Understudy classes (for NPCs)

[Frostmarrow]

I think the members of classes in D&D are rare in the general population. A fighter isn't just any old town guard. Fighters are something more that just soldiers. There are hedge wizards and witches abound but a real wizard is something else. Where a fighter can use any weapon forged, a warrior can only use whatever he learned in basic training.

In 3E DMG there were a few NPC classes, namely warrior, adept, expert and aristocrat. They were pretty cool. It's important to have access to classes that aren't quite as versatile as the heroic classes of adventurers.

I was thinking that each class should have a condensed version without most of the cool stuff but with the defining traits of a class. If a ranger is a tracking, stealthy archer of the wild the ranger understudy called archer could be used when you just need a bowman without any of the flavour that comes with the complete ranger. A savage is a barbarian without the volatile temperament of a true barbarian but with the loincloth and axe.

What are the names of the understudy classes?

Fighter - Warrior
Cleric - Priest
Rogue - Thief
Wizard - Witch
Ranger - Archer
Barbarian - Savage
Avenger - Foe
Assassin - Killer

 

[Savage Wombat]

I sort of agree - but I think we can save book space.

What if we had a way of noting which powers the NPC simplified class doesn't get? For example, in 3e all you'd need for the Warrior was a note that "Warriors progress as fighters, but get no bonus feats" and you'd be OK.

 

[mach1.9pants]

I prefer Mr S Wombat's idea, a simple sidebar with how to downgrade to NPC class the PC classes. IMO not every class needs an NPC class but if it just a sidebar they all can have one. I can't see expert/commoner being covered via knock-down PC classes. I am not even sure they need actual class names, just something to be applied to the PC class name. I.e. NPCC (NPC Class) Fighter/Cleric etc?

This also needs to be in a module as many people don't want or need NPC classes, I am not sure I would ever use them again. But I know they are popular amongst many 3E fans.

I loved them when they first came out - I had commoners and warriors maxing at level 5 (at which point they were 'awesome' enough to graduate to experts and fighters) and experts maxing at level 10 but their max skill rank was (2 x level) + 3 ranks on Int bonus (min 1) skills. I also made up rules for gaing XP through use of skills. That stuff went in my house rules and made great sense to me as a DM but I hardly ever actually used them, I just guessed any numbers I needed on the fly LOL. But my campaign world had DM verisimilitude

 

[KesselZero]

I love NPC classes, but I don't think every PC class needs its own knock-off NPC version. I'd rather see something like the 3e NPC classes where I can make some basic NPCs with a few different templates. I don't think I would need to choose between an Archer and a Warrior for each town guardsman, just make 'em all Warriors and give some of them bows.

That said, if there are NPC classes, I'd love guidance on how much XP to give when my players kill them.

 

[Minigiant]

I think it is simple NPC classes of the past are fine. A Warrior, Expert, Aristocrat and Commoner are all that are needed. Then there could be rules for a adding class feature to any of them


Basically there would be 4 base NPC class

Warrior: Good HP, Good attack, Simple and martial weapon, All armors and shields. Low skills. Can learn 1 1/2 strength class feature.

Expert: Average HP, Average attack, Simple weapon, Light armor. High skills. Can learn 1 1/2 strength class feature.

Aristocrat: Good HP, Average attack, Simple and martial weapons, All armors and shields. Average skills. Can learn 1 1/2 strength class feature.

Commoner: Low HP, One weapon, No armors and shields. Low skills. Can learn 2 1/2 strength class features or one 3/4 strength class feature.


Warrior + 1/2 strength Rage = Barbarian Lite
Expert + 1/2 strength Sneak Attack = Sugar-free Rogue
Aristocrat + 1/2 strength Divine Spells = Diet Cleric
Commoner + 3/4 strength Arcane Spells = Wizard Zero
Commoner + 1/2 strength Druid spells + 1/2 strength Favored Enemy = Low Fat Ranger

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

I kinda prefer the handwave. Just give the NPC the stats you want and the description you want, and don't worry about the specific class.

 

[howandwhy99]

Examples from AD&D:

Standard:
Bearer/Porter
Carpenter
Leather Worker
Limner
Linkboy
Mason
Pack Handler
Tailor
Teamster
Valet / Lackey

Expert:
Alchemist
Armorer
Blacksmith
Engineer-architect
Engineer-artillerist
Engineer-sapper/miner
Jeweler-gemcutter
Mercenary soldier -
- archer (longbow)
- archer (shortbow)
- artillerist
- crossbowmen
- footmen, heavy
- footmen, light
- footmen, pikeman
- hobilar, heavy
- hobilar, light
- horseman, archer
- horseman, crossbowman
- horseman, heavy
- horseman, light
- horseman, medium
- lieutenant
- sapper/miner
- serjeant
- slinger
Sage
Scribe
Ship crew
Ship Master
Spy
Steward/castellan
Weapon maker