D&D 5E (2014) Character or monster builds for important NPCs?

[Morrus]

When you create an important NPC for your homebrew game do you use character or monster builds?

 

[TwoSix]

Monster builds. PC rules are for PCs. NPCs are not PCs.

(Yes, I realize I'm ringing the bell to get dogpiled.)

 

[Garthanos]

Monster builds. PC rules are for PCs. NPCs are not PCs.

(Yes, I realize I'm ringing the bell to get dogpiled.)

agreed almost always... (mumbles something here about DMPCs and that it might not be a good idea ) there are exceptions though not frequent

 

[Garthanos]

I often think having good story is the most important stat block for NPCs tbh.

 

[Oofta]

A little of both, depending on the NPC. I frequently use a refluffed and slightly modified monster. Other times I'll add PC class and levels to a monster. It's pretty rare that I feel the need to write up a character from scratch.

 

[Charlaquin]

Usually monster stats. I might give a monster a PC ability here or there.

 

[Nikosandros]

Monster builds, unless the character will be an active ally of the PCs in combat, in which case, I might use a PC build in some instances.

 

[MarkB]

I almost always just pull out one of the established NPC statblocks from the Monster Manual or Volo's, and make minor adjustments for race and/or equipment. If they're particularly important I'll re-work them more thoroughly, but still starting from such a template rather than a PC build.

 

[Dausuul]

Somewhere in between. I create simplified versions of PCs; similar enough for the players to recognize PC class abilities, but with a lot of the bookkeeping removed.

It's always entertaining when a player realizes, "Hey, that villain is the same class I am!" They really, really hate having their own tricks used against them. And the more they hate the villain, the sweeter it is to beat them.

 

[J-H]

Monster because otherwise they have too few HP to survive long enough to use those interesting abilities.