Young NPCs and NPC Class/PC Class levels

[MaxKaladin]

Yeah, I didn't notice that 3rd to 5th level thing either. Where is that located?

I may just go ahead and let them stack NPC levels with PC levels or I may switch them. The latter seems more "tidy", though the first fits more with the rules as written.

I'm also of the opinion that it should be a WIS penatly rather than a INT penalty. I remember from one of my college classes learning that the brain reaches maturity at about age 12. From that point on, your brain is capable of anything it will ever be capable of. Its a matter of education and experience from then on. Since life experience seems to be reflected by wisdom in this game, a wisdom penalty and perhaps deferring some of the skill points one is entitled to would be more appropriate.

The main physical stat I'd penalize is Strength, for obvious reasons. I'm not sure about Constitution or Dexterity. It's true, for instance, that many teens go through a awkward period that would seem to justify a dex penalty. On the other hand, I personally was more agile at 13 or 15 than at 18 or 20.

Now that it's mentioned, I think there were charts that went younger in the old 1e DMG, I'll have to look. There was also a system I saw somewhere that gave kids under 12 10-60% of max sats and those 13-18 51-100%.

Thanks to everyone who responded.

 

[Ace]

Half-formed theory...

Note: Ages that follow are for humans.

1. Classes for Children: Children under 15 are always statted as 1st-level commoners, no matter what they're training to become or who they are.

2. Conversion: A 1st-level commoner between 15 and 25 can convert to a 1st-level member of another class. How hard this is varies from class to class; becoming a wizard probably takes extensive training, but for a noble child to become an aristocrat, about all he has to do is grow up.

3. Ability modifiers. Children from 12-15 get a -2 to Str, Con, and Int.
Children from 9-12 get a -4 to Str, Con, and Int.
Children under 9 get a -6 to Str, Con, and Int.

Thats pretty good and it fits my average people are second to fourth level motif. I would suggest cutting the penalty to Wis and Int for kids though. A baby may have INT four but a six year old probably average about well, six.

FWIW My campaign assumptions for NPC classes are

L1 is a young person just out of apprenticeship
L2 is a mature person but young
L3 is experienced
L4 is middle aged
L5 experienced
L6 is older (and will likely be in the old catagory)

Ambitious people get +1 or +2
people who have been on adventures but havent taken an adventuring class get another +1 or +2

So a guard captain in a frontier town might be level 6 (some adventure+1, some ambition +1)

There are always exceptions of course for NPC's classes and PC classes while they generally follow this progression may have a lot more adventures than others and can be any levels.

As long as I am thread jacking here. When it comes to stats I like to do this.

All NPC classes except Adept and Warrior roll stats on Average Dice ( 3-six sided dice, numbered 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5).

Adepts, Aristocrats (in some areas) and Warriors do the 4d6 drop lowest thing.

PC' classes do the 4d6 drop thing except for prime stats which are 5d6 drop lowest 2 on prime stats.

The Pc's themselves usually get to pick the stats they like (within reason) if I wan't rolls I do the 5d6 drop lowest 2 bit arrange as wanted bit.

Hope these help.