D&D 5E WotC's Stats for Zaknafein Do'Udern

[Seramus]

It still makes me sad that because of the way D&D does its numbers, in order for him to be a worthy opponent, he has to have 20 Strength, so he's apparently Conan.

And 22 Dexterity, so he's Houdini.

Gotta use the -4 Rule!
He's actually 16, 18, 12, 15, 8, 10.

 

[dave2008]

Meh, so he benches 250. My immersion isn't shattered.

FYI, a quarter ton is 500 lbs.

 

[grimslade]

I understand the array of stats for Zaknafein, but I don't understand the values. There is no need to blow up the abilities to such puffery. I get having a high intelligence, Zaknafein was also the strategist for House defense, after all. I agree with @Seramus, use -4 on all the stats and he is still a badass 16th level Battlemaster. You have to retrofit the double longsword style he used in Homeland to fit 5E rules. Give him the ability to make a longsword a finesse weapon or accept that it doesn't fit and switch him to rapiers or scimitars. Zak's ability was in the versatility of his tactics and precision, which are reflected in him being level 16.
I mean if you want him to have jacked stats, give them those stats when he is the Zin'carla and juiced up on concentrated Lolth spite.

 

[jayoungr]

Is the problem just that he's a "good guy"? Because nobody ever complains about bad guys (who are meant to be defeated) having high stats.

 

[Sacrosanct]

Nice to see which side of the family Drizzt gets his Mary Sue from.

 

[jerryrice4949]

Ah, yes, Forgotten Realms NPC ability scores. Because we wouldn't want players to get the mistaken impression that the PCs were actually important.

I never understand this whine. My players love powerful NPCs. Makes the world more alive with flavor. Make great allies and adversaries. It does not diminish the PCs.

 

[Fenris-77]

FYI, a quarter ton is 500 lbs.

Kilograms....

 

[dave2008]

Kilograms....

Always include the units!

 

[Fenris-77]

Always include the units!

Yeah yeah, laugh it up fuzzball.

 

[el-remmen]

I guess I understand why they stat these NPC characters but if it were up to me I never would unless they appear in an adventure as a possible opponent and even then I'd use the rules for building NPCs/Monsters rather than the rules for making a PC.

But in general? Like a mention in a setting book or something? I'd just describe personality, history, what is important about them, what their accomplishments are, and what they are good at and maybe a CR rating. Maybe. And then let the DM stat them out as appropriate for their game and use for the character.

"Zaknafein is one of the world's best warriors with longswords and is said he reveled in and excelled at killing priestess of Lolth" - and then I decide how that plays out.