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Character Builds & Optimization
Do you build NPCs to live or to die?
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<blockquote data-quote="Mustrum_Ridcully" data-source="post: 4769120" data-attributes="member: 710"><p>The fun is <s>seeing the PCs stumble cluelessly around trying to find a way to punch the guy in the face, or at least somewhere</s>seeing the PCs cleverly finding a way to punch the guy in the face! </p><p></p><p>---</p><p></p><p>NPCs that are meant to be fought (and don't just get accidentally in a firefight) are built to die, but preferably in an interesting way. </p><p>If an NPC is supposed to enter combat, I build him to be interesting there. High defense might be a way to do this (but I think, a cool combat trick - even if defensive in nature - is a better approach). </p><p></p><p>Outside of combat purposes, I build NPCs to fill their role in the story or world.</p><p>In 3E, I used to shuffle skill points around to match the NPCs skills to the story and past I had in mind for him. "He's a leader, he needs diplomacy, even if it's cross class!"</p><p>These days, I just decide the skills he is trained in and maybe a skill he deserves "special" training.</p><p></p><p>Assuming I have stats at all and don't just guesstimate stuff... <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" /></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Mustrum_Ridcully, post: 4769120, member: 710"] The fun is [s]seeing the PCs stumble cluelessly around trying to find a way to punch the guy in the face, or at least somewhere[/s]seeing the PCs cleverly finding a way to punch the guy in the face! --- NPCs that are meant to be fought (and don't just get accidentally in a firefight) are built to die, but preferably in an interesting way. If an NPC is supposed to enter combat, I build him to be interesting there. High defense might be a way to do this (but I think, a cool combat trick - even if defensive in nature - is a better approach). Outside of combat purposes, I build NPCs to fill their role in the story or world. In 3E, I used to shuffle skill points around to match the NPCs skills to the story and past I had in mind for him. "He's a leader, he needs diplomacy, even if it's cross class!" These days, I just decide the skills he is trained in and maybe a skill he deserves "special" training. Assuming I have stats at all and don't just guesstimate stuff... ;) [/QUOTE]
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Do you build NPCs to live or to die?
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