Comments on: D&D Burgoo: NPC creation finds a new path

By: Troy E. Taylor

Troy E. Taylor — Sat, 31 May 2008 03:08:22 +0000

The Lazy GM by Creative Conclave has something along the lines you’re talking about, Lilaxe.

http://www.rpgnow.com/index.php?manufacturers_id=807

I also think that from the 4E previews we’ve seen so far, that’s pretty much their approach to monster design.

By: Lilaxe

Lilaxe — Sat, 31 May 2008 00:57:17 +0000

I’d like to see a collective work where each common type of NPC has a pre stated example to use on the fly. You could even give them silly names to distinguish what they do (which is all 4th Edition has done to monsters).

i.e.:
Orc Frontline Welp – Level 1 Orc Warrior with melee weapon skills/feats
Orc Frontline Justicar – Level 1 Orc Cleric with healing spells
Orc Battle Master – Level 10 Orc Warrior with melee weapon skills/feats
Orc Frontline Skirmisher – Leverl 1 Orc with Bow skills/feats
Orc Battle Shaman – Level 4 Orc Dragon Shaman, etc etc

A website could have them pre-stated and on file so people could cut and paste what they need.

If enough people post up level and weapon combos most things could be available.

the only question is, would it break any WOTC rule?

By: Troy E. Taylor

Troy E. Taylor — Tue, 27 May 2008 15:45:50 +0000

The PHB2 does have the suggested spell lists, but they're by class, rather than party role -- which I think the Pathfinder RPG identifies (correctly) as more important. But you're right, the feat progression charts in the PHB2 are very well done.

By: Scott Martin

Scott Martin — Tue, 27 May 2008 15:14:50 +0000

It sounds like a good system-- not yet perfect, but a lot better. If you have the PHB2, the quick character creation rules in the back work well for NPCs also-- and include feat series and the like. The main drawback is gear, which it sounds like Pathfinder does better.

By: Omnus

Omnus — Mon, 26 May 2008 17:49:47 +0000

The folks at Paizo certainly are going about things in the right way with Pathfinder. It's kind of like winning on a prize at a bazaar, with WotC leaving the jewel of 3.5 D&D open for use. The Pathfinder adventures are solid, and the core rules look to be coming along nicely. I like the grass roots feel of the design, as well. In regards to Kurt's idea, a computer with a working database can be a godsend. You can pre-plan whole encounters by EC and pull them to the fore at the click of a mouse, and weeding out too-low encounters is a snap. Likewise, grouping all the feats into trees to make a logical bundling was easy doing the same thing for easy NPC creation.

By: Kurt "Telas" Schneider

Kurt "Telas" Schneider — Mon, 26 May 2008 16:27:33 +0000

I like the streamlined approach; it sounds like something to keep handy, or even to stat up a few parties in advance. What I did: Made up my own encounter lists, and advanced the critters as the party advanced (either through levels/hit dice, number appearing, or other tweaks). As the party outgrew or grew into encounters, I subtracted or added them. This works, but it's a lot of effort, and it sucks when you forget to advance something, or when the party is split or short a member or two... Were I not deep in the throes of a Savage Worlds affair (and about to be a daddy), I'd probably be playing Pathfinder. A simplified 3.5, published open source? Sign me up. FWIW, HeroForge is looking at a Pathfinder RPG edition, once things stabilize.