GM Time Savers--basic NPC "bestiary" or archetypes

[apoc527]

I've combed the forums and tried to look around the web but I have not been terribly successful in finding a decent "bestiary" of basic NPCs that a GM can just yank some stats from a moment's notice (if, say, they didn't think the PCs would go in that direction or something).

I know about the GURPS Character Archive, but it seems to have mostly PCs. The GURPS: Fallout conversion I found online has a great "monster manual" but no real stats for just basic NPCs (thugs, gangers, etc).

Is anyone aware of something like this available either on e23 or as a fan resource online?

Thanks!

If not, we should make one. Back when WotC held the Star Wars license, there was a great thread on their forums full of NPC archetypes.

[Phaelen Bleux]

The old 3e books Wizards, Warriors and Rogues were exactly what you are looking for. They should be readily usable as 4e templates.

[sgtcallistan]

The apparent need for stats for every opponent, mook and random encounter mopnster (and a splatbook to