Major NPCs - Character or NPC Classes

[Melkor]

Hey folks,

I need to create several NPCs for a campaign, and I wanted to ask: Should I use NPC classes or standard Character classes ?

Two will be NPC love interests, and I am thinking of using the Noble NPC class to create them.

Another will be a corrupt noble who is trying to take over a ruling council, and who the character's will eventually have to confront. I was thinking of taking a few classes in noble for him as well, and maybe some in Warrior, but I didn't know whethere to mix the Noble & Warrior NPC classes, or to give him some Character Class levels.

Another NPC will be the character's teacher and mentor....an aged Fighter type...I'm not quite sure if I would be better building him with an NPC class, or character class.

To sum up - what are the major differences between NPC classes and standard Character Classes, and how do you folks decide which one to use when creating your NPCs ?

Thanks!

 

[Palskane]

For major NPC's I tend to use character classes. This isn't always the case, however, and a lot of it depends on how much they will be used in the game.

For the love interests: I'd probably use the NPC classes. Unless you see any reason they might be around the PC's for extended periods of time, be caught up in battles, or something similar.

The noblewho is trying to take over the council: a combination, as you mentioned, or a character class with emphasis on high CHA and the Leadership feat. That way PC's may eventually confront him directly, but in the meantime he has lots of cohorts and minions they have to deal with first.

The mentor and teacher: I'd probably definitely have a character class for this one. Higher than the PC whom he taught, but certainly low enough that the PC will eventually outstrip him in skill.

 

[Infiniti2000]

To sum up - what are the major differences between NPC classes and standard Character Classes, and how do you folks decide which one to use when creating your NPCs ?

By definition, PC classes are more powerful. Other than listing out the actual stats and comparing specific classes, that's it. NPC classes otherwise just have different flavor than PC classes in the same way that, say, wizard is different from sorcerer. So, for your major NPCs you should really just concentrate on what type of flavor you want. You can use expert, warrior, aristocrat, or whatever, or multiclass into NPC and PC classes.

 

[Tatsukun]

It sounds like the one they may have to fight is a BBEG, if so, go with a PC class for him. For a noble, bard works really well, just make his perform skill "oration" and have him give really good speeches. He’ll climb the social ranks really quickly with his “charming personality”.

As for the other two, it sounds like they are side characters, so I would stick with NPC classes for those.

Have fun!

-Tatsu

 

[dvvega]

I've always found that the Noble/Warrior combination is really well reflected by a Rogue.

In your description it would imply the corrupt noble is such a person. The Warrior class tends to evoke in me the image of a run of the mill soldier.

D

 

[Veril]

PC classes are more powerful than NPC classes. For anyone of significance who is a foil/opponent of the PC's you should use the PC classes IMO, so as to present a true challenge.
As for the rest, who cares what they are. If the PC's aren't going to fight/oppose them then their abilities and classes are pretty much irrelevant. You can save time by assuming that they have any core skill they need maxed, any and non core skill at half that - as a quick workaround.

 

[Shin Okada]

Being a noble does not define one's class at all. To be an efficient noble (I mean, a ruler and a diplomat), one may better have certain skills at reasonable level (say, diplomacy, knowledge (nobility and loyalty), etc.). But that is all. Feel free to use whichever class (or combination of classes) you like, depend on what kind of class abilities you want to give that villain.

 

[Krelios]

I would use NPC classes unless those NPCs had ever been adventurers.

 

[just__al]

I don't have my book of Vile Darkness in front of me, but there's a presteige class or two in there where the person is a very devout follower of a demon prince or arch devil. Why not have the corrupt noble be one of those, he can have taken Aristocrat levels until he presteiged.

Makes for a very dirty little secret.

 

[MonsterMash]

I use a mixture depending on the NPC, but the Aristocrat NPC class is nearly as effective as a PC class IMO. Fighters are used for experienced soldiers and non-commissioned officers as a mixer with Warriors.