Low Level NPC Creation - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Low Level NPC Creation

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
dkmulligan
Apr 11, 2012 11:28:28 How do? I havnt been able to find anything on making extremely distinct/memorable/interesting low level NPC's. Specifically I want them to be the leader(s) of the enemy group in our first encounter. I want them to be distinct in combat, but more than just mannerisms...It also shouldnt be more than just like oriental in a standard campaign. It should be unique but not far-fetched.
#2
terishd
Apr 11, 2012 13:54:58 He'll die. That opponent you spent over an hour getting just right, steps out, fumbles drawing his weapon, and gets a rhinestone on his gloves caught in the weave of his chain mail. The archer in the party then rolls a crit, and so much for that grand bad-guy.

On the other extreme, that kobold you set out to simply act as a cannon fodder scout takes minimum damage, and begins a barrage of terror that has the party screaming at you for making a killer dungeon.

It's a game. Have fun, and over a period of time all sorts of stories will be created.
#3
Chimpadin
Apr 12, 2012 12:40:44 Adding flavour and character to an NPC has no relation on their level. You can just take any old humanoid monster of stats you like, and add things like:

- What is this NPCs primary motivation?
- What are their favourite things/stuff they dislike
- Physical appearance - hair, skin, clothes
- Mannerisms - e.g. fast talking, always scratching, smells etc...
- Strange habits

For memorable abilities in combat, think of things the PCs will hate, such as being moved around (whips, blasts of wind, teleporting to awkward locations), damage reflection (magic barrier, human shield).

Be careful not to use these kind of things too much though, or they won't be special.
#4
DeathByDonut
Apr 12, 2012 18:23:03 It's not about how you build the NPC it's how you play them. If you want this NPC to be a reoccurring villain make him memorable. The actual stats of the whole encounter can be something as simple as using the stats for human berserker (MM 163.) surrounded by some human rabble (MM 162.) But if you play the NPC correctly the PCs will remember that NPC forever. And what makes villains memorable? Their actions, not their stats. Look at Darth Vader from Star Wars. Do we remember him because he had some awesome attacks? Maybe a little, but mostly because he blew up a planet and killed Obiwan.

Give your NPC leader a memorable name, and have the PCs find out why this guy is such a bad guy. Maybe rumors of the Dastardly Dashing Bandit Lord Dooh'nibor who is responsible for raiding caravans of foodstuffs on their way to feed orphanages. He leaves no men alive during his raids, but spares women and children. Perhaps he captures the women and children. The male children he trains to be bandits, and the women are used as slaves. Just from those last few sentences I already hate the guy with no stats involved. He could be level 1 for all I know or level 30, but just those deeds alone would have me hating the guy.

As far as mechanics go. Use some class abilities from different places that make the character interesting. If you want the guy to be a leader role, perhaps he has some buffs to bolster allies and demoralize the enemy, maybe he has a low level bard or cleric power to do so. But flavor it how you want, maybe he isn't playing a neat song, he's yelling commands in combat bolstering his allies. If you want him to have some powers that move allies or enemies use some wizard or druid powers but flavor them how you want. Instead of him casting spells to make the power happen, he uses whips to strike at the enemy.

The rules are there for a structured environment for everyone to have fun in. As the DM you can bend these rules or ignore them completely. There's nothing saying that you can't make a Bandit Leader NPC with a wizard power, bard power and fighter power on the same guy. And you can flavor those powers however you want. Like maybe you want to give the NPC the level 1 bard power "Fast Friends" (PH2 69.) (which would really upset the PCs "What do you mean I can't attack that guy right now?") You can flavor it to whatever you want, maybe it isn't a charming like effect, but an intimidation tactic? You can change the one keyword from charm to fear and give the whole power a new flavor with one minor tweak.

Anyway that's just something that I've learned over the decade+ of my DMing career. I had a BBEG I spent probably a good two hours on building once (back in the day) to give this guy unique abilities, crazy bonuses in certain situations, I wrote out common tactics that he would use in his lair, all this stuff. He died in the first round of combat before he even got a turn. While I've had minor encounters, things I threw in there to break up traveling time or a quick exciting combat to break up a sequence of talking or skill rolls, give the players real runs for their money. Like when the players got jumped in the middle of the night by a group of bandits, this was supposed to be a quick easy fight to introduce a hook real quick. The encounters was 2 levels below the PCs so I didn't even consider it a danger. Well 2 of the 4 PCs didn't wake up in the first round of combat, and the other two PCs ended up dropping their weapons in the opening round of combat. They got flanked, two PCs were knocked unconscious before they even got a turn. The other two missed all of their attacks for 3 full turns. So obviously they got wrecked by an encounter that was only supposed to be a minor plot point.

That's just my 2 cp. Good luck and happy gaming.
#5
Imruphel
May 05, 2012 20:39:58 I would go with DeathbyDonut's recommendation of giving him leader powers.

There are few things more annoying (in a good way) of having the BBEG, even at low levels, be more or less untouchable because he can manipulate a horde of minions to intercept the PCs' attacks.

Personally, I had great success with a tough-as-nails sergeant who had a power I called, Hold Your Guts In! Basically, any minion within 5 or 10 squares that was slain could make a saving throw to retain its single hit point and keep fighting. Throw in an immediate interrupt that also allows him to move a minion to intercept an attack that would otherwise damage him and you have a BBEG who can really get on the players' nerves especially if you, as the DM, ensure that you have a whole lot of suitable insults prepared.

Basically, play him as a loudmouth but with mechanics to back up your RP. (Also, if you give him the warlord-like ability to have an ally make an attack, I personally like the idea of one standard or elite ally makes an attack or four or more allied minions.)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 dkmulligan Apr 11, 2012 11:28:28	How do? I havnt been able to find anything on making extremely distinct/memorable/interesting low level NPC's. Specifically I want them to be the leader(s) of the enemy group in our first encounter. I want them to be distinct in combat, but more than just mannerisms...It also shouldnt be more than just like oriental in a standard campaign. It should be unique but not far-fetched.
#2 terishd Apr 11, 2012 13:54:58	He'll die. That opponent you spent over an hour getting just right, steps out, fumbles drawing his weapon, and gets a rhinestone on his gloves caught in the weave of his chain mail. The archer in the party then rolls a crit, and so much for that grand bad-guy. On the other extreme, that kobold you set out to simply act as a cannon fodder scout takes minimum damage, and begins a barrage of terror that has the party screaming at you for making a killer dungeon. It's a game. Have fun, and over a period of time all sorts of stories will be created.
#3 Chimpadin Apr 12, 2012 12:40:44	Adding flavour and character to an NPC has no relation on their level. You can just take any old humanoid monster of stats you like, and add things like: - What is this NPCs primary motivation? - What are their favourite things/stuff they dislike - Physical appearance - hair, skin, clothes - Mannerisms - e.g. fast talking, always scratching, smells etc... - Strange habits For memorable abilities in combat, think of things the PCs will hate, such as being moved around (whips, blasts of wind, teleporting to awkward locations), damage reflection (magic barrier, human shield). Be careful not to use these kind of things too much though, or they won't be special.
#4 DeathByDonut Apr 12, 2012 18:23:03	It's not about how you build the NPC it's how you play them. If you want this NPC to be a reoccurring villain make him memorable. The actual stats of the whole encounter can be something as simple as using the stats for human berserker (MM 163.) surrounded by some human rabble (MM 162.) But if you play the NPC correctly the PCs will remember that NPC forever. And what makes villains memorable? Their actions, not their stats. Look at Darth Vader from Star Wars. Do we remember him because he had some awesome attacks? Maybe a little, but mostly because he blew up a planet and killed Obiwan. Give your NPC leader a memorable name, and have the PCs find out why this guy is such a bad guy. Maybe rumors of the Dastardly Dashing Bandit Lord Dooh'nibor who is responsible for raiding caravans of foodstuffs on their way to feed orphanages. He leaves no men alive during his raids, but spares women and children. Perhaps he captures the women and children. The male children he trains to be bandits, and the women are used as slaves. Just from those last few sentences I already hate the guy with no stats involved. He could be level 1 for all I know or level 30, but just those deeds alone would have me hating the guy. As far as mechanics go. Use some class abilities from different places that make the character interesting. If you want the guy to be a leader role, perhaps he has some buffs to bolster allies and demoralize the enemy, maybe he has a low level bard or cleric power to do so. But flavor it how you want, maybe he isn't playing a neat song, he's yelling commands in combat bolstering his allies. If you want him to have some powers that move allies or enemies use some wizard or druid powers but flavor them how you want. Instead of him casting spells to make the power happen, he uses whips to strike at the enemy. The rules are there for a structured environment for everyone to have fun in. As the DM you can bend these rules or ignore them completely. There's nothing saying that you can't make a Bandit Leader NPC with a wizard power, bard power and fighter power on the same guy. And you can flavor those powers however you want. Like maybe you want to give the NPC the level 1 bard power "Fast Friends" (PH2 69.) (which would really upset the PCs "What do you mean I can't attack that guy right now?") You can flavor it to whatever you want, maybe it isn't a charming like effect, but an intimidation tactic? You can change the one keyword from charm to fear and give the whole power a new flavor with one minor tweak. Anyway that's just something that I've learned over the decade+ of my DMing career. I had a BBEG I spent probably a good two hours on building once (back in the day) to give this guy unique abilities, crazy bonuses in certain situations, I wrote out common tactics that he would use in his lair, all this stuff. He died in the first round of combat before he even got a turn. While I've had minor encounters, things I threw in there to break up traveling time or a quick exciting combat to break up a sequence of talking or skill rolls, give the players real runs for their money. Like when the players got jumped in the middle of the night by a group of bandits, this was supposed to be a quick easy fight to introduce a hook real quick. The encounters was 2 levels below the PCs so I didn't even consider it a danger. Well 2 of the 4 PCs didn't wake up in the first round of combat, and the other two PCs ended up dropping their weapons in the opening round of combat. They got flanked, two PCs were knocked unconscious before they even got a turn. The other two missed all of their attacks for 3 full turns. So obviously they got wrecked by an encounter that was only supposed to be a minor plot point. That's just my 2 cp. Good luck and happy gaming.
#5 Imruphel May 05, 2012 20:39:58	I would go with DeathbyDonut's recommendation of giving him leader powers. There are few things more annoying (in a good way) of having the BBEG, even at low levels, be more or less untouchable because he can manipulate a horde of minions to intercept the PCs' attacks. Personally, I had great success with a tough-as-nails sergeant who had a power I called, Hold Your Guts In! Basically, any minion within 5 or 10 squares that was slain could make a saving throw to retain its single hit point and keep fighting. Throw in an immediate interrupt that also allows him to move a minion to intercept an attack that would otherwise damage him and you have a BBEG who can really get on the players' nerves especially if you, as the DM, ensure that you have a whole lot of suitable insults prepared. Basically, play him as a loudmouth but with mechanics to back up your RP. (Also, if you give him the warlord-like ability to have an ally make an attack, I personally like the idea of one standard or elite ally makes an attack or four or more allied minions.)