In post #305 I was trying to get at that I didn't think anyone in this thread itself was saying that all NPCs needed to have PC classes. At most that the ones that do PC class type things should be trying to emulate PC classes and that any skills they have should be things a person could have in theory learned instead of being a PC.Exactly my problem. Why should someone who is just becoming a better merchant get more hit points, better saves, additional proficiencies, etc. ?
@Maxperson Have you claimed in here anywhere that all NPCs need to be written up with PC classes or even have fleshed out NPC classes? And going beyond this thread, did you like or dislike in 3/3.5/PF that skilled commoners and experts automatically came with better BAB and HP?