Monster Mash #9 - NPCs as Monsters

Biggus Geekus

Episode 130 Streamed Live Tuesday March 14, 2023 (National Pi Day!)
Main Topic: Monster Mash #9 - using NPCs as Monsters

1) NPCs & their most common types, characteristics & powers throughout the editions.
OD&D: Page 15 Book III dungeon encountered Monsters (NPC’s?) all couldto see in the dark
BECMI/Rules Cyclopedia: RC p.155 and humanoids by alphabetical order
1e & 2e: alphabetical order- Monster description discusses options
3.x: build as needed, but as Pcs with more limited gp equivalent gear: large table in DMG with sample low medium and higher-level NPCs
4e: by alphabetical order, but in MM special examples…don’t build as PCs
5e: at the back of MM are certain NPC archetypes with particular powers don’t’ build as PCs…Appendix B- Stats for NPCs
2) Ecology & influence of monster in the campaign world & how best to use them
How do they fit?
What role as foes?
Do PCs eventually reach a level where NPCs are the best and challenge?
3) Named NPCs in IP Canon: Should you use these NPCs in your game?
Game IP: Elminster, Drizzt, Mordenkainen, etc
Fiction IP: Gandalf, Darth Vader, the Joker, etc
NPC generators:
0e/RC: https://agathokles.pythonanywhere.com/chargen
1e/2e: https://www.dwarvenautomata.com/leveled-npc-generator/
3e: https://dnd3rd.sourceforge.net/and resource page: https://forum.rpg.net/index.php?threads/3-5-d-d-3-5-npc-generator-and-other-tools.479319/
4e: https://donjon.bin.sh/4e/random/#type=npc
5e: https://www.thievesguild.cc/npc/
4.) Our favourite examples

Derdrom- Morded backwards- tricky npc wizard…more just a one trick pony
Ravenlock- first NPC friend
Beauregard – NPC lord from Elysium. A thorn in the PCs side for years.

Segment #2: Quick Hit- Hard Target - The Paladin and Alignment
Lawful A-hole or Lawful Stupid?
General Champion of “choose an alignment” or “some concept”
Do they have to be LG?

Random Geek-itude
Mad Scribe Magazine #1 by Mad Scribe Games: Issue #1 on sale now at DriveThru(boo!), Walmart, Amazon and B&N. Available in pdf and print.
Shameless Plug Time:
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