Post by joshuagoliath on Jan 23, 2014 4:47:26 GMT
If you ask ten GMs how they handle NPCs, you're likely to get thirty answers. They'll tell you that it depends on the type of character, what's it's purpose is, and factor X and decision Y, and multiplier Z.
For a new(er) GM, the amount of information and options can seem overwhelming. And then add in the work for various NPCs, and it's almost enough to make you want to just be a player. DON'T PANIC!!
Now, over the years, I've increased the way I do things so that NOW I have about 15 different categories of NPC, but, truthfully, they all fall into one of the 4 "degrees".
4-Marked
3-Mook
2-Monk
1-Momentous
A "Marked" NPC is someone who's not really important, but you need to keep them consistent. IE, if the yplayers go to the village of Spittle a lot, then you want to keep the Mayor of Spittle being the same person... All you need is a Race, name, and 1-2 lines of description
A "Mook" is someone who is just barely above the Marked. They're there, but they're not really important. But, they *MAY* be involved in combat. Either with or against the PCs. As such, they rate the same info as the Marked, plus HP/SDC (or MDC), a guesstimated combat set based upon what you WANT them to be able to do. If they're part of the 1001 minions of the villains (that the PCs will all fight at once), this might be 2 attacks per round, no bonuses dagger does 1d6, or for those town guards, maybe 3 APM, +2strike, +1 parry, +1 dodge, +2 damage, with a sword that does 2d6, and some armor thrown into the mix too. What their level is, or what the combat bonuses SHOULD be doesn't matter- it's whatever you decide for what fits and is appropriate.
A Monk is someone that is either a Second (or third) in Command of the big bad, or someone the PCs may interact with in some detail fairly often. Maybe that wilderness ranger they hire almost every adventure. Or that Mercenary they hire to guard their keep. You need the same as a Mook, but you're also going to pad him out with a few skills. Again, you're going to give him the % you feel is appropriate, not what the book says. You're not going to worry about how many skills he SHOULD have, or at what level. You're going to say "I want him to have these combat bonuses... and these skills at this %". And let it go at that. Too many skills? Too few? Doesn't matter. It fits what you want. Same with spells (if it's a caster). Doesn't matter if it's too few spells or too many. Heck, if you REALLY WANT, you can decide to NOT decide what spells they have until you need them. Same with Psionics. Too many supers and not enough minors? Too many minors, not enough Supers? DOESN'T MATTER!
A Momentous is the guy you actually take time on. This could be the big bad, or the NPC travelling with the party (who knows, could be the same person!). The is the NPC you want to know all the ins and outs, what he can and cannot do. You take your time, fully flesh him out. You fully select all the skills at the appropriate level, figure out the appropriate bonuses, etc. Get a full personality going, right number of Hit Dice, etc.
Like I said, I've added more categories, but, they still boil down to these 4.
Marked, Mook, Monk are uploaded. For the Momentous.. it should look like a full character- background, reasonings, equipment, etc
For a new(er) GM, the amount of information and options can seem overwhelming. And then add in the work for various NPCs, and it's almost enough to make you want to just be a player. DON'T PANIC!!
Now, over the years, I've increased the way I do things so that NOW I have about 15 different categories of NPC, but, truthfully, they all fall into one of the 4 "degrees".
4-Marked
3-Mook
2-Monk
1-Momentous
A "Marked" NPC is someone who's not really important, but you need to keep them consistent. IE, if the yplayers go to the village of Spittle a lot, then you want to keep the Mayor of Spittle being the same person... All you need is a Race, name, and 1-2 lines of description
A "Mook" is someone who is just barely above the Marked. They're there, but they're not really important. But, they *MAY* be involved in combat. Either with or against the PCs. As such, they rate the same info as the Marked, plus HP/SDC (or MDC), a guesstimated combat set based upon what you WANT them to be able to do. If they're part of the 1001 minions of the villains (that the PCs will all fight at once), this might be 2 attacks per round, no bonuses dagger does 1d6, or for those town guards, maybe 3 APM, +2strike, +1 parry, +1 dodge, +2 damage, with a sword that does 2d6, and some armor thrown into the mix too. What their level is, or what the combat bonuses SHOULD be doesn't matter- it's whatever you decide for what fits and is appropriate.
A Monk is someone that is either a Second (or third) in Command of the big bad, or someone the PCs may interact with in some detail fairly often. Maybe that wilderness ranger they hire almost every adventure. Or that Mercenary they hire to guard their keep. You need the same as a Mook, but you're also going to pad him out with a few skills. Again, you're going to give him the % you feel is appropriate, not what the book says. You're not going to worry about how many skills he SHOULD have, or at what level. You're going to say "I want him to have these combat bonuses... and these skills at this %". And let it go at that. Too many skills? Too few? Doesn't matter. It fits what you want. Same with spells (if it's a caster). Doesn't matter if it's too few spells or too many. Heck, if you REALLY WANT, you can decide to NOT decide what spells they have until you need them. Same with Psionics. Too many supers and not enough minors? Too many minors, not enough Supers? DOESN'T MATTER!
A Momentous is the guy you actually take time on. This could be the big bad, or the NPC travelling with the party (who knows, could be the same person!). The is the NPC you want to know all the ins and outs, what he can and cannot do. You take your time, fully flesh him out. You fully select all the skills at the appropriate level, figure out the appropriate bonuses, etc. Get a full personality going, right number of Hit Dice, etc.
Like I said, I've added more categories, but, they still boil down to these 4.
Marked, Mook, Monk are uploaded. For the Momentous.. it should look like a full character- background, reasonings, equipment, etc
