Designing NPCs on the fly

[LostSoul]

So you're, like, gaming with your buddies, and Bobby the Barbarian wants to challenge the "meanest looking guy in the bar to a wrestling match."

Now, you don't have that guy statted up, and you've used the DMG Fighter x so many times now that you're getting bored of it. And maybe the NPC you have in mind ("Boris the Bad") has levels of Rogue, too.

So how do you do it? Can you whip up an NPC without missing a beat? Can you do that and keep track of all the saves, magic items, skill points, hit points, etc.?

 

[Desdichado]

Not really. But I also don't see the need to do so. I'll whip up an attack bonus, HP and AC on the fly, and add special abilities, saves, skill bonuses, spells, etc. on the fly as needed. But no, I don't keep track of all that. I don't see the need to. I hardly imagine that my players will audit my on the fly NPCs, so as long as they're not wildly irrational in their bonuses, I don't sweat it.

For the record, I also don't tell my PCs what my die rolls are, or my die rolls + bonuses, except when I want to lament, mock or gloat over a particular roll, so it doesn't really matter to anyone but me what those numbers are anyway.

 

[BiggusGeekus]

I either use an on-line character generator and don't complain when Boris has three ranks of Alchemy or Knowledge (Puppies) or I guess what Boris' abilities are when I need them and hope the players don't ever ever ever ask me for his statblock.

 

[LostSoul]

Not really. But I also don't see the need to do so.

Ack! But what about my anal-retentiveness?!

But seriously now, that sounds like a good idea. If I can ever convince myself to go for it. And I guess you'd need trusting players.

 

[jerichothebard]

Well, for starters, remember that you don't need a fully fleshed-out character in a situation like this. Who cares what Boris the Bad's skill check for Craft: Fuzzy Bunny Slippers is? All you need to know is his save and grapple bonuses, and whether he is willing to fight dirty (i.e., his alignment), and what his applicable feats might be.

Then invest him with some attitude, and go to it.


Things you don't need:

Non-related feats (weapon focus in something other than grapple, for ex.)
Middle name
Marital status (unless he's married to Betty the Badder, who will kick the player's butt if they beat Boris)
hobbies
non-related skill bonuses
non-related treasure
horse's name
food allergies



While this example obviously only applies to the situation you advanced, there will always be more stuff possible then needed at any one time.

Make up what you need, and if the NPC is worth keeping, flesh him out later.

jtb

 

[LostSoul]

Question, though: what if one of your unstatted NPCs ended up killing one of the PCs? Would that cause problems in the group?

 

[Turanil]

As someone else said, I use a generator and don't bother about 3 ranks in Alchemy. Let's try Jamys Buck's generator, which is free and really excellent.

 

[Chronosome]

The important stats for a quickie "tough guy" encounter are a level, attack bonus, AC, hit points, and damage.

For a fighter:
Attack bonus: level + whatever strength mod you apply to him
AC: Whatever he's wearing + whatever Dex mod you apply
Hit points: level x 10 x some fair percentage
Damage: Weapon + that same strength mod

Once you've got that down and do it a few times, you can toss in a some spice.

Feats: Maybe give a "quickie" Weapon Focus or Dodge, nothing too fancy at first. (Make sure your ability requirements line up.) Remember Fighters get bonus feats.

Another Class Level: Rogue? Barbarian? Sorcerer? Sure...just make sure you know what the low levels of those classes grant.

Equipment: That NPC equipment page for each class comes in pretty handy in times like these. Copy it or memorize its page number for quick reference.

The great thing about quickies (and NPCs in general) is that PCs have no idea what abilities any given NPC has until they see them in action. Players don't generally think to deconstruct a casual NPC anyway. Keep it loose but simple and you should be fine.

Hope that helps.
A formula to remember:
Ability score - 10 / 2 = Ability mod. That helps these on-the-fly deals a lot.

 

[LostSoul]

Those are some good tips, Chronosome. Thanks!

 

[Desdichado]

Ack! But what about my anal-retentiveness?!

Sorry, can't help you there.

But seriously now, that sounds like a good idea. If I can ever convince myself to go for it. And I guess you'd need trusting players.

I suppose. Although I guess I've never really had any other kind, and I find it hard to imagine otherwise. If I had players that were trying to audit my NPCs because they didn't trust me as a DM, I'd probably not be playing with them, though. That's a symptom of bigger behavior patterns, and ones that I'd rather not deal with.