D&D 5E What do you want from an NPC list?

77IM

Explorer!!!

Supporter

• Apr 10, 2015

• #11

I prefer stat blocks with no name or personality, just a clearly defined role like "apprentice wizard" or "archmage," like at the end of the Monster Manual. I just want more of them -- like, in between apprentice wizard and archmage should be at least 8 more wizards, one for each arcane tradition. There should be at least 3-6 drop-in stat-blocks for warlocks, for example (for all the patrons and pact boons).

This allows me to come up with the personality and then think, "Yeah that guy is a high priest and that guy is a warlord and that guy is an expert craftsman" and I've got enough stat-blocks up my sleeves to just wing it.

 

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Sacrosanct

Legend

• Apr 10, 2015

• #12

OK, how is this revision

 

steeldragons

Steeliest of the dragons

Epic

• Apr 10, 2015

• #13

Love it! Love everything about it.

Just enough to use as is. Get more in depth as necessary. DMs with their own stories can ignore/adjust the fluff if they want. DMs who aren't good with improv don't have and still feel like a rounded being with a history. The crunch is set/stable and also easily swapped out if desired (e.g. want to give him some magic sword the party is hunting for instead of the war hammer, etc...).

This is great...and keeping it all to 1 page means printed or pdf versions can be easily assembled.

Very nice.

 

The Grassy Gnoll

Explorer

• Apr 10, 2015

• #14

Cool. And quick work!

 

steeldragons

Steeliest of the dragons

Epic

• Apr 10, 2015

• #15

Now you just have to duplicate that a dozen times...maybe 15...per class...across races and genders...with art.

No sweat, I'm sure. Be done tomorrow, right? lol.

 

Sacrosanct

Legend

• Apr 10, 2015

• #16

steeldragons said:

Now you just have to duplicate that a dozen times...maybe 15...per class...across races and genders...with art.

No sweat, I'm sure. Be done tomorrow, right? lol.

Click to expand...

Well, maybe not tomorrow lol. But I do have art for about 50 NPCs. What I really need is Wotc to come out with a 3PP license

 

S

Sunseeker

Guest

• Apr 10, 2015

• #17

I would like a short fluff write-up and some light crunch suggestions, spells that make an NPC feel like their character for example. The actual statistics of my NPCs are usually in flux until the moment the characters actually begin interacting with them. Partly to keep my players from playing stupid, but also partly so that if I don't have to do anything stat-related, I won't have wasted the time filling out a stat-sheet.

 

Psikerlord#

Explorer

• Apr 11, 2015

• #18

Sacrosanct said:

so when you look for NPCs, you don't worry about level appropriate stats or any of that, but focus on the personality and background? I'm assuming you'll then stat up as needed? Just trying to make sure I understand

Click to expand...

Yep that's true for me. The main things I want are: A name, short appearance, personality quirk, interesting background item. All of this in about 2 lines. I'll do the rest.

I'm talking about random NPCs I need on the fly. "Proper" NPCs for a fight I would also want all the stat's for.

 

Bayonet

First Post

• Apr 11, 2015

• #19

77IM said:

I prefer stat blocks with no name or personality, just a clearly defined role like "apprentice wizard" or "archmage," like at the end of the Monster Manual. I just want more of them -- like, in between apprentice wizard and archmage should be at least 8 more wizards, one for each arcane tradition. There should be at least 3-6 drop-in stat-blocks for warlocks, for example (for all the patrons and pact boons).

This allows me to come up with the personality and then think, "Yeah that guy is a high priest and that guy is a warlord and that guy is an expert craftsman" and I've got enough stat-blocks up my sleeves to just wing it.

Click to expand...

I think this is the best choice for me, too. It's not as detailed, but it makes things a lot easier and quicker.

If I need a special NPC, I'll just stat up one of my spare PC's I have floating in my head.

 

L

Lackhand

First Post

• Apr 11, 2015

• #20

When I need quirks, I don't need stats.
When I need stats, I don't need quirks.

I want both, but I don't want to have to split out statblocks between those two purposes.
Mostly I want battle stat blocks because I find it difficult to reuse personality-from-a-can.