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<blockquote data-quote="kigmatzomat" data-source="post: 2179563" data-attributes="member: 9254">Cheat.&nbsp; Use the 3.0 DMG's default NPCs.&nbsp; They aren't perfect but they work just fine for quickie NPCs. Come up with the personality and background.&nbsp; Decide a level and flip through the DMG' and look for one with the combat-type stats you want.&nbsp; Consider making copies of those pages and keep in your pile of NPC stats so they don't realize when you're doing it.&nbsp; &nbsp;I simplify most NPC casters by the assumption they are often fighting as part of larger forces and devote a lot of their magics to buff/debuff spells.&nbsp; Uncast buff spells are still useful just for counter-spelling.&nbsp; (Watch the PC caster's eyes go wide when his Mass Haste goes &quot;fizzle.&quot;)&nbsp; Individuality is as much description as it is function.&nbsp; I had an awakened Shambling Mound Wizard cast Evard's Black Tentacles but they appeared as spiked vines exploding out of the ground.&nbsp; Summon Monster resulted in feral shrubs using normal creature stats.&nbsp;&nbsp; Poof, instant individuality. As a DM, play to your strengths when pressed for time and bunt.&nbsp; If you're great at generating personas, do your best to keep the confrontations interpersonal.&nbsp; Use white flags, have them meet the BBEG at a temple, a wedding, or just at the bath-house.&nbsp; Talk enough to confuse the players and give yourself more time.&nbsp; But always whip up a &quot;baseline&quot; character to have in case the PCs do something stupid before you're was ready.&nbsp; It may not be as tweaked out as what you'd wind up with after 4 hours, but it'll be much better than flipping through the books frantically mid-game.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="kigmatzomat, post: 2179563, member: 9254"] Cheat. Use the 3.0 DMG's default NPCs. They aren't perfect but they work just fine for quickie NPCs. Come up with the personality and background. Decide a level and flip through the DMG' and look for one with the combat-type stats you want. Consider making copies of those pages and keep in your pile of NPC stats so they don't realize when you're doing it. I simplify most NPC casters by the assumption they are often fighting as part of larger forces and devote a lot of their magics to buff/debuff spells. Uncast buff spells are still useful just for counter-spelling. (Watch the PC caster's eyes go wide when his Mass Haste goes "fizzle.") Individuality is as much description as it is function. I had an awakened Shambling Mound Wizard cast Evard's Black Tentacles but they appeared as spiked vines exploding out of the ground. Summon Monster resulted in feral shrubs using normal creature stats. Poof, instant individuality. As a DM, play to your strengths when pressed for time and bunt. If you're great at generating personas, do your best to keep the confrontations interpersonal. Use white flags, have them meet the BBEG at a temple, a wedding, or just at the bath-house. Talk enough to confuse the players and give yourself more time. But always whip up a "baseline" character to have in case the PCs do something stupid before you're was ready. It may not be as tweaked out as what you'd wind up with after 4 hours, but it'll be much better than flipping through the books frantically mid-game. [/QUOTE]

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