Oots #472

[blargney the second]

Nifft, you forgot to add that the template may be inherited or spontaneously acquired, in which case all effects are retroactive.

 

[orsal]

Named [Template]

This template may be added to any unnamed NPC.

Ability Scores: Named NPCs gain the Elite array, allocated intelligently.

Special Attacks:

• Gamer: Named NPCs fight as though they understand the rules and the tactical implications of those rules.
• Meta-Gamer: Named NPCs fight as though they understand the goals of the plot, and have a sense of dramatic timing (or irony).

Hit Dice and Hit Points: Named NPCs have higher than average hit points per hit die, and the DM actually tracks these hit points instead of just declaring them "dropped" after one or two solid hits. Occasionally, the DM even fudges to keep a Named NPC alive.

Challenge Rating: As base creature +1.

Cheers, -- N

Another effect of this template: when dropped below 0 HP, Named NPCs get a stabilization attempt every round, just like PCs. Unnamed NPCs die automatically.

 

[roguerouge]

See, it's this kind of power creep that has me yearn for the halcyon days of 1st edition! If this kind of thing keeps up, there'll be PCs with MIDDLE NAMES!

Whoever heard of such nonsense... NPCs with names. Just get 'em uppitty...

 

[DaveMage]

Cute one...

 

[freyar]

Will we ever find out what the cup will be full of? Excellent strip, esp. considering all the speculation we've seen about the fates of those two.

 

[Donovan Morningfire]

I laughed, particularly the bit about saving the last name for an emergency.

 

[Darklone]

So typical. Men only do one thing at a time (talk or do battle), women do both at once.

 

[painandgreed]

They also took off their helments, revealing their hairstyles, thus becoming names NPCs with descriptions.

...and are they walking the wrong way in the last panel?

 

[Aeric]

I used the concept of nameless red shirts to really pull one over on my players once.

I was running a Mechwarrior campaign, and the PCs were all members of the same squad. I introduced two NPC pilots who were slated to die by the end of that same session. I gave them names, personalities, back-stories...I even drew character illustrations of them, all to add to the illusion that these guys were going to be around for a while. It worked. When I offed them in sudden and pointless ways at the end of the session, the players were shocked. It was one of the few times I managed to get an emotional reaction out of a group.

 

[Delta]

LOL.