Book of NPCs

[CapnZapp]

No, sorry. The 3.5 NPCs are PCs, basically, and therefore very complex. Part of my inspiration for this project is that 4E NPCs are simplified, and their stats are mostly determined by race, class and level.

(My emphasis)

Now, of course, we can all thank our lucky stars Mr Strack didn't notice how official NPC chargen rules ignore racial bonuses!

 

[Paul Strack]

Now, of course, we can all thank our lucky stars Mr Strack didn't notice how official NPC chargen rules ignore racial bonuses!

Well they get racial ability score modifiers in the official rules, just nothing else. I would have included the racial features even if I hadn't misread the rules, though. Otherwise you might as well ignore race completely, which is boring.

 

[77IM]

But... the monster races in the appendix of the Monster Manual are specifically described as being for use in the creation of NPCs. To me, this strongly implies that NPCs are supposed to have racial traits, and that the omission of this step in the DMG was an oversight.

-- 77IM

 

[CapnZapp]

But... the monster races in the appendix of the Monster Manual are specifically described as being for use in the creation of NPCs. To me, this strongly implies that NPCs are supposed to have racial traits, and that the omission of this step in the DMG was an oversight.

-- 77IM

I guess we would all be happy if it was.

Until WotC includes it in its errata, however, we should assume it's not, and that including it is a house rule.

 

[Kel]

Paul: Your Book of NPCs is by far the most useful third-party product I have ever seen for 4E. It is brilliant. Thanks for sharing it. It will be extremely helpful to me in a campaign I am starting that is very human-focused.

You rock!

 

[psi_overtake]

Great!

I'm so thankful that you created this resource! I created an account just to post here. ^_^ We just started using 4E yesterday, and I'm excited about using a Cleric NPC as a boss encounter tonight!

 

[Derulbaskul]

Thanks so much for posting this, Paul. I hope everyone who downloads it gives you XP for what is an outstanding resource.

 

[firesnakearies]

Wow, this is really wonderful. Thank you so much for giving us this awesome resource!

 

[firesnakearies]

I guess we would all be happy if it was.

Until WotC includes it in its errata, however, we should assume it's not, and that including it is a house rule.

Hmm, while I agree that it is not explicitly stated in the NPC creation guidelines in the DMG, it's utterly clear from an examination of the NPCs thus far released in published products that NPCs are supposed to get the racial powers of their race.

I just searched through the D&D Compendium and found, as I expected, that every single named NPC from any source (core books, print adventures, Dungeon and Dragon magazines, and RPGA adventures alike) had the core combat-affecting racial benefits listed in their stat blocks.

Every named eladrin NPC you can find in the Compendium has a 5-square Fey Step listed. Every named halfling NPC you can find in the Compendium has Second Chance listed. Every named dwarf NPC you can find in the Compendium has Stand Your Ground listed. The elves all have Elven Accuracy, the dragonborn all have Dragon Breath and Dragonborn Fury, and so on.

So if this is a "house rule", then it's a "house rule" that every single adventure writer that WotC and the RPGA employ uses. Which, to my mind, makes it not a house rule at all.

 

[CapnZapp]

Agreed.

But let's agree too Wizards are obliged to keep their errata up to date.

Let's not allow them to get away with anything less. Thus, until they state this fact out loud (in official "updates") we should assume it's a houserule, even for them.