Hello,
This may be a naive question, but I have always been wondering how to interpret the NPC information that is often given in parenthesis next to their name. Specifically their "class" and level.
Example: Yinyasmera (CN female human smuggler 5) from Abomination Vaults, she is a shop keeper, yet apparently a FIFTH LEVEL character... First of all what is a "smuggler", if no such class/archetype exists why even mentioning it in such a rule-oriented text label? How do I use it?
Secondly, what happens if the 1st level players somehow realize that she is that strong, wouldn't they ask themselves "maybe she should go save the town or whatever they ask us 1st level noobs to do, instead of us"? What are we even here for? Maybe she's a bad example because she simply wouldn't, but almost all friendly NPCs have higher levels than the players.
I recently had this problem crop up in our Quest for the Frozen Flame campaign.
Example: the heroes start out being humble 1st level hunters while their entire following gets attacked and targeted by very dangerous raiders, and all of a sudden they are asked to be the "tip of the spear" (to use a Glass Cannon Podcast reference) and go against these raiders, while almost every important NPC they interacted with is at least a level 5 character. Isn't it completely irresponsible of the clan leaders (especially those who pride themselves of being worriors, like Merthig) to let the pups fight battles and protect the clans with no help direct help from them, when they would easily dispatch any threat the PCs face for the entire 1st chapter of the adventure?
Argakoa the Songsinger (NG female human skald 7) SEVENTH LEVEL!
Merthig the Firekeeper (NG male dwarf hunter 8) EIGHTH LEVEL!
These two alone, with Nakta the Healer could finish book 1 and 2 while drinking mead. No need for PCs...
Creative Director
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NPCs aren't built like PCs. You build them like monsters. So when we include a short stat block with a level, that level is telling you what to aim at if you were to build that NPC up as a fully-statted character, using the rules in the GM Core or Gamemastery Guide on how to create monsters/NPCs. You have a LOT of leeway there in making up the exact stats and abilities.
But even more practically, that number tells you what DC should be used for things like attempts to use Intimidation or Diplomacy on an NPC. Those DCs can simply be the "DC by level" so you don't need to know all of their stats to decide what the chance of success is.
For the specific example of Yinhasmerea, as a 5th level smuggler and a shopkeeper, she won't go save the town first of all because that's not her job and she's not interested in that, but on top of it, that 5th level lore is pointing to her skills at smuggling specifically. She's probably awful at other things. It's really up to the GM to contextualize things in that case... but in the end... those NPCs aren't going on the adventures because that's the PC's job. The PC's destiny. Their fate. An NPC doesn't get to be a part of that. If they did... they'd be the PC.
NPCs aren't built like PCs. You build them like monsters. So when we include a short stat block with a level, that level is telling you what to aim at if you were to build that NPC up as a fully-statted character, using the rules in the GM Core or Gamemastery Guide on how to create monsters/NPCs. You have a LOT of leeway there in making up the exact stats and abilities.
But even more practically, that number tells you what DC should be used for things like attempts to use Intimidation or Diplomacy on an NPC. Those DCs can simply be the "DC by level" so you don't need to know all of their stats to decide what the chance of success is.
For the specific example of Yinhasmerea, as a 5th level smuggler and a shopkeeper, she won't go save the town first of all because that's not her job and she's not interested in that, but on top of it, that 5th level lore is pointing to her skills at smuggling specifically. She's probably awful at other things. It's really up to the GM to contextualize things in that case... but in the end... those NPCs aren't going on the adventures because that's the PC's job. The PC's destiny. Their fate. An NPC doesn't get to be a part of that. If they did... they'd be the PC.
Thank you for the explanation! The use of the level to gauge what DC to use for checks directed towards the NPC is really useful , I didn't think about that. Nice!
I guess the specific "gripe" I have with Quest for the Frozen Flames NPCs is because they seem to be presented as all-round badasses, and they are there, a few paces from the front lines in some cases. I guess it's ultimately up to the GM to interpret them, as you noted. In fact, in my game I had them take part in fights that involved the whole Following, but I created powerful (narrative) foes for them and had them fight in the background, essentially for flavour, while we focused on the battles fought by the PCs.