D&D: Enough with the Sample NPCs

[Arashi Ravenblade]

I have to agree the NPC writeups are annoying, however if they where to say stat up famous NPC's From the Forgotten Realms, GreyHawk or Eberron that would be better than a bunch of nobodies. At least make the NPC writeups people we will recognize or heck even the PCs used to play test said prestige class (unless thats whats their doing already).

 

[Mystery Man]

I have to agree the NPC writeups are annoying, however if they where to say stat up famous NPC's From the Forgotten Realms, GreyHawk or Eberron that would be better than a bunch of nobodies.

FR and Greyhawk famous NPC's are statted in various sourcebooks and the Epic Level Handbook. :\

 

[DM_Jeff]

I actually remember lots of complaints early in 3E how WotC wasn't using sample NPCs so we could get a better look at the mechanics in play. But that's the way of things!

I really like seeing new PrC's put to use with a sample NPC. Lots of them have shown up in my campaigns which has saved me plenty of time of time. I have no problems with them at all in my sourcebooks, in fact I applaud them.

-DM Jeff

 

[Warbringer]

I like it.

And to be honest, that page padding is not adding a whole lot to the cost of the book.

Also, as I'm using it as a template for my PCs. I have all their stats in the same format and I can quickly tell how an encounter will go.

WOTC: release a software package for NPCs with that output format, and I'll hand over $29.99 in a heatrbeat

 

[Ashrem Bayle]

WOTC: release a software package for NPCs with that output format, and I'll hand over $29.99 in a heatrbeat

NPC Designer?

 

[ColonelHardisson]

For serious NPCs, I don't grab some random schmoe's stats out of a book. I stat them out myself. I certainly wouldn't build an adventure around some random dude. (Well -- I can see someone doing it if they were REALLY short on time.)

I don't think it's necessarily better to stat out even a "serious" NPC oneself. No offense, and I'm not saying this is what the intent of the thread is, but if this is gonna turn out to be one of those "if everyone was a real gamer, they'd do it themselves" type of thread, then i'll take a pass on the conversation. I've gamed long enough, and have enough going on outside of gaming, to take shortcuts where I can. There are so many NPC statblocks available, it seems easy enough to me to find one, look at it for a few minutes, and decide if it's close to what I want. Tweaking it to fit my concept exactly is often easy enough to do in much less time than doing it from scratch. Yes, there are times when statting out an important NPC has to be done, but more often than not there is no reason to.

Bring on more stablocks. Love 'em.

 

[Aust Diamondew]

I don't really care either way. I almost never use them but I can see how some might find them useful. What I don't like is how they repeat the description class abilities in the sample NPC. How about you just turn back a page and read it?

What bugs me more is the sheer number of PRCs I don't like PRCs and I don't like 25% of a book is taken up by them.

 

[Vocenoctum]

Personally, I like the premade NPC's. It saves me time as they always seem to be right at the level I want, and if not it is really easy to adjust them up or down instead of starting from scratch, but that's just me.

Same here, I like the Premades, it gives an idea for how the class was designed and fits in with the information presented to give a better idea of how the class works.

 

[Keeper of Secrets]

I dunno. I kind of like the stat blocks, myself. Though perhaps a compromise could be made and just include them all at the end for those who want to see page after page of rules, uninterrupted by some stat blocks.

 

[Vocenoctum]

I don't think it's necessarily better to stat out even a "serious" NPC oneself. No offense, and I'm not saying this is what the intent of the thread is, but if this is gonna turn out to be one of those "if everyone was a real gamer, they'd do it themselves" type of thread, then i'll take a pass on the conversation.

Right, I can design anything I want myself, which pretty much removes the need to ever buy another product. I buy them because it's easier for me, and they add to my game in beneficial ways.