D&D 4th Edition RulesAsk questions about 4th-Edition rules and the like in here. General discussion about 4E or any other game belongs in General RPG Discussion, above.
Hi yas. My appologies if this has been covered elsewhere, but I'd like to know how to determine XP to be given for defeating player classes.
I've got an NPC in the party that will soon be coming 'under fire' and would like to know the general rule of thumb for granting XP in these circumstances.
If the party can manage to survive of course...
Tnx!
Last edited by Merry Prankster; 7th May 2009 at 06:52 PM..
NPCs with character classes are considered Elite creatures for the purposes of awarding XP (and balancing encounters). You may use the chart on page 120 of the DMG to determine XP rewards for your Elite NPC of a given level.
NPCs with character classes are considered Elite creatures for the purposes of awarding XP (and balancing encounters). You may use the chart on page 120 of the DMG to determine XP rewards for your Elite NPC of a given level.
No. Preexisting monsters with a class template applied are elite. An NPC with just a class is a normal monster of her level. For example, a tiefling sorcerer 9 is a normal level 9 monster. A succubus (level 9) with the sorcerer template has both sorcerer and succubus powers, thus making her elite.
__________________ "I'd like to shake the hand of the genius who invented that - just the hand, after it's been cut off from the now screaming man."
Generally speaking, you shouldn't be building NPCs with full PC class levels--use the class templates in the DMG to construct a classed NPC.
I've actually moved to providing a classed NPC with all the powers that they should have as a PC for their level, and frankly it is a lot more fun as an opponent than the standard "here are three powers" thing - both for me as a DM and for the players fighting an opponent!
The simplistic approach of 4e is a boon for quickly doing many monsters, but I've decided to make key foes more, uh, "full fat" to improve everyones enjoyment.
Cheers
__________________ Plane Sailing
(Enworld Admin)
If you need to email me click here
"It makes as much sense as having Batman kill his parents and then go on to fight mutants from another dimension." - Rykion
I've actually moved to providing a classed NPC with all the powers that they should have as a PC for their level, and frankly it is a lot more fun as an opponent than the standard "here are three powers" thing - both for me as a DM and for the players fighting an opponent!
The simplistic approach of 4e is a boon for quickly doing many monsters, but I've decided to make key foes more, uh, "full fat" to improve everyones enjoyment.
Cheers
I think that designers tend to agree with you. The NPC writeups in several adventures I've seen seem considerably more 'full.' Not necessarily in terms of powers, but also in feat based abilities not available to by the book NPCs.
__________________ "I'd like to shake the hand of the genius who invented that - just the hand, after it's been cut off from the now screaming man."
No. Preexisting monsters with a class template applied are elite. An NPC with just a class is a normal monster of her level. For example, a tiefling sorcerer 9 is a normal level 9 monster. A succubus (level 9) with the sorcerer template has both sorcerer and succubus powers, thus making her elite.
I have to disagree. Monsters with equal XP should be roughly of equal power and threat. If a level X character is equal to a level X monster as foes then they would be an equal threat, so when they fight it would be a 50/50 who dies.
This is manifestly not true. So a level X character is tougher than a level X normal monster, and should, as a tougher foe, be worth more XP. Going for elite as previously suggested is a good deal.
__________________ ...you might be eaten by a Grue...
Last edited by Blue; 9th May 2009 at 05:15 AM..
Reason: fixed typo
Except that an NPC is not as poweful as a PC of the same level- they are limited in several ways- most importantly, they only have 1 surge, like any monster.
Elite is too much XP for NPCs as the rules build them currently. However they are more dangerous than other monsters, so somewhere in between is probably accurate.
What I would do is either use NPCs rarely, or when you make them, compare to the guidelines for a regular monster of their level, and make sure they are close to that. And limit their healing, because this is simply annoying for the players unless they can act to prevent it.
I use a lot of NPCs in my game. In my experience, they are a bit tougher than normal monsters, but not by as much as you might think. The reason is that NPCs don't have any more hit points than normal monsters, and therefore die just as quickly. They may have a couple extra cool powers, but often don't live long enough to use all of them.
I used to add +33% to the XP value of NPCs, thinking that 4 normal orcs were roughtly equal to 3 NPC orcs because the NPCs had better attacks. In actual play, though, this didn't bear out. Now I just stick to RAW, and give them the XP value of their level. If I did give a bonus, it would be a small one (maybe +10%).
What NPCs do add to combat is flexibility and variety, making NPC encounters a lot more interesting and fun.
Location: Cedar Rapids, IA PCs now: Genasi Warlord 5 Human BRV Fighter 5
Posts: 8,000
Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul Strack
I use a lot of NPCs in my game. In my experience, they are a bit tougher than normal monsters, but not by as much as you might think.
Are you using the PCs rules to essentailly "build a PC for the DM" (as an enemy of the player's PCs)? Explain the term NPC as you are using it in 4e, please.
__________________ - Nail
Last edited by Nail: Today....just a few minutes ago
Linear Mode
And yet another word from our sponsors
