D&D 5E So I missed most of the playtest, how are NPCs going to be generated?

[Evenglare]

Pretty much the topic. Are they made as monsters or play characters (or is there even a difference?). I'm gearing up pretty hard for my next campaign and I just simply don't have a lot of monsters, most encounters are people fighting other people. Just wondering what's the best way of going about creating them, thanks!

 

[MarkB]

I'm not sure the paytest packages went into any detail on this subject, and it's likely to be a DMG feature, so it'll be awhile before we see the finalised rules.

One option that occurs to me off the top of my head: For NPC classes, use the base classes.

Basically, if you're creating a non-heroic NPC, choose a reasonably-appropriate PHB class for them, and then give them all the basic features, but don't assign them a subclass. That will give them a general skill-set, without the more powerful or specialised options provided by the subclass.

 

[Li Shenron]

Nothing in the playtest.

The playtest bestiary had some "monsters" like the Dark Acolyte and its siblings which could be NPCs, IIRC they were of 3 different levels/CR (all quite low).

As usual, nothing in the books will prevent the DM from creating characters using PC rules, and then use them as NPC.

 

[Evenglare]

Yeah, I've started statting them up as PC characters but I was just wondering if there was a faster way.

 

[Mouseferatu]

I think I remember reading that the standard way is going to be creating them as monsters, but that a DM certainly could create them as PCs if desired.

But I couldn't begin to tell you where I read that, so take it with a granule of sodium.

 

[Li Shenron]

Yeah, I've started statting them up as PC characters but I was just wondering if there was a faster way.

I think there will be, in the DMG. After all we're told that the DMG does have a simple monster creation system, so "simplified" NPCs can be created using those rules too.

 

[Paraxis]

Take this for whatever little it is worth, but there are two npc humanoids in the Tyranny of Dragons encounters adventure, both are partially class based but they don't get everything.

One casts spells like a 5th level cleric, but has no other class features of the cleric class like channel energy. The other has two fighter abilities action surge and improved crit range, but doesn't have second wind.

I hope npc/monster building uses good solid math and has a lot of options when the rules do come out.

 

[YourSwordIsMine]

I've already rolled Bargle as a 3rd level Wizard with the Criminal background.

I'm going to be using the original Red Box solo as a DM run adventure for my cousin. I've also statted out Aleena Halaran (L2 Cleric).


It is surprisingly easy now to make characters compared to 3.x and especially 4e. Doing so with 5e isn't going to be all that problematic.

 

[Rune]

The evil wizards in the Starter Set are all constructed as monsters.

At any rate, they all have d8s for HD (as medium creatures) and more than their described level would give.

 

[Gundark]

I think Mike said that you can stat NPCs out as PCs or as monsters (like 4e). No details have been given.