Fast Learner
First Post
I do, if they would have needed/used them in their normal lives. I figure it's only fair.EricNoah said:
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NOW LIVE! Into the Woods--new character species, eerie monsters, and haunting villains to populate the woodlands of your D&D games.
Prepping NPCs...
- Thread starter EricNoah
- Start date
Graf
Explorer
I almost never remember SR/DR or any SQs until the round after the PCs would have noticed. It was getting to be such a problem I almost posted about it (but it's sorta embarrising, so thanks eric!)
Last time I tried Monte Cook's index card-initative system.
Its a pain to prep but it seems to work well. Especially since you write things out yourself so it sticks better.
I like King Stanis' memory system.
Last time I tried Monte Cook's index card-initative system.
Its a pain to prep but it seems to work well. Especially since you write things out yourself so it sticks better.
I like King Stanis' memory system.
Pielorinho
Iron Fist of Pelor
Jürgen Hubert said:I used to do a lot of preparation for NPCs and monsters. But then I asked myself:
"Will the players ever notice if I just fudge things?"
It was quite a revelation when I realized that the answer was "no"...
Heh. The last several sessions in my game have involved big combats with classed NPC allies, classed NPC enemies, monster enemies, and innocent bystanders. They were a bear to prepare for -- try making six interesting half-elf wight classed NPCs, even with Jamis Buck's generators, and see how long it takes!
Finally, last session, with yet another of these huge set pieces, I changed my tactics. I did a mostly-full-prep on the two most important NPCs, copied down the stats for the monsters, and ran everyone else on the fly. Sixth-level fighter? he's got, let's say, a +9 to hit, does 1d8+4 damage, and has 45 HP.
Even for the major ones, I made up spells on the spot. It was fun for the cleric to try to summon an air elemental, so she had the appropriate spell prepared.
It worked very well, and freed up my planning time for omens, atmospheric NPCs, and ritual details.
Daniel
Airwolf
First Post
I really should get this dyslexia checked. I thought the title said peppering NPCs. I thought it would contain practical recipes for cooking NPCs.
Of course, it could have been a discussion of tactical scenarios on how to best use missile weapons in combat.
That said I too have forgotten to use certain skills on my NPCs. As some have mentioned I have also take to writing notes in big letters or bold print so I don’t forget to use something.
Of course, it could have been a discussion of tactical scenarios on how to best use missile weapons in combat.
That said I too have forgotten to use certain skills on my NPCs. As some have mentioned I have also take to writing notes in big letters or bold print so I don’t forget to use something.
Voadam
Legend
I've noticed a number of published npcs have unused craft item feats and metamagics. A wizard in a dungeon who has quicken spell should prepare at least one quickened spell or choose a different feat. Similarly having every craft item feat seems a waste, particularly when there are no rods or staves on the character or anywhere in the dungeon.
It can be good for a campaign to have NPCs with hidden powers they can later tap or call upon, and it is realistic that not everything is tied into what is going on at the exact moment in time the PCs run into them, but when their whole story RP-role is for one half-hour of hackfest combat, then it is just extra clutter in the stat block and suboptimization in design.
It can be good for a campaign to have NPCs with hidden powers they can later tap or call upon, and it is realistic that not everything is tied into what is going on at the exact moment in time the PCs run into them, but when their whole story RP-role is for one half-hour of hackfest combat, then it is just extra clutter in the stat block and suboptimization in design.
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