NPC Generation


Rules Questions


Is the +4, +4, +2, +2, +0, -2 system for NPC stat generation meant to be the default method for one-hit-die monsters such as goblins? I'd like to by as by-the-book as I can for my first campaign (which is tonight).

If no, what sort of point-buy do you think I should use for 'standard' NPC generation for one-hit-die monster races? (My players are using a 20-point-buy).

RPG Superstar 2010 Top 32

That's elite array. +2 +2 +0 +0 -2 -2 is standard.


A Man In Black wrote:
That's elite array. +2 +2 +0 +0 -2 -2 is standard.

How would you best handle it, then, if you wanted to generate a mite sorcerer, for example? Using elite array, the mite will have a Charisma score of 12 at best. 'Deconstructing' the mite to get his racial modifiers tells me that the stats on a mite are:

+2 Dex, +2 Wis, -2 Str, -2 Int, -2 Cha

Do I just choose a 20-point buy and build a sorcerer? I want to be both fair and consistent, and I want to be as by-the-book as possible for this first game. How would you do this?

RPG Superstar 2010 Top 32

Rake wrote:

How would you best handle it, then, if you wanted to generate a mite sorcerer, for example? Using elite array, the mite will have a Charisma score of 12 at best. 'Deconstructing' the mite to get his racial modifiers tells me that the stats on a mite are:

+2 Dex, +2 Wis, -2 Str, -2 Int, -2 Cha

Do I just choose a 20-point buy and build a sorcerer? I want to be both fair and consistent, and I want to be as by-the-book as possible for this first game. How would you do this?

Elite array is technically 15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8. So you just stick that 15 in cha and raise his cha as he levels.

As a practical matter, don't feel badly about fudging a little on stuff like this as the GM. There's no reason a mite sorcerer should be significantly weaker than a halfling sorcerer, especially since they're both the same CR.


Rake wrote:
A Man In Black wrote:
That's elite array. +2 +2 +0 +0 -2 -2 is standard.

How would you best handle it, then, if you wanted to generate a mite sorcerer, for example? Using elite array, the mite will have a Charisma score of 12 at best. 'Deconstructing' the mite to get his racial modifiers tells me that the stats on a mite are:

+2 Dex, +2 Wis, -2 Str, -2 Int, -2 Cha

Do I just choose a 20-point buy and build a sorcerer? I want to be both fair and consistent, and I want to be as by-the-book as possible for this first game. How would you do this?

Honestly, per book, you do it any way you want. There is not rule on how NPC's have to be made. You can do a point buy, assign an array, roll random stats, assign stats as you wish, etc.

What I'd do (and do do) is for minor NPC's I just use the same stats over and over and assign them as needed :

14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9

That's my personal NPC array. I also reserve the right to adjust any stat as needed. For your example of the Mite Sorcerer, if it's a low level campaign, which I'm assuming it is if you are using Mite's, a 12 Cha might be fine (gives him access to second level spells if he's 4th level). If he's lower, he just needs an 11.

Anything you do is honestly per RAW when it comes to creating NPC's, because the RAW is that whatever the GM uses is valid. :) I know, that doesn't really help, but honestly, as long as you aren't gunning to kill your PC's you're fine. I used to routinely bump the orc sorcerer's CHA score by 2 points no matter what under 3.5, because they had bad CHA. Or was it INT on the wizards? Either way, I bumped it to give them a good footing, under the idea that only an exceptional orc would try to be a spellcaster.

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