D&D 4E NPC classes? How are non-classed characters working in 4e?

[A'koss]

Actually, I think this is an area where 4th edition could make a major improvement. What we need are some NPC classes that are just as powerful in combat as the PC classes, but which are far easier to stat up at any level than the PC classes. The DM will have monsters which are fairly simple to run relative to 3rd edition (we hope) for any given level, but what about civilized opponents from the PC races? How will the DM create challenges to the PCs in town/city/political intrigue based campaigns without the same or even greater challenge of stating up high level NPCs? We need alternative NPC classes such as warrior, mage, priest and thug to replace fighter, wizard, cleric and rogue. These should not be weaker than the PC classes in a normal fight, but they should have fewer options. So the reason players would not play such a class is because they are boring to play, not because they can't stand up to a PC in a straight up combat.

Iron Heroes had some very cool ideas on this front - particularly the easy-to-stat-up-&-run NPC & "Villian Classes". 4e should really take a page out that model.

We really don't need an Expert or Aristocrat class IMO - a single "Commoner" NPC class could cover them all. Then an "expert" is really just a HL commoner. Aristocrat doesn't need to be a class on it's own.

 

[Klaus]

Iron Heroes had some very cool ideas on this front - particularly the easy-to-stat-up-&-run NPC & "Villian Classes". 4e should really take a page out that model.

We really don't need an Expert or Aristocrat class IMO - a single "Commoner" NPC class could cover them all. Then an "expert" is really just a HL commoner. Aristocrat doesn't need to be a class on it's own.

I think Commoner should be a class of its own (maybe just 5 levels). But I think Aristocrat and Expert should be rolled into a single class. IMHO, "Expert" should be a (in 3.5 terms) class with HD d4, poor BAB, good Will saves, any 10 skills as class skills and 8 skill points per level. That way you can have an elderly sage Expert 10 and Con 8 with 10d4-10 hp (averaging 15 hp) and a very good modifier in all Knowldge skils. An "aristocrat" would be an Expert 5 with Knowledge (history, nobility/royalty), Diplomacy, Sense Motive, Intimidate, Bluff, Ride and Profession (noble) maxed out. If the noble if of a more martial persuasion, add in Warrior levels.

 

[A'koss]

I think Commoner should be a class of its own (maybe just 5 levels). But I think Aristocrat and Expert should be rolled into a single class. IMHO, "Expert" should be a (in 3.5 terms) class with HD d4, poor BAB, good Will saves, any 10 skills as class skills and 8 skill points per level. That way you can have an elderly sage Expert 10 and Con 8 with 10d4-10 hp (averaging 15 hp) and a very good modifier in all Knowldge skils. An "aristocrat" would be an Expert 5 with Knowledge (history, nobility/royalty), Diplomacy, Sense Motive, Intimidate, Bluff, Ride and Profession (noble) maxed out. If the noble if of a more martial persuasion, add in Warrior levels.

I personally don't think it's worth splitting hairs over non-combatants, a "Commoner" class serves them all fine. You're an "expert" when you're a HL commoner. Aristocrats are probably better modeled by multiclassing into Warriors and so on.

If it were up to me, the Commoner Class would have decent Skill Points, 1d6 HP + 1d6/4 levels, no Attack Progression but the usual allotment of stat bonuses and feats every X levels. This takes care of people with no combat training gaining attack bonuses equal to an adventuring wizard. There's no way 20th level sages and artisians should be able to roll up their sleeves and wade into battle with a better attack bonus than burly 5th level fighters...

 

[Starglim]

'Aristocrats' should be PC or villain classes. But I don't agree with making blacksmiths or town militias, for example, into a joke in combat. In a Points of Light setting, there are no non-combatants.

 

[vagabundo]

Keep the NPC classes to a minimum and integatrate it with the system Monsters Manual.

I should be able to make an on the fly encounter with a NPC human villian and her hired Mercenary Orc Brutes without too much trouble.

Maybe they will have an NPC class for each power source, and their role could be Villian, Mook, adapt....

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

Maybe there is a further role, previously unmentioned, the "Commoner Role" (or will it be "Expert Role"?). This role concentrates on a few skills, but is otherwise pretty weak in combat. If level and HD are not considered equivalent for monsters and NPC, this might work well. You're not forced to add tons of hit points and attack bonus just to get some sensible skill modifiers this way.

They might also take the D20 Modern approach:
NPCs have levels in the "Ordinary" classes. These classes use the same rules as the regular except that you don't get the classes bonus feats or talents.

 

[Klaus]

'Aristocrats' should be PC or villain classes. But I don't agree with making blacksmiths or town militias, for example, into a joke in combat. In a Points of Light setting, there are no non-combatants.

Aristocrats are just Experts with court-related skills. Militia are Warriors. Blacksmiths are Warrior/Experts focusing on crafting skills.

 

[Green Knight]

I've always liked the NPC Classes, and rather liked the Nonheroic Class from Star Wars Saga, myself. What I especially like about it was how it took three Nonheroic levels to equal one PC levels. So even if you somehow ended up with a Level 30 Nonheroic character, he was only equivalent to a Level 10 PC. So even the absolute toughest NPC would still only count as being "Heroic", never "Paragon" or "Epic".

I say this because I like the idea of NPC's levelling up. Hell, I like the idea of gaining XP for things other then combat, and it looks like 4E's going in that direction, too. Getting XP for accomplishing objectives, even if it doesn't actually involve killing an Orc. And having an NPC whose levels are only 1/3rd as good as a PC level solves the issues with higher-level NPC's being to tough. So personally I'm hoping for a Nonheroic Class in 4E. The differences between Commoners, Experts, Adepts, Aristocrats, and Warriors can be represented easily enough by Feats. Give the Nonheroic character three base Feats he can start with, and from that list let him choose Feats like Armor/Weapon Proficiencies, Skill Training, etc. If he pics Armor/Weapon Proficiencies, he's a Warrior. If he picks Skill Training, he's an Expert. If he picks one of each, along with a third which grants him a larger starting amount of gold (Why not? A Feat called Aristocrat which makes you a part of the upper crust of society and gives you large amount of starting gold), then you're an Aristocrat. And so on.

It works out quite nicely, and the 1st-level NPC's can get hired by a 12th-level Nonheroic noble who runs the town and not be completely overawed by the guy, as he's only the equivalent of a 4th-level PC.

 

[OakwoodDM]

The other side of the coin is the recent revelation of rituals for non-combat magic. Personally, I think this has the potential to be great, although obviously I won't know until I see finished product. If I were designing a fantasy RPG, though, it would be an easy jump to create NPC classes for each power source that only have access to the out-of-combat ritual stuff.

I like this idea a lot as an answer to the issue of levelled PC class NPCs sitting around in temples all day, writing their sermons and waiting for the party to come in with a disease or a dead body.

 

[Xyl]

My money is on common NPC types (farmer, bandit, conjurer, etc.) being statted up as monsters in the MM, plus a section in the DMG on how to build an NPC with the PC rules. We know that non-PC races such as orc are statted up for specific roles, so I'll be very surprised if they don't do the same for PC races.

As additional support, they've said that every miniature in Desert of Desolation is in the 4e MM, including the Farmer, Militia Archer, and Elf Conjurer. While it's possible that just means humans and dwarfs are in the MM and you have to advance them yourself, that would conflict with their apparent move towards prebuilt stat blocks rather than having to add class levels to everything.