NPC classes oddity

[Doc_Outlands]

Ran into an oddity as I was working on some NPC charts. The five NPC classes (adept, aristocrat, commoner, expert, warrior) have starting gold listed. Hunh??!?? I thought they used the NPC gear value by level chart over on pg 127 at the end of the NPC chapter. How do other DMs handle 1st-level NPC gear?

[Michael D Moore]

Doc_Outlands wrote:

Ran into an oddity as I was working on some NPC charts. The five NPC classes (adept, aristocrat, commoner, expert, warrior) have starting gold listed. Hunh??!?? I thought they used the NPC gear value by level chart over on pg 127 at the end of the NPC chapter. How do other DMs handle 1st-level NPC gear?

My suggestions: do what you're comfortable with. Typically I don't bother statting out Random Villager A with gear or the like. If I really need my 1st level commoners running around with stuff they're assumed to have it.

Eric the Elf, Defender of the Woodlands would use the NPC gear chart even if he's 1st level. I assume Eric the Elf will play some important role in the story, Random Villager A is background at best.

That being said, if the PCs do something really random (which is very possible) and I suddenly need stats and gear for Eric the Elf I'll just give him stuff within reason. No eyes of the eagle for Eric if he's a commoner, he might get a masterwork weapon if he's a warrior, etc.

I try not to sweat the small stuff like this. Starting gold or NPC gold is peripheral next to outlining a fun adventure or interesting place for the PCs to explore.

[Velcro Zipper]

I agree. If the NPC is more than an extra, give them some gear appropriate to their profession, social class or level. All of my Porters (Commoner lv.1) come with load-bearing equipment like backpacks, baskets and sacks, my Blacksmiths (Expert lv.1) come with artisans tools and anvils, etc. It isn't too hard to believe a mid to high level Aristocrat or Adept might have a magic item, weapon or armor, but I don't sweat whether or not Prince Plot Device (Aristocrat lv.1) can afford a horse with leather barding and a composite shortbow.

[Rezdave]

Doc_Outlands wrote:

The five NPC classes ... have starting gold listed. Hunh??!?? I thought they used the NPC gear value by level chart over on pg 127

I think the "Starting Gold" is for a "starting" NPC, just as it would be with a PC. I presume all NPCs who have gear values from p. 127 to be "mid-level" and have been at their trade for a while and accumulated some stuff.

Consider the difference in wealth between a 0 XP adventurer and a 500 XP adventurer.

Same logic applies IMHO.

Also, remember that NPCs don't gain XP as fast as PCs and consequently can go years or decades without leveling. That doesn't mean they aren't making money, however. Granted, the talented ones get better at what they do and sell their produce for more, thus the commensurate increase in levels with the increase in GP value.

Note that Aristocrat is deemed "almost PC worthy" by the DMG, so someone (like me) might choose to run a campaign where characters start "straight off the farm" or are coming out of a mundane apprenticeship as a blacksmith or sage/bookbinder/clerk or lordling or witch or militiaman or farmer (Exp, Exp, Ari, Adp, War, Com) and have to find a mentor to actually gain PC levels. "Starting Gold" gives you a point of reference for such characters.

Taking the reverse idea, PCs might pick up henchmen or apprentices of their own without PC -class levels, and "starting gold" can be useful in such a case. Otherwise, a 1st level Wizard PC would find himself poorer than his 15-year-old 1st level Commoner apprentice.

Doc_Outlands wrote:

How do other DMs handle 1st-level NPC gear?

I only calculate gear for NPCs who will enter a fight either with or against the PCs. This keeps things balanced for both sides. Otherwise, I just hand-wave it and give them what I want them to have regardless of cost (sometimes low-level NPCs will have high-GP value items just so they can defend themselves and keep pesky PCs off their backs in order to keep Players from derailing a storyline).

Velcro Zipper wrote:

give them some gear appropriate to their profession, social class or level.

SNIP
don't sweat whether or not Prince Plot Device (Aristocrat lv.1) can afford a horse with leather barding and a composite shortbow.

QFT

At age 12, Crown Prince Plot-device will have more wealth and better gear at his disposal as an Ari1-in-Training than most PCs will have by 10th Level (perhaps 15th or 20th, depending on the kingdom or empire to which he is heir). In fact, his monthly upkeep (perhaps even weekly or daily) is probably more than the p.127 total value for a 1st level NPC.

FWIW,

Rez

[SirGeshko]

Rezdave wrote:

Otherwise, a 1st level Wizard PC would find himself poorer than his 15-year-old 1st level Commoner apprentice.

Except, of course, for that fancy 300+ gp tome the wizard PC is toting around...

[Rezdave]

SirGeshko wrote:

Except, of course, for that fancy 300+ gp tome the wizard PC is toting around...

Spellbook is 15 gp. Any "tome" is back in his Wizard's Tower ... oh wait, he's 1st level and can't afford one (tower or tome) and he only has a single traveling spellbook.

Are you talking about the value of the spells in the book? Even then, 300gp + 120 gp (wizard max. starting gold) = 420 gp, which is a lot less than the 900 gp gear value that a 1st level NPC Commoner gets according to p.127.

So the apprentice has a tome (100gp?), 75gp of gear (average for a starting Wizard) and 725 gp worth of spells in the aforementioned tome.

Hey DM, can I impersonate an NPC Commoner at 1st Level?

Maybe I'll just be a 1st level Wizard who takes on apprentices and kills them for their high-GP-value spellbooks. A surprise round, good initiative and a pair of magic missiles should do the trick every time.

:-)

Rez