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<blockquote data-quote="Azzy" data-source="post: 8516138" data-attributes="member: 6563">For me, the answer is dependent on many things. For games like D&amp;D with classes and levels, I don't think that having the rules for NPCs hewing closely is very benefitial in the majority of cases. For some important NPCs, I can see building with the same rules as PCs, but for the vast majority—just having a monster-style statblock is sufficient.I think that the idea that PCs and NPCs must be the same comes mostly from 3e. In earlier editions there was a hybrid system (like in 5e)—some NPCs were built as PCs (with some modifications), but you also had monster statblocks for NPC types like beserkers, dervishes, merchants, etc. Even NPCs built like PCs didn't necessarily follow the same rules as PCs (like ability score generation, different class allowances—like dwarf clerics, etc.).The idea of building NPCs like PCs is nice in theory, by 3e showed how much of an unnecessary pain in the arse that could be. I have no desire to go back to that. Ever. That can die in a fire.While I don't like the change coming that spellcasting NPCs have spell, er... magical attacks that aren't spells (I think that could have been handled better—see some of [USER=15700]@Sacrosanct[/USER]'s monstersamples), I do think having all the details for spell attacks in the statblock is a good thing (less bouncing between books during game is better).</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Azzy, post: 8516138, member: 6563"] For me, the answer is dependent on many things. For games like D&D with classes and levels, I don't think that having the rules for NPCs hewing closely is very benefitial in the majority of cases. For some important NPCs, I can see building with the same rules as PCs, but for the vast majority—just having a monster-style statblock is sufficient. I think that the idea that PCs and NPCs must be the same comes mostly from 3e. In earlier editions there was a hybrid system (like in 5e)—some NPCs were built as PCs (with some modifications), but you also had monster statblocks for NPC types like beserkers, dervishes, merchants, etc. Even NPCs built like PCs didn't necessarily follow the same rules as PCs (like ability score generation, different class allowances—like dwarf clerics, etc.). The idea of building NPCs like PCs is nice in theory, by 3e showed how much of an unnecessary pain in the arse that could be. I have no desire to go back to that. Ever. That can die in a fire. While I don't like the change coming that spellcasting NPCs have spell, er... magical attacks that aren't spells (I think that could have been handled better—see some of [USER=15700]@Sacrosanct[/USER]'s monstersamples), I do think having all the details for spell attacks in the statblock is a good thing (less bouncing between books during game is better). [/QUOTE]

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