.
Seeker95 02-16-07, 09:01 AM	Check out some of the other books on NPCs that are out there. They work well for me so far. I would suggest that you limit each NPC to no more than half a page. I rarely need more information than that. 2 NPCs per page can go a long way. Or... One NPC per page, with one set of stats but then add "NPC by two by five by five" -- on each page, offer five male names and five female names, five two sentence backgrounds, and five equipment packages. Each page would essentially have 50 slightly different NPCs by mixing and matching.
Leress 02-16-07, 04:08 PM	There was an NPC book called "Everyone Else" it was a book of all kinds of regular people.
Tusalu 02-16-07, 05:00 PM	Just what the game needed. How often don´t you sit and try to calculate what sleight of hand modifier a pickpocket has, or the attack bonus of a bandit, or the fortitude save of a beggar.
Iddig Ap Nil 02-16-07, 05:51 PM	I'm the good friend, my original idea was ability scores, basic skills and feats (if any), how they fit into the society in general, and brief, very generic background story that the DM could use to flesh out the character, with the thought that Bubba the Hog Driver may become a recurring NPC and can be expanded upon later by the DM. (if that makes any sense, I'm presently at work and am distracted with the upcoming newscasts)
bonethug0108 02-16-07, 06:39 PM	I'm the good friend, my original idea was ability scores, basic skills and feats (if any), how they fit into the society in general, and brief, very generic background story that the DM could use to flesh out the character, with the thought that Bubba the Hog Driver may become a recurring NPC and can be expanded upon later by the DM. (if that makes any sense, I'm presently at work and am distracted with the upcoming newscasts) It makes perfect sense. It sure sounds useful.
TwiddleStootch 02-16-07, 07:45 PM	well ability score should be 10s and 11s, + or - racial modifiers and skills should include Profession (What ever it is they do) and some others that relate to their job, Intimidate for guards, handle animal for a farmer, Craft skills for craftsmen, Knowledge (Local) for the barkeep and the like. Feats would probably be Skill Focus with some of their skills, or some of the +2/+2 skill feats to add flavor
IrishRover 02-17-07, 11:55 PM	I like the idea of having a few ordinary folks statted out. Include 3 versions of each at different levels, like in the Fight Club and such. Also include some semi-ordinary adventurer types. Too many NPC's are strange; ordinary fighters or sorcerers and such are uncommon. Some of these people should be the rogue that never leaves Waterdeep, the Guard Captain, the Ranger that usually stays in her home woods, the dwarven fighter that has a ton of experinace fighting against typical dwarven enemies, but wouldn't recognise the demon Lord until it introduced itself . This is the sort of NPC that we could use more of--ones that are powerful, important, but not necessarily fun to build. Give them motives, perahspa secret or two to make them interesing. (And, of course, by filing off the serial numbers and giving them a new paint job, they can be used again.)