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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Man in the Funny Hat" data-source="post: 4502556" data-attributes="member: 32740">Demographics is just a convenient word that means, "NPC's are whatever I want them to be for whatever reason I need them to be it."  Attempting to chart the spread of NPC levels, to codify them or just illustrate a general pattern has only ever caused me problems or wasted my own time.  For example, if I make any such chart that shows how many NPCs of what class and what level there MIGHT be in a population I find I need to violate it constantly to serve my practical ends - in which case it's not "charting" anything, it's in my way. The ONLY reason I should ever have to formalize an NPC's level and abilities is if the PC's are going to directly interact with them.  Until that time they are nothing more than a collection of adjectives - a reputedly powerful sorceror, an obviously tough guardsman, a weak but prosperous shopkeeper, a ruthless killer or a famously skilled craftsman.  If I want a blacksmith to be the most skilled blacksmith in the world I could give a rip what class or level he actually would have to be.  If I want him to be 1st level for combat purposes but to have enough skill points for a 20th level player character than thats what he gets.  If I want a 16th level cleric to be available then one is available, if I want the highest level rogue in the city to be 6th level then that's what is and demographics be hanged.</blockquote>