Action points to monsters an NPCs

[Li Shenron]

For those who use an action points mechanics or similar: do you give actions points also to NPCs and monsters? All of them or only "elite" ones?

 

[Kahuna Burger]

While I don't yet use action points, when I do, they will be given to PCs and some very rare "name level" NPCs and monsters. On the other hand, I plan on also allocating a certain number of "plot points" or "drama points" which will be given to the players not the PCs and will thus have no analogue for NPCs (as, being the GM, I will have an infinite number of them.)

 

[Raven Crowking]

In D&D, Action Points are for PCs only.

In The Game of Rassilon (my d20-ish Dr Who game), APs are given to various creatures/characters to activate abilities. Thus, the Celestial Toymaker has a number of Action Points, but those Action Points act as a limitation on how often he can use his special powers in a story, rather than as a bonus.

 

[Kahuna Burger]

In D&D, Action Points are for PCs only.

In The Game of Rassilon (my d20-ish Dr Who game), APs are given to various creatures/characters to activate abilities. Thus, the Celestial Toymaker has a number of Action Points, but those Action Points act as a limitation on how often he can use his special powers in a story, rather than as a bonus.

hrm, this is a good point, I've seen systems where the action point equivilent is needed to confirm a crit or use class abilities. You would pretty much have to give them to everyone then, except designated mooks.

 

[Drowbane]

PCs and the elite NPCs

 

[shilsen]

I give them to PCs and theoretically would give them to important NPCs, but I've given them to all of 3 NPCs in nearly 60 sessions and forgotten to use them for 2.

 

[Mallus]

I give them to PCs and theoretically would give them to important NPCs...

I've given them to one NPC... care to guess who?

 

[Doug McCrae]

I voted PCs only. I run an Eberron game so NPCs can theoretically get APs if they have the Heroic Spirit feat, but I've only given it to one or two NPCs.

 

[shilsen]

I've given them to one NPC... care to guess who?

Hmm ... let me think ... Delphine?

 

[GlassJaw]

In D&D, only PC's get AP's.

In other games, depending on the system, NPC's may use some kind of AP mechanic, although it's rarely the same AP system the PC's use.

For example, in Grim Tales, the bad guys can "activate" bad things that happen to the PC's but then the PC's get awarded AP's.

In Spycraft, the GM has a pool of AP's he can use for all NPC's over the course of a mission.