How do you think creating NPC's will be handled

[Dausuul]

Actually, now that I think about it, I'll bet this is going to be one of the features of the Digital Initiative. Subscribe and get an "instant NPC generator."

 

[Wormwood]

Actually, now that I think about it, I'll bet this is going to be one of the features of the Digital Initiative. Subscribe and get an "instant NPC generator."

That's a great idea.

Of course, an even better idea would be for Wizards to simplify D&D to the point where I wouldn't need an instant NPC generator.

 

[BASHMAN]

Use the NPC cards that come with your virtual or tabletop miniatures? If not, Jamis Buck, where are you when we need you!?!

 

[Gundark]

That's a great idea.

Of course, an even better idea would be for Wizards to simplify D&D to the point where I wouldn't need an instant NPC generator.

I think it was mentioned that a NPC(or was it PC) generator would be part of the DI. However I suspect we'll see easier NPC Generation that might not need a generator. That is if the villian classes from IH has an impact on 4e NPC creation.

 

[BlueBlackRed]

I'm betting on modular NPC's for new DM's as a chart like the classed NPC in the 3E DMG.

They have a chart of let's say soldier types with stats and other components laid out that will remain relatively the same for all soldier-types, then a small list of what to do for each type to make each one different, w/o having to do more work than needed.

 

[jdrakeh]

I hope its somthing as mind-numbingly simple as a yes/no chart

Does the NPC have this feat
Yes- wright it down move to next question
No - Move to next question

Does your NPC have this blah blah
Yes- Blah
No - Blah

Kind of like the PHB II quick NPC generation rules? I hope so. I really hope so.

 

[Irda Ranger]

Sorry, but you said the same here .

And there were som answers to it. You got a right point, but don't repeat it in every discussion, please.

I didn't read that other thread. I bet a lot of people didn't. His comment was germane and "new" to me. I think he had every right to say what he did here.

I also think that a level 10 bard is better at perform than Mozart, Jimi Hendrix or Allan Holdsworth, in the same way, that a level 10 fighter is better than all human fighters in reality. It's magic.

He's better at casting Haste, has more HP and his music is actually magic (as opposed to merely sounding magical), but no, I don't think a level 10 Bard is better than Mozart.

 

[Irda Ranger]

...PCs need rules for balance purposes. So that players are balanced against each other to some extent and to keep power levels of individuals and groups relatively on par with one another. However, NPCs need no such limitations....

Character generation rules are an artificial framework for creating characters that work together as a group at a relatively similar power level -- they're there to create adventuring parties. That's it. They're not there to add realism or flavor ... Creating a world, monsters, and NPCs is art, not programming...

This is correct. That's one of the reasons I like where they're going in 4E with Monster design.

If they want to help in NPC and monster creation, I think the best thing they can do is say, "average expected damage per round, hp, ac, and saves for a creature of level X are..." Anything else isn't really all that useful to me and, in my opinion, only serves to complicate matters.

I think this IS what they're doing; broken down by monster Role (brute, artillery, etc.). Just go to Level X, read across the column, choose two powers from Chart A and one from Chart B; and Presto! Level X monster or Role Y. Describe him however you like, since descriptive fluff text is infinitely plastic and rules agnostic.

Iron Heroes' Villain Classes are nice, but you'll need something a little more complicated for NPCs who are expected to have recognizable classes. But if regular PC CharGen is simple and fast enough, you may not need special rules for that. Otherwise I'll just do as DRSilk does and eyeball what a 10th level Wizard should have.

My hope is that someone actually makes a quick, sensible character generator with zero fancy graphics and functionality out the wazoo. With Skill Points out of the way, it should go quickly. There would need to be a DM mode (anything goes) and a Player mode (rules bound). You would be able to choose between custom builds and "standard build" for a particular class and level (with the option to go back and tweak, of course). And to aid in quick (and limited purpose) NPC design, every step in the process should have a checkbox for "I don't care."

Actually, now that I think about it, I'll bet this is going to be one of the features of the Digital Initiative. Subscribe and get an "instant NPC generator."

I don't trust WotC to make software that isn't bloated crap. I hope they let third-parties take a crack at it.

Of course, an even better idea would be for Wizards to simplify D&D to the point where I wouldn't need an instant NPC generator.

And the "need" for this software is not a failing. No matter how quickly I can stat on paper (for ANY game system), I can do it faster on a computer and can cut & paste the stat block to my online quest notes Wiki. That's a killer app. Even if they use the simplest possible NPC "By the numbers" charts in the DMG, I can't generate a stat block to copy & paste from there directly into my quest notes.

 

[Raloc]

Perhaps they're just doing NPCs with the same things they do for monsters, except labeled differently + class levels. It somewhat makes sense from a design perspective to have them unified (though it would be weird, since most people (I guess) treat NPCs pretty much like PCs and use this to advantage (I like to play them as such simply because it's fun to level up a character along with the PCs)). The gnome is a monster (in Core at least for now), after all.

^ Edit: Like Irda Ranger says.
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[Steely Dan]

1.) I didn't read that other thread. I bet a lot of people didn't. His comment was germane and "new" to me. I think he had every right to say what he did here.


2.) He's better at casting Haste, has more HP and his music is actually magic (as opposed to merely sounding magical), but no, I don't think a level 10 Bard is better than Mozart.

1.) Thanks, man.


2.) Exactly – totally agree.