Wouldja buy an NPC compilation?

[Mighty Halfling]

Hi there,
I have been considering publishing a pdf that presents a wide variety of D&D NPCs. While I have only just begun to formulate the idea, I'd love to hear your input on the matter.
Here's my basic plan:

• Each character would have his own head-to-toe portrait. A subsection of the pdf would have portraits without any text.
• Each character would be fleshed out at 3 different CRs. Probably 6, 13 and 20.
• Each CR level would include plot hooks. So you can map out the NPCs plans.
• Each NPC would have Combat Tactics.
• An appendix on each character would include all my "work" on the character so you see his progression.
• Each NPC would have a basic back history and motivations. This would not be world-specific material.
• The publication would only include stuff from the Core Rulebooks -- no secondary publisher items.
• Not sure of this, but I may include a few new feats, magic items and spells.
• Aside from the main illustrated PCs, I'd build a bunch of standard NPCs. Maybe six per CR level at 3, 6, 13 and 20.
• Aside from standard humanoids, I would include leveled monsters in the bunch. These guys also would be illustrated.

So, Here are my questions to you:
1) Without giving you a price, would you be willing to buy something like this?
2) If I included 15 fleshed out NPCs and 36 "generic" types, what price would you pay?
3) What part of this do you think would be worthless?
4) What part of this would be especially valuable?
5) What would you like to see that I haven't included?
6) Should I focus only on enemies?
7) Do you want to see new feats?
8) Should I include prestige classes from DMG?
9) Should I make new prestige classes?
10) Should I make new monsters?
11) Do you want to see new magic items?
12) Should I support this among several game systems? (d20, Action!, d6, etc.)
12) Any other comments?

 

[giantkillermantis]

If I could look at prieviews of a handfull of the characters, and they looked useful in my game, I would probably buy something like this.

For a pdf with 51 characters, statted out with plot hooks, etc., the way you describe...$8?

I would want enemies and NPCs who would get a fair amount of use; like leaders of a local town, church, etc., patrons or artisans that the PCs might interact with over many sessions.

Monstrous characters would be great. I love monsters with class levels, but don't always have time to develop them as well as I'd like.

 

[MerakSpielman]

Hi there,
I have been considering publishing a pdf that presents a wide variety of D&D NPCs. While I have only just begun to formulate the idea, I'd love to hear your input on the matter.
Here's my basic plan:

• Each character would have his own head-to-toe portrait. A subsection of the pdf would have portraits without any text.
• Each character would be fleshed out at 3 different CRs. Probably 6, 13 and 20.
• Each CR level would include plot hooks. So you can map out the NPCs plans.
• Each NPC would have Combat Tactics.
• An appendix on each character would include all my "work" on the character so you see his progression.
• Each NPC would have a basic back history and motivations. This would not be world-specific material.
• The publication would only include stuff from the Core Rulebooks -- no secondary publisher items.
• Not sure of this, but I may include a few new feats, magic items and spells.
• Aside from the main illustrated PCs, I'd build a bunch of standard NPCs. Maybe six per CR level at 3, 6, 13 and 20.
• Aside from standard humanoids, I would include leveled monsters in the bunch. These guys also would be illustrated.

So, Here are my questions to you:
1) Without giving you a price, would you be willing to buy something like this?

I was willing to purchase "Everyone Else," a pdf compendium of generic expert and commoner NPCs, so I could be convinced to purchase this if the quality was high and the price was right.

2) If I included 15 fleshed out NPCs and 36 "generic" types, what price would you pay?

I would price such a book at roughly $10. If the NPCs are of good quality, I would consider the money well-spent.

3) What part of this do you think would be worthless?

I could do without so many portraits. A small (1/8 of a page) line-drawing sketch of each NPC would be fine, and perhaps an occasional extra picture of a special weapon or distinguishing tattoo.
I'm also confused about the miscellanious or standard NPCs. How are these different from the NPCs you get for free in the DMG, or ones that I could stat up in 5 minutes myself?

