NPC stats? What would YOU want?

[Berandor]

Hi!

As I am working on a possible D20 supplement right now, I'd like to know your opinion on NPC stats.
How should they be given to you? The stats will be mostly for DMs, btw.

Do you need a complete stat block? Do you even want ability scores?

The stats that I think of using now contain the characters name and title, and then in brackets (sex race class level).
Furthermore, some notes towards interests and dislikes, and towards strengths and weaknesses, as well as alignment (probably; alignment is not so sure as of now).

Would that be enough for you? Would that give the DM enough freedom?

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Sample NPC:
Godzilla, Trasher of Tokyo (female Kaiju Fighter 6/Ranger 2)
Strengths: Smashing buildings, shooting lightning or flames from his mouth.
Weaknesses: Rubber suit, electrical power plants
Interests: Swimming, killing, battling other Kaiju
Dislikes: King Kong, stepping on his tail
Alignment: CN
History: Godzilla was spawned by a crazed japanese filmmaker, and has shown to possess near total immortality, resurfacing from sure defeat every couple of years. Recently, he has even traveled abroad to star in a silly American action movie, together with her talented children. However, success in the US did not come as hoped, and Godzilla went back to Japan to star in Godzilla 2000. Despite having better and more fish in Hollywood, only Japanese know to treat the rubber Giant as she deserves.
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Would that be fine with you?

Berandor

 

[Crothian]

As much as I hate to say it, I think full stat block is best. There is always a group out there that will want to kill the NPCs. You might as well have it all covered, just in case.

Idealy, I say just enough so the DM can use it how its meant to be used.

 

[Pielorinho]

If all your statblocks are as cool as Godzilla's, you'll be fine!

However, if there's a good chance that the PCs will enter combat with the NPCs, I'd like a full statblock. Figuring out all the stats is my biggest pain in the butt as a DM, and even Jamis Buck's excellent generators take too much customizing for my lazy self.

I thrive on creating weird and plausible characters and motives and secret groups and monsters and stuff, so having a supplement do that for me isn't as important as having it create the numerical skeleton of the NPCs.

Note that entering combat with the NPCs doesn't necessarily mean fighting them; if there's a chance that PCs will ally with the NPCs, I'll still need a statblock. And if spellcasters are ever likely to cast spells, I don't want to have to spend 15 minutes before the session figuring out how many spells they have and what they have prepared and the like. Do that crap for me!

That's my vote, anyway.
Daniel

 

[Berandor]

If all your statblocks are as cool as Godzilla's, you'll be fine!

However, if there's a good chance that the PCs will enter combat with the NPCs, ...

Well, most of these NPC will be nobles or other kind of people who most likely will NOT enter combat on any side with or against the PCs, but serve as plot hooks or for diplomatic role-playing.

I agree that enemies&allies should be presented with full stats...
Perhaps I should have pointed that out before.

If your players would be granted knighthood, they might meet those people. Would you need a statblock, then?

Berandor

 

[Pielorinho]

Well, most of these NPC will be nobles or other kind of people who most likely will NOT enter combat on any side with or against the PCs, but serve as plot hooks or for diplomatic role-playing.

In that case, for my own campaign I'd see no need for detailed stats. My playesr aren't the sort to wantonly enter combat with authority figures, thank goodness.

You may still want to give them relevant stats -- intelligence, wisdom, charisma, and social skills, for example. I may not plan on killing Duke Ferdinand, but I'm likely to try to run a scam on him if I'm your average player; knowing his sense motive skill will help my DM a lot.

Daniel

 

[Berandor]

Thank you for your input so far... just one minor note to add, though it has nothing to do with your suggestion directly.

The NPCs will be more of an addition to the project, so I don't want to use up too much space just writing them up.
I will describe some organization, for example, and then include the leader as NPC stat in a DM's bar.

But I think, relevant skills and stats might be a good idea to cut unnecessary space while still including all important info.

Berandor

 

[Eosin the Red]

I may not use them in the way you intend - without a full stat block, it would not be very tempting for me. Others may like it though.

 

[Akunin]

A brief run-down of primary and secondary goals would provide a good clue as to how to roleplay the NPC.