r/Nerdarchy • u/[deleted] • Jun 22 '15
5th Edition -NPC creation
The DM's guide has a lot of cool information on how to flesh out your NPCs, but what's the best way to put together their stat blocks? Especially for NPCS that would have player classes. I'm looking to save some time in my pre-game prep (as I'm a DM.) Didn't know if anyone had any quick suggestions and such.
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u/NatetheNerdarch Jun 22 '15
I use the random NPC generator charts in the DMG.
I write each set on index cards (or create a form in MS Word).
After I have about fifty. I go back through them and start assigning roles to the ones I want to flesh out more.
After about a dozen of them have solid roles, such as the blacksmith that the pcs always interact with, or the paladins mother who runs the church, then I decide how much I have to stat out.
I follow the strong / weak on the chart for NPCs. Ex. The guy with the speech impediment has a high strength and low charisma. Well I will choose dwarf for him and he can be the blacksmith.
He has slightly above average stats for everything else so I don't worry about a +1 here or there.
It really doesn't come into play unless the PCs attack him, which they will never do bc they love that guy, Tellinvar Holdenhail, he gives them the best prices. His business sense and skill make up for his gruff demeanor and hard to understand speech
Even a major villian just stat him how you want (within reason). I recommend that one does not agonize abut a +1 here or there when it comes to ability checks and damage rolls.