4) What part of this would be especially valuable?

I like the progressive CRs and the backstory/motivations. It's tedious keeping track of the development of NPCs that the PCs met at low-levels, and the backstory and motivation is absolutely essential for these NPCs to be worth anything at all.

5) What would you like to see that I haven't included?
6) Should I focus only on enemies?

This is all IMHO, but I'd like it to focus on opponents for the PCs. I expect, as a player, the villians to be well-fleshed out and interesting. However, if there are too many allied and friendly NPCs who are too well fleshed-out, I start to worry that the DM is using the game to showcase his pet NPCs. This goes doubly if such NPCs travel with the party. And why would you need combat statistics if they're NOT traveling with the party? See where I'm going here?

7) Do you want to see new feats?

Good God NO. I have feats coming out my ass. Every D&D book has feats, feats, and more feats. Every issue of Dragon has a dozen or more feats. Honestly, why do I need hundreds of feats when any given character only ends up with a dozen or so? What is it that's so freaking special about these NPCs that the regular feats aren't good enough for them?

8) Should I include prestige classes from DMG?

If it suits the NPC in question, sure. I'd strongly recommend coming up with a fascinating NPC first, then try to figure out how many levels of what classes (keeping PrCs in mind) best combine to build the NPC you are envisioning.

9) Should I make new prestige classes?

I'd say NO. If you do, they better be really really good. And why make up a whole prestige class if only one person in the world has levels in it?

10) Should I make new monsters?

New monsters are fine, but I don't see that they would have a big enough place in this book to warrent them. If this book is about NPCs, it might distract from the point if you include a monster section. You want to keep focused, and not water-down the book with trivial extras.

11) Do you want to see new magic items?

An item here or there would be all right, to me, but include all approprate information and make sure that they aren't too powerful for an NPC of the given level/wealth.

12) Should I support this among several game systems? (d20, Action!, d6, etc.)

I play D&D. To me, such additional infomation is a waste of space. I'd stick to one system if I were you.

12) Any other comments?

Nothing annoys me in a published product like typos. Get yourself a good editor, preferably somebody who was not involved in creating any of the content in the book. Also get somebody to edit the stat blocks and break down all the calculations to make sure they're done properly.

 

[TroyXavier]

1) Without giving you a price, would you be willing to buy something like this?
If I liked a sample character or two

2) If I included 15 fleshed out NPCs and 36 "generic" types, what price would you pay?
about 7 bucks

3) What part of this do you think would be worthless?
Well, I have more use for full fleshed than generic, unless the generic is relatively powerful (I have enough first to fourth level npcs to fill two books)

4) What part of this would be especially valuable?
A really compelling villain (though not necessarily someone who's evil)

5) What would you like to see that I haven't included?
A solid mix of characters. At least one for each of the seven base races, and maybe a couple monsters. Also at least one of each class(though they could be multiclassed)

6) Should I focus only on enemies?
Not necessarily. Some interesting NPCs can be good. Just like they were in Sages and Specialists.

7) Do you want to see new feats?
Nope. Got tons.

8) Should I include prestige classes from DMG?
Yes, definitely if it fits a character.

9) Should I make new prestige classes?
Not enough characters to make it worthwhile

10) Should I make new monsters?
No.

11) Do you want to see new magic items?
If they're balanced. Figurines of Wondrous Power especially.

12) Should I support this among several game systems? (d20, Action!, d6, etc.)
d20 only please. Preferably DND only. Much more useful and letting me convert on my own if I want.

12) Any other comments?
Nope. Just good luck.

 

[Treebore]

I already bought a print version of this by TLG. I would buy yours for about $9.00.

 

[Darklone]

For the CR ratings... I'd rather see a list of magic items the NPC gains (and at which level). Makes a smoother transition. Perhaps some ideas where and how he got that item, even if it was manufactored for him.