Making the NPC's - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Making the NPC's

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
schizoveen
Mar 29, 2009 15:37:16 While working on my campaign, most things go in a nice steady flow... sometimes do a little research, sometimes read the rulebooks but mostly just being creative and writing the story.

but the place i'm stuck with is creating the NPC's.. In my Post apocalyptic campaign there will be mostly Humans and mutants. while writing a little bit of background for them, as soon as i have to start making stats.. stuff just gets really hard...

making a lvl 5 ordinary character takes hours. of course i don't need every stat from every character but i should know what to roll when they decide to attack a village. i village can contain commoners, military defensive guys, some leaders, some scientists... just for 1 village i'll be making charstats for hours... which REALLY gets boring at a certain point.

i looked in the menace manual but those chars are really for d20 modern and most of them have feats that can not be aplied to post apocalyptic settings...

so could anyone tell me how to make this process quicker or at least more enjoyable?
#2
DwarfFighter
Mar 29, 2009 17:46:07 The biggest hassle with designing NPCs is, in my experience, assigning skill points. I know I can get away with simply assuming max ranks in any skill they use, but that really doesn't sit well with me.

What you *could* do is to make feat and talent cards and use this as a visual (tactile? tangible!) aid. E.g. a card for Feats and talents could list the prereqs, a feat for a class level can list the bonuses on that level as well as the number of appropriate talents and bonus feats...

Hm. Maybe I should do myself...

-DF
#3
slayer_5
Mar 30, 2009 21:06:32 All the stats aren't important for NPC's.

9/10ths of the time, I will just figure out what stats are important.

For example, in D&D, most of my "Town NPC's" just have a Diplomacy, Sense Motive, and Will Save. Sometimes a Listen and Spot.

Even most enemies I stat out, I just give the AC, HP, Attack Bonus, and a special ability or two. And saves. Sometimes a Hide and Move Silently.

The only time I ever go in-depth with statting, is for a boss, because I know that is when the PC's will bust off stuff that requires me knowing every little detail.

If you spend all your time doing stats, you will find much of your time going to waste.
#4
schizoveen
Apr 01, 2009 7:34:17 So just writing down mayor stats would be enough? (I'm asking these kind of question as I'm a beginning DM)

so how do you estimate those stats quickly? do you use a basic table from somewhere or do you have premade examples you steal from?

I was thinking of giving each character some basic skills maxed and leave some points left to fit in when the game is played. so i could base it on the situation.

btw.. could someone tell me when a commoner would be a lvl 5 or higher commoner. i mean.. higher lvl commoner doesn't sound logical to me
#5
DwarfFighter
Apr 02, 2009 6:36:34 The fact of the matter is that most NPCs are unlikely to have time to use more than a few skills while in the presence of the PCs.

You can most likely "get away" with noting the following:

1. Class levels
2. Ability scores
3. Combat Stats
3.1 Attacks
3.1.1 List of ranged attack bonuses and damage
3.1.2 List of melee attack bonuses and damage
3.2 Grapple modifier
3.3. Defense
3.3.1 Standard defense
3.3.2 Touch defense
3.3.3 Flat-footed defense
3.4. Saves
4.0 Racial features (1)
4.1 Feats
4.2 Talents
4.3 Class Features

Example

John Doe (Strong Hero 1/Tough Hero 1)
Str 15, Dex 10, Con 14, Int 12, Wis 8, Cha 13
BAB +1
+1 ranged (2d6, pistol)
+4 melee (1d6+3, Brawl)
+3 melee (1d6+4, Brawl, Power Attack)
Grap +3
Defense 13, touch 12, flat-footed 13 (+0 Dex, +2 Class, +1 leather jacket)
Fort +4, Ref +0, Will -1
Brawl, Personal Firearms Proficiency, Power Attack, Simple Weapons Proficiency
Melee Smash, Energy Resistance (2 Fire)

1) Skip racial features for very common races, i.e. the ones playable as PCs.
#6
schizoveen
Apr 02, 2009 7:00:53 Thx, seems like a much smaller list then stuff i found in menace manual.

Of course i wouldn't be done asking questions althuogh i have started making NPC's because of this thread.

How do you quickly choose feats? i guess it's a lot about knowing all the feats by memory...or?
#7
DwarfFighter
Apr 02, 2009 7:45:42 The summary pages in the rule book is of great help for those less commonly used feats. But remembering the prereq's helps.

I usually decide on a GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX! and go for that.

-DF
#8
DwarfFighter
Apr 02, 2009 7:55:10 What the-

"t h e m e" is replaced with GLEEMAX!...?

GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!
GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!
GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!
GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!
GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!
GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!
GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!
GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!
GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!
them

-DF

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 schizoveen Mar 29, 2009 15:37:16	While working on my campaign, most things go in a nice steady flow... sometimes do a little research, sometimes read the rulebooks but mostly just being creative and writing the story. but the place i'm stuck with is creating the NPC's.. In my Post apocalyptic campaign there will be mostly Humans and mutants. while writing a little bit of background for them, as soon as i have to start making stats.. stuff just gets really hard... making a lvl 5 ordinary character takes hours. of course i don't need every stat from every character but i should know what to roll when they decide to attack a village. i village can contain commoners, military defensive guys, some leaders, some scientists... just for 1 village i'll be making charstats for hours... which REALLY gets boring at a certain point. i looked in the menace manual but those chars are really for d20 modern and most of them have feats that can not be aplied to post apocalyptic settings... so could anyone tell me how to make this process quicker or at least more enjoyable?
#2 DwarfFighter Mar 29, 2009 17:46:07	The biggest hassle with designing NPCs is, in my experience, assigning skill points. I know I can get away with simply assuming max ranks in any skill they use, but that really doesn't sit well with me. What you could do is to make feat and talent cards and use this as a visual (tactile? tangible!) aid. E.g. a card for Feats and talents could list the prereqs, a feat for a class level can list the bonuses on that level as well as the number of appropriate talents and bonus feats... Hm. Maybe I should do myself... -DF
#3 slayer_5 Mar 30, 2009 21:06:32	All the stats aren't important for NPC's. 9/10ths of the time, I will just figure out what stats are important. For example, in D&D, most of my "Town NPC's" just have a Diplomacy, Sense Motive, and Will Save. Sometimes a Listen and Spot. Even most enemies I stat out, I just give the AC, HP, Attack Bonus, and a special ability or two. And saves. Sometimes a Hide and Move Silently. The only time I ever go in-depth with statting, is for a boss, because I know that is when the PC's will bust off stuff that requires me knowing every little detail. If you spend all your time doing stats, you will find much of your time going to waste.
#4 schizoveen Apr 01, 2009 7:34:17	So just writing down mayor stats would be enough? (I'm asking these kind of question as I'm a beginning DM) so how do you estimate those stats quickly? do you use a basic table from somewhere or do you have premade examples you steal from? I was thinking of giving each character some basic skills maxed and leave some points left to fit in when the game is played. so i could base it on the situation. btw.. could someone tell me when a commoner would be a lvl 5 or higher commoner. i mean.. higher lvl commoner doesn't sound logical to me
#5 DwarfFighter Apr 02, 2009 6:36:34	The fact of the matter is that most NPCs are unlikely to have time to use more than a few skills while in the presence of the PCs. You can most likely "get away" with noting the following: 1. Class levels 2. Ability scores 3. Combat Stats 3.1 Attacks 3.1.1 List of ranged attack bonuses and damage 3.1.2 List of melee attack bonuses and damage 3.2 Grapple modifier 3.3. Defense 3.3.1 Standard defense 3.3.2 Touch defense 3.3.3 Flat-footed defense 3.4. Saves 4.0 Racial features (1) 4.1 Feats 4.2 Talents 4.3 Class Features Example John Doe (Strong Hero 1/Tough Hero 1) Str 15, Dex 10, Con 14, Int 12, Wis 8, Cha 13 BAB +1 +1 ranged (2d6, pistol) +4 melee (1d6+3, Brawl) +3 melee (1d6+4, Brawl, Power Attack) Grap +3 Defense 13, touch 12, flat-footed 13 (+0 Dex, +2 Class, +1 leather jacket) Fort +4, Ref +0, Will -1 Brawl, Personal Firearms Proficiency, Power Attack, Simple Weapons Proficiency Melee Smash, Energy Resistance (2 Fire) 1) Skip racial features for very common races, i.e. the ones playable as PCs.
#6 schizoveen Apr 02, 2009 7:00:53	Thx, seems like a much smaller list then stuff i found in menace manual. Of course i wouldn't be done asking questions althuogh i have started making NPC's because of this thread. How do you quickly choose feats? i guess it's a lot about knowing all the feats by memory...or?
#7 DwarfFighter Apr 02, 2009 7:45:42	The summary pages in the rule book is of great help for those less commonly used feats. But remembering the prereq's helps. I usually decide on a GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX! and go for that. -DF
#8 DwarfFighter Apr 02, 2009 7:55:10	What the- "t h e m e" is replaced with GLEEMAX!...? GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX! GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX! GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX! GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX! GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX! GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX! GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX! GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX! GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX!GLEEMAX! them -DF