I just posted the following to my 4e players in connection with creating DMG2 style supporting-role/background NPCs. I thought it might also be handy guideline for 4e DMs:
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NPC stat creation guidelines for 0th level characters - entirely optional, but you can suggest a statline for 0th level NPCs if desired (don't do this for levelled characters). See Kally for an example - http://frloudwater.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/kally-docks-urchin-npc-created-by.html - don't assign a Minion Level in the stats, I can do one for combat if necessary.
"0th Level" Characters, including Minions of Minion Level 1-6.
Maximum Attributes are 1 at 16 and 2 at 12-13, with other attributes at 10-11 or lower.
Baseline defenses are all 10, modified by Attributes. Humans get +1 to Non-AC Defenses.
Damage Threshold (damage to KO, half that rounded down is Bloodied Value) CON/2, rounded down: normal Minion DT is Level+2. Use whichever is higher. Eg CON 14 = DT 7/3. A 4th level Minion has minimum DT 6/3.
Many 0th level characters are noncombatant, if forced into combat they can attack at +0 (modified by attribute) with a knife or improvised weapon, damage is 2+attribute modifier, +2 on a critical hit.
Trained Skills: The 0th level character will have a maximum of 3 Trained Skills. One Trained Skill may be swapped out for a Feat, eg Ritual Caster or Skill Focus. Humans get a Feat for free.
If the character has a Minion Level, use that for combat stats, but for skills the character is treated as 0th level, with no level modifier.
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NPC stat creation guidelines for 0th level characters - entirely optional, but you can suggest a statline for 0th level NPCs if desired (don't do this for levelled characters). See Kally for an example - http://frloudwater.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/kally-docks-urchin-npc-created-by.html - don't assign a Minion Level in the stats, I can do one for combat if necessary.
"0th Level" Characters, including Minions of Minion Level 1-6.
Maximum Attributes are 1 at 16 and 2 at 12-13, with other attributes at 10-11 or lower.
Baseline defenses are all 10, modified by Attributes. Humans get +1 to Non-AC Defenses.
Damage Threshold (damage to KO, half that rounded down is Bloodied Value) CON/2, rounded down: normal Minion DT is Level+2. Use whichever is higher. Eg CON 14 = DT 7/3. A 4th level Minion has minimum DT 6/3.
Many 0th level characters are noncombatant, if forced into combat they can attack at +0 (modified by attribute) with a knife or improvised weapon, damage is 2+attribute modifier, +2 on a critical hit.
Trained Skills: The 0th level character will have a maximum of 3 Trained Skills. One Trained Skill may be swapped out for a Feat, eg Ritual Caster or Skill Focus. Humans get a Feat for free.
If the character has a Minion Level, use that for combat stats, but for skills the character is treated as 0th level, with no level modifier.
