Paper Tiger NPC problem

hcobb · 08-11-2020, 08:40 AM

A lot of the published (and yet to be published) adventures include NPCs with 41+ attribute totals and limited talents, spells, and equipment.

A player character who campaigned until she was fifty years old would be very likely to have an attribute total in the low 40s, but she would combine this with a bunch of other abilities. (Master Dagger Staff of Mastery with four other enchantments, cough)

So how should GMs handle these unbalanced NPCs?

I see two steps to this. While the PCs are "low level" these high attribute low talent NPCs can be treated as being narrowly focused with a hubris that blinds them to training outside of their narrow lane. When the players spot this weakness they either take the NPCs down, or use them to advance their own goals.

Once the PCs reach demigoddess levels themselves the GM can add in logical allies, abilities, and gear to rebalance the NPCs.

08-11-2020, 08:40 AM	#1
hcobb Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Pacheco, California	Paper Tiger NPC problem A lot of the published (and yet to be published) adventures include NPCs with 41+ attribute totals and limited talents, spells, and equipment. A player character who campaigned until she was fifty years old would be very likely to have an attribute total in the low 40s, but she would combine this with a bunch of other abilities. (Master Dagger Staff of Mastery with four other enchantments, cough) So how should GMs handle these unbalanced NPCs? I see two steps to this. While the PCs are "low level" these high attribute low talent NPCs can be treated as being narrowly focused with a hubris that blinds them to training outside of their narrow lane. When the players spot this weakness they either take the NPCs down, or use them to advance their own goals. Once the PCs reach demigoddess levels themselves the GM can add in logical allies, abilities, and gear to rebalance the NPCs. __________________ -HJC