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Monster Mash #9 - NPCs as Monsters
Manage episode 358023309 series 3374838
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:
If you would like to support our show, please like, subscribe, and share us where you are listening or viewing the show. We are on all the socials, video and podcast places as well.
Support
PayPal: https://paypal.me/biggusgeekus
Streamlabs: https://streamlabs.com/biggusgeekus1/tip
Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/biggusgeekus
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BiggusGeekus
On the Web:
Website: www.biggusgeekuspodcast.com
Email: [email protected]
Big Geek Emporium: https://biggeekemporium.com/
211 episodes
Manage episode 358023309 series 3374838
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:
If you would like to support our show, please like, subscribe, and share us where you are listening or viewing the show. We are on all the socials, video and podcast places as well.
Support
PayPal: https://paypal.me/biggusgeekus
Streamlabs: https://streamlabs.com/biggusgeekus1/tip
Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/biggusgeekus
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BiggusGeekus
On the Web:
Website: www.biggusgeekuspodcast.com
Email: [email protected]
Big Geek Emporium: https://biggeekemporium.com/
211 episodes
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