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Message: <blockquote data-quote="kigmatzomat" data-source="post: 1377345" data-attributes="member: 9254">I've never had a problem with multi-level commoners.  I assume a 1st level commoner is a 14 year old farm boy; basically the just-barely-adult variant of a human that could adventure.  There's a lot of skills and ability that comes after that.I generally level NPCs with age: ~5th level by middle age, ~8th by old and 10th in decrepit.  10th level elders are filled with knowledge (mmmm, bonus to int) but pretty feeble (arrrgh, -6 to str).  The "exceptional" NPC (but not exceptional enough to warrant a PC class) may get to higher levels but only by chance and statistics.  They're still pretty pathetic from a combat standpoint and it's not like they walk around with a sign saying "20th level commoner" so the bard knows just what hornswaggled him in a negotiation.  Besides, so what if you have a few freakishly high level farmers or shopkeeps?  Given the DMG system of taking the best and then doubling the lower levels on down the chain, it implies a guild or grange of abnormal competence.  If it seems excessively odd, use it as a plot hook.  "Drevendale is home to the greatest farmers on Klanth.  Few can boast the unmatched productivity of the Dreven Grange.  Unfortunately this has made them the target of a particularly foreward thinking goblin chief....."</blockquote>