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  1. takasi

    15 Minute NPCs

    If you'll notice, there are no random rolls in the PHB 2 system. I suggested adding some if you wanted variety to spell lists and magic items, but the feat trees and skills are preselected based on role. Which is EXACTLY what I suspect will be presented in the 4th edition DMG. You provided...
  2. takasi

    15 Minute NPCs

    Developed through fate and generated organically. Tables and charts are developed independently of the DM, so NPCs are not metagamed based on the party composition. Some automated creation methods are more natural and less gamist than others. This is, IMO, a good solution for those who...
  3. takasi

    15 Minute NPCs

    That's not a lot of work. You were able to easily edit it in a few minutes, and I would have had it near perfect if I wasn't on a call at the time. It's perfectly playable, and very nearly publishable.
  4. takasi

    15 Minute NPCs

    That doesn't mean agonizing over a stat block for an hour and a half picking 'the perfect combo' though. And if you think 'faster' isn't 'better', then why tout 4th edition's speed? Personally, I prefer a more organic, non-tailored and metagamed series of stat blocks. The bump in his...
  5. takasi

    15 Minute NPCs

    Why? Why if you need tables does it make something wrong? The solution IMO is to make more tables as new splatbooks come out. I also think the issue has more to do with gamism vs simulationism, again. Gamists are going to take much, much longer to make an NPC. Why? They are metagaming...
  6. takasi

    15 Minute NPCs

    Here's what I would do, very quickly of course: Milweather Shallowshadow Male gnome illusionist 12 N Small humanoid (gnome) Languages Common, Gnome, Elven, Sylvan -------------------- AC 18, touch 12, flat-footed 16 hp 67 (12 HD) Fort +7, Ref +5, Will +5 -------------------- Melee mwk dagger +5...
  7. takasi

    15 Minute NPCs

    It's generated, not copied. The better the generation method the better the NPCs. Improve the PHB 2 generation method by making more feat trees, including more classes, adding variance to spell selections, etc.
  8. takasi

    15 Minute NPCs

    Edited to 10 am right afterwards, sorry. Please don't post the request until after that.
  9. takasi

    15 Minute NPCs

    Didn't ask for point buy or stat selection. I will do that. And please only these classes: Barbarian Bard Beguiler Cleric Dragon Shaman Druid Duskblade Favored Soul Fighter Hexblade Knight Marshal Monk Paladin Ranger Rogue Scout Sorcerer Swashbuckler Warlock Warmage Wizard If you want a...
  10. takasi

    15 Minute NPCs

    I think the analogy of McDonald's vs making it yourself is a bad one. I think a better analogy is gardening. Sure, you can put a lot of time and effort into creating a greenhouse and picking out the perfect seeds. You can purchase a lot of pesticides and carefully prune and weed until...
  11. takasi

    15 Minute NPCs

    I completely disagree. IME, some players (including me) can feel cheated if the world, including NPCs, are generating using meta-game knowledge. If they are built organically using tables and charts they may not always be 'optimized' but they are just as much fun to play and run because they...
  12. takasi

    15 Minute NPCs

    Just give me a race and a class, including prestige, and I'll give it a shot. If anyone else wants to try they are welcome to. Edit: To clarify, just give me ONE class (it can be prestige) and ONE race (any monster you'd like). Also, I'll pick an arbitrary CR. Let's say...16th.
  13. takasi

    15 Minute NPCs

    Using that analogy, Mearls assertion that 4th edition is 'fast' doesn't mean it's better. It could just be the McDonaldization of NPCs.
  14. takasi

    15 Minute NPCs

    The PHB 2 says it should take 5 minutes to create a low level NPC. And as far as variance, why not work on more tables and charts for the PHB 2 system? I think the reason why Mearls and others here take so long to design their NPCs is that they are designing them for gamist purposes from the...
  15. takasi

    15 Minute NPCs

    Prestige classes would add an extra five minutes or so, but only to meet the prereqs. Otherwise it's just like any class: copy over the class talents and apply them in step 8. Use the PHB 2. Don't think there's enough variety in PHB 2? Roll up a few items in the MIC. Use the PHB 2. The...
  16. takasi

    15 Minute NPCs

    Can I ask why it takes longer at higher levels? I just don't understand it. What part is bogging you down? Which step makes you pause and scratch your head? Why?
  17. takasi

    15 Minute NPCs

    I just can't fathom taking 90 minutes to build one NPC in 3.5, even at high level. One of the selling points for 4th edition is fast NPC generation. Why aren't designers using the PHB 2? I've found it extremely useful not only for people at my table (my 12 year old son builds high level PCs...
  18. takasi

    It Starts (Splatbooks - Martial Power in October)

    I am guessing, based on the name "Martial Powers", that this book will be more like a spellbook than Complete Warrior. I would not be surprised if we don't see any new base classes. I'm guessing we might see a few new talent trees, paragon paths and feats though.
  19. takasi

    It Starts (Splatbooks - Martial Power in October)

    We've heard of the Tome of Treasures. Now we've got Blood and Fist or Complete Warrior for 4th edition: Martial Power If you want to live in a world where D&D only has the core rulebooks there's a very short window to play. One advantage to being an 'early adopter' I guess.
  20. takasi

    The Death of Simulation

    How is this any obtainable by a PC than the arbitrary extraordinary, supernatural and spell-like abilities of monsters in 3rd edition? I was pointing out that variability in effects is not the issue, it's control. We have heard nothing about how much control a party has over when an encounter...
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