Do the PCs follow the same rules as everyone else?

[wuyanei]

PCs are special -- HP, higher point buy, custom class abilities (for flavor), the whole nine yards. They are not only special while living, they remain special even after they are dead -- PCs get to come back from the dead automatically, the others have to roll resurrection chance (or strike a bargain with their diety to release him).

 

[Henrix]

Pcs are special, in much the same way that important NPCs are special!

But they are definitely a cut above the most of the NPCs in that they have better stats (randomly rolled, though), and, of course, get max hp on their first die.

 

[Bront]

In most cases, I prefer exceptional PCs over NPCs, so there are few NPCs that use the full rules set like the PCs get. But, it does happen on occasion, and often the big baddie is better than any single PC.

 

[Inconsequenti-AL]

Kinda... I just divide my worlds into important people and the rest. Mooks use the rest characteristics - 24 to 28 point buy, don't normally bother with irrelevant skills, etc.

Important people are the major NPCs and PCs tend to run off broadly the same rulesets. If I'm using action dice for the PCs, then named bad guys probably have them too. Use the same point buy (usually 32). Etc.

If anything, I sometimes 'favour' the NPCs in that they will use resources that the players don't have access to - weird splat books, strange monster manuals and the like...

 

[Li Shenron]

I don't usually roll stats or hp for NPCs, because they are either:

- cannon fodder which is going to last 1 battle, best to use averages
- non-combat encounters, no need to stat at all
- NPCs important for the plot, in which case they are just what I want (no chance of rolling too few hps for example)

It's surprising to see how many DMs treat NPCs exactly like PCs... I've heard many groups use action points, gestalt classes, and other things, but I never thought that every monster (or at least "elite NPCs") had action points or gestalt combinations in those games.

Then of course, strictly speaking it's not possible to run social skills and experience in the same way for NPCs...

 

[Thanee]

PCs enjoy a few advantages over most NPCs (i.e. higher ability scores, slightly higher hit point average, using Gestalt rules (if applicable)). Only some major NPCs use the same rules as PCs do.

Bye
Thanee

 

[The_Gneech]

Inhabitants of my worlds can be pretty well broken into two categories: "mooks" and "heroes."

Mooks, such as Joe Farmer, Joe Orc Warrior, or Joe Roper, get 10s and 11s for their stats, plus racial modifiers, and NPC classes if they get classes.

Heroes, such as named villains, important NPCs, and the player characters, will have either rolled statistics, point-buy, or default array, and have access to PC classes.

So my answer to the poll would have to be "yes and no." Because yes, PCs are special, but they aren't the only people who are special.

-The Gneech

 

[SweeneyTodd]

Heck yes, they're special. They actually have stats.

 

[Turhan]

I use etools for every one of my npcs but I don't always develop them fully.

I don't have time to fully develop spellcasters so I fudge them a bit with a few extra HP, and maybe there spells do a bit extra damage (maybe an extra d6). But no metamagic feats factored in.
Fighter types get extra HP but I seldom apply any feat except power attack or maybe cleave, and dodge.

Bad Guys get a full roll up in etools. I try to play them as I would a PC.

PC's get hero points to burn, but only if they win them thru heroic behavior first. That happens every 4-5 levels as we only have 3 players and caution is more important than death defying heroics in a small group.

Basic rules and point roll ups are the same. I use the high powered option in etools. NPCs never take skills that are "soft" but rather take spot and search and hide and such. No gather info or craft alchemy. NPCs are tools of destruction generally, and I build them with that in mind.

I voted that PCs and NPCs are equal, but really they are only roughly equivalent.

 

[painandgreed]

Everybody plays by the same rules. All NPCs are built by the same rules that players make their PCs from. All characters, PCs or NPCs, get the XP via the same rules. PCs are special due to their choices and actions rather than some inherant quality. If the PCs are to be special, they should earn it.