Do all NPCs in your game need to be statted out?

[steenan]

Sometimes.

In many games I run it's impossible to objectively describge someone as evil, so that is not a good criterion.

I stat NPCs that are important enough that the PCs will interact with them a lot (not necessarily by combat - in many non-combat conflicts stats are no less necessary). I also stat these who have a unique, mechanically represented, ability or quirk, that would be hard to improvise.
For most other NPCs I have a note on how powerful they are and what is their area of expertise - the numbers I may improvise when necessary.

 

[The Shaman]

Yes, but not for the reason outlined in the poll choice.

Being able to compare how well an adventurers stacks up against a non-player character is not limited to combat situations. Npc stats often represent scope of knowledge, skill competence, and so forth, so they are useful in guiding interaction with the adventurers.

 

[fanboy2000]

I stat NPCs only if I think any of the following will happen during the game session:

The PCs will need to roll against any target number that would be in the NPC's stat block.

The PCs will need to make an opposed skill check against the NPC.

The NPC will need to make an opposed skill check against the PCs

The NPC will need to roll against any number on the PC's character sheet.

The NPC will only get those stats necessary for the game session.

 

[Lanefan]

I rarely if ever stat out NPCs at all, except sometimes for hit points; unless I know they're going to either fight (as in, BBEG-type fight) or join (as in, become an active member) the party at some point.

If they decide on the spur of the moment to take on some random NPC they meet, then said NPC's basic stats will appear just as spur-of-the-moment-ly. They'll consist of h.p., fight level, AC, and basic stats; all either pulled out of the air and-or rolled using %-ile on a rough bell curve.

Lanefan

 

[wedgeski]

"Sometimes" is the right answer for me, but I do stat out important good guys as well.

 

[Crothian]

No, and it is not just becasue of use but time. I can use a lot of NPCs and I just don't want to stat them all out. It can be time consuming even in simple systems. Stating out NPCs is not that much fun no matter the game.

 

[Jhaelen]

NPCs in my games rarely have stats, at least initially. Most npcs are 'born' by consulting a bunch of lists with random names and traits. They're only fleshed out if they have potential to be reused.

 

[Woas]

On such rare occasions that I just voted No.

 

[billd91]

I may not stat them out completely, but I'll usually consider what NPC class and level they'd be, maybe jot down their most important skills for encountering the PCs. If a fight breaks out with them, I'll ballpark the important elements and go from there.

 

[The Shaman]

No, and it is not just becasue of use but time. I can use a lot of NPCs and I just don't want to stat them all out. It can be time consuming even in simple systems. Stating out NPCs is not that much fun no matter the game.

That's why this is one of the best supplements ever published for any game.

Seriously, I don't understand why this isn't the first supplement released by every rpg publisher.