Statting NPCs: Use point buy, or not?


Pathfinder First Edition General Discussion


My PCs all used the 25 point buy for their stats. When I create NPCs that they may face in battle I use the same point buy system. The enounter level system assures that they are most of the time going against a party with less levels and or people then their own. I came across the suggested stats for NPCs in the GM section of the pathfinder book which are much less impressive.

Is the EL system for class based enemies based on these lackluster stats? Do you point buy your NPCs or do you use the baseline duddy stats in the book? How does this work out in terms of balance in your encounters?

Liberty's Edge

When GMing I generally run all NPCs at their standard stat array per the book. For the occasional villain I will use point buy to build their stats but for the most part it is an NPC's levels, class, feats, and tactics that will primarily drive the challenge level for that NPC, not so much the stats. So typically I don't worry about it all that much.

Also keep in mind that 25 point buy stats is very high. I imagine this was selected on purpose to make the heroes that much more exceptional than the everyday norm (i.e. NPCs). Now since NPCs represent the baseline of what is the norm in the setting, if the baseline is moved up to the PC level then that makes the PCs no different than the norm and thus not all that heroic.


For some reason they still seem to be walking all over these NPCs with the point buy system. That's why when I looked at the stat build in the book I though sheesh, imagine what they would do to these guys.

The plain stat build seems fine for normal people, but elite villain organization members getting the point buy seems fair.

I see that the 25 point build is epic and all. I had a horrible inflated stat system which unbalanced the game in place before this and switched to this and oh boy you should have heard the belly aching. Sheesh. They act like the 25 point system is like making their characters compete in a hula hoop competition with one leg lopped off.

Liberty's Edge

No problem if they are walking all over the NPCs. Just add more! Not like as GM you're ever going to run out of 'em heh. Really, the class level NPCs should be the LTs and Captains of groups of Warriors (the NPC class) or low level rogues, sorcerers, etc. This way the PCs aren't able to focus-fire down the more powerful NPCs because they have to also worry about the dozen or so mooks pouring around the corner.

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