DMs: what NPCs you use in a d20 Modern/Future game?

[Turanil]

Some of you may have seen the d20 NPCs threads in the Rogue Gallery forum (see links in the signature below). The fact is, I have much more ideas of NPCs for the D&D 3.5 thread (I can go up to 150 entries with the variety of fantasy classes and archetypes), than for the d20 Modern / d20 Future thread. Frankly, I don't know what would be useful in these games.

So my question is: tell me what sorts of typical (and easily reusable) NPCs would be useful in your campaigns.

Thanks.

 

[Turanil]

This thread has absolutely no success. I am wondering if d20 modern GMs use any stat-blocks, except for the main villains?

I am running short of ideas to add NPCs to the d20 Modern/Future NPCs thread, and I am asking what you would find a good idea that could possibly be used in your games.

Thanks.

 

[C. Baize]

I always make my own.... Sorry.

 

[HeapThaumaturgist]

I'll look at this and see if I have anything.

--fje

 

[deranged DM]

I looked at the thread, and it was awesome - until I started using VP/WP instead of HP. I, too, usually do my own stat blocks...

 

[Turanil]

Okay, nobody has suggestions to make. So, i will ask another different question. I am going to make Star Trek characters using the d20 modern / future rules. As anyone ideas about whether Kirk is a Strong/Charismatic, Picard is a Smart/Charismatic, etc. I will begin with Diana Troy, who seems the easiest to do.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

Sorry, I was at work, but the thread hasn't been here long yet.

I updated the NPC thread at WotC on Sunday; I will probably be able to update it every Sunday. (I came up with better soldiers, too.)

In any event, anyone who uses more than one skill or who gets involved in combat needs a full stat block. This means the computer nerd the players found to help them hack something doesn't really need a stat block, just a level, max ranks, and maybe Gearhead and Savant (Computer Use), but a private investigator or the head of the customs agents needs lots more skill points and so needs the full character sheet.

As for raw combat characters, I haven't seen some of the more obvious ones - gang members with an Int of less than 13, snipers, mad bombers (there's a really cool one in Operation Winterkill... okay, he's probably not insane, I'm almost entirely sure about that), field scientists, corporate security team leaders (players are always breaking into factories, installations, and the like), assassins and "cleaners" of several type (very hard to make), gunslinger crooks, bodyguards, surveillance teams, and the like. Think of anyone who would be cool and post the idea here - someone will stat them out for you. Maybe me

And I rarely see leaders, either. The gang boss in the Modern book is terrible - how does he expect to keep his position with an Intelligence score of 8? And since he's an Ordinary, not a hero, he's basically wasting levels on Charismatic. (Charismatic heroes are cool, but the Ordinaries are kind of ... lame.)

PS I've got a Starfury pilot sitting around in my card-box somewhere. I remember you asked for pilots. I'll have to ask about them in the military NPC thread.

 

[Turanil]

gang members with an Int of less than 13, snipers, mad bombers (there's a really cool one in Operation Winterkill... okay, he's probably not insane, I'm almost entirely sure about that), field scientists, corporate security team leaders (players are always breaking into factories, installations, and the like), assassins and "cleaners" of several type (very hard to make), gunslinger crooks, bodyguards, surveillance teams, and the like.

Thanks, I have ideas for the thread. I will begin with the sniper...

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

And I rarely see leaders, either. The gang boss in the Modern book is terrible - how does he expect to keep his position with an Intelligence score of 8? And since he's an Ordinary, not a hero, he's basically wasting levels on Charismatic. (Charismatic heroes are cool, but the Ordinaries are kind of ... lame.)

Well, think about how this gang will look like with the stats - they will probably be trust on their boss and defend him, but they will also be badly organized. They will only be used as the grunts for organized crime, but never do their own thing or grow really powerful. He will need someone that explains the bigger picture to him, but at least he can get his people to do what he wants.
A real leader (for a group that has any kind of success) should have different statistics, I agree.

Why do you thing Charismatic Ordinaries are lame? Lamer as other ordinaries? (Remember that it is difficult to get the whole interaction skills without Charismatic levels). Sure, they will suck at combat, but so do the heroes.

Mustrum Ridcully

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

Why do you thing Charismatic Ordinaries are lame? Lamer as other ordinaries? (Remember that it is difficult to get the whole interaction skills without Charismatic levels). Sure, they will suck at combat, but so do the heroes.

Mustrum Ridcully

It's basically combat. A Tough Ordinary still has d10 hp/level and a decent BAB, whereas the Charismatic Ordinary only has a decent Fort save going for it. As for the Charismatic Hero, Fast Talk and Charm will give them better skills, any character with the White Collar occupation will get the key skills, and Dazzle and the leadershp talent tree are very useful in combat.