Advanced GM's Guide Simplified NPC Design rules - how are they?

[tsadkiel]

Psion's review of the Advanced Gamemaster's Guide by Green Ronin mentioned a set of rules for "faking" NPCs. Since the length of NPC character creation is my biggest pet peeve about D&D (I'm fine with lengthy PC design, but not NPCs) I'm suddenly very intrigued by the book. So, for those who bought the PDF, how are the rules? What does the final product look like?

 

[tsadkiel]

A tiny bump.

 

[Zoatebix]

I'm interested too! Are they as good as Henry/S'mon's system/guidelines?

 

[S'mon]

I'm interested too! Are they as good as Henry/S'mon's system/guidelines?

Yes! Inquiring minds want to know! Especially if there's a copyright infringement issue... (j/k)

 

[Psion]

Okay, it's not that dissimilar from the methods some GMs (including myself) have mentioned here. He recommends an array of 1-16, 2-14, 3-10 (my personal version is more like 3-14, 3-10, though I think of them as bonuses vice arrays). NPCs are given major, intermediate, and minor focus skills and instead of calculatnig, assigned a flat bonus by level for each category. Focuses are not just used for skills, but saves and attack bonuses. Finally, there is a standard selection of feats according to character type (melee combatant, arcane spellcaster, etc.)

 

[Psion]

I'm interested too! Are they as good as Henry/S'mon's system/guidelines?

I guess I don't plug my guidelines enough.

 

[jerichothebard]

I guess I don't plug my guidelines enough.

Plug away - I'd like to see them!

 

[S'mon]

Okay, it's not that dissimilar from the methods some GMs (including myself) have mentioned here. He recommends an array of 1-16, 2-14, 3-10

28-pt array - hmm - fine if the PCs have 30 pts+

 

[tsadkiel]

i went ahead and picked up the pdf. Overall, I rather like the rules. They're pretty simple, but still cover things like multi-classing, so I can finally get some use out of all the Prestige Classes I've got lying around. The rules also scale well, so you could really use them to write up an NPC months in advance and then adjust them to the PC's current level on the spot. (Of course, if you're writing up NPCs months in advance, you've probably got time to use the full rules, but it's just an example, okay?!)

Using the system, you're still responsible for AC, Hit Points, magic items, and spells, so character creation is about as complicated as it is for Castles and Crusades, while still keeping the full d20 level of detail for PCs.