Applying House Rules to NPCs

[Paul_Klein]

Say you alter a class somewhat. Lets say you decide to give the Ranger class 2 bonus feats. When you create an NPC Ranger, do they also get these feats, or do they typically apply to PCs only.

Do you think its only fair that NPCs get what PCs do, or is it too much of a hassle to go through and make all your house rules changes to your NPCs?

Thanks

 

[Nifft]

Say you alter a class somewhat. Lets say you decide to give the Ranger class 2 bonus feats. When you create an NPC Ranger, do they also get these feats, or do they typically apply to PCs only.

Hell yeah! That's part of the reason I make House Rules -- so my NPCs can be more interesting.

If I made that house rule (2 bonus Feats for Rangers) I'd also make gnolls more of a threat, since they're typically Rangers. Most Arcane Archers would start with levels of Ranger instead of Fighter, too.

-- Nifft

 

[GuardianLurker]

Short answer - yes.

This is one of the *major* drawbacks of houserules IMO, and why I make an effort to avoid major houserules.

I once thought it was a good idea to drop all divine casters from a campaign - *never* again. Having to rework all those NPC clerics was a *PAIN*.

OTOH, how conscientious you have to be about applying houserules varies with the amount of interaction (and kinds of interaction) the PCs have with the NPC. An NPC ranger that is primarily a tracker/plot device you probably don't need to worry with; one that is going to become a PCs henchman/cohort or major party ally, you probably do.