NPC Gear Questions

[Ben Kent]

When I look at the NPC Gear chart, it has "basic level", and "heroic level". I'm wondering how NPCs would be assigned gear in a number of situations. Can someone give me a yes / no, in their opinion?

Examples-
A human NPC. He's a level 6 Fighter, CR 5. I would assign level 6 Heroic gear, based on the character's level.

A gnoll NPC. She's a level 4 Ranger, CR 5. Based on the notes on monster advancement from the Bestiary, I would assign level 5 Heroic gear, based on the monster's final challenge rating.

A human NPC. She's a level 8 Adept. I would assign level 8 Basic gear, as they're not from a heroic class.

A gnoll NPC. He's a level 8 Warrior, CR 6*. I would assign level 6 Basic gear, based on the notes from the bestiary, combined with not being from a heroic class.

...does this smell right to everyone? Can you provide counterexamples or clarifying text?

[Patrick Renie]

According to page 451 of the Core Rulebook, heroic NPCs are those with levels in PC classes.

PRD wrote:

If the NPC possesses levels in a PC class, it is considered a heroic NPC and receives better ability scores.

According to page 297 of the Bestiary, monsters with class levels are always treated as heroic NPCs for the purposes of determining gear allotment.

PRD wrote:

A monster with class levels always possesses treasure equal to an NPC of a level equal to the monster's final CR (as calculated in Step 3, below). To determine the value of this gear, use the value listed for a heroic NPC of that CR, as listed in Table: NPC Gear. Once a total GP value is determined, follow the rules for outfitting an NPC as outlined in that section.

Because your first two examples have levels in PC classes, they would be considered heroic and receive gear based on their heroic level (which is equal to the creature's CR in the case of the second example). Your third example possesses only levels in an NPC class, and so would receive gear based on its basic level.

Your fourth example only has levels in an NPC class, but is of a monstrous race, and so would receive gear based on its heroic level (equal to its CR, which would be 5 because it only has levels in an NPC class, thus every 2 levels as a warrior increases its CR by 1).

PRD wrote:

Table: Monsters with Class Levels gives general guidelines regarding which core classes add directly to a monster's abilities based on its role. Classes that are marked “key” generally add 1 to a creature's CR for each level added. Classes marked with a “—” increase a creature's CR by 1 for every 2 class levels added until the number of levels added are equal to (or exceed) the creature's original CR, at which point they are treated as “key” levels (adding 1 to the creature's CR for each level added). Creatures that fall into multiple roles treat a class as key if either of its roles treat the class as key. Note that levels in NPC classes are never considered key.

[Ben Kent]

Patrick Renie wrote:

...bunch of awesome stuff...

Perfect. Thank you.