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Message: <blockquote data-quote="ExploderWizard" data-source="post: 6751724" data-attributes="member: 66434">How about building an NPC from scratch to whatever challenge level you desire then designate it as a noble. There, that was easy. Don't get too hung up on the labels the MM gives to things. I think that it is better to create a few rare NPCs yourself than have all NPCs follow a class/level structure such as 3E had. How many 15th level commoners do you really need anyway? By my reckoning anyone who is a 15th level anything isn't very common, so the very idea of 15th level farmers is a bit silly. I only build combat stats for NPCs as needed. Some of them get PC class abilities if they kind of fit as member of a class, others have strictly NPC abilities, and some get a sprinkling of both. I start out with a sketch of roughly how tough I want them to be then use the DMG guidelines to keep their relevant stats in the ballpark of where I chose their target CR. I don't build these NPCs according to a rigid system. Think of an NPC as a bucket full of stuff. Determine the general shape and toughness of the bucket then fill it up without overflowing it. Done. If you enjoy creating piles of stats in advance to be used later then its easy to do.</blockquote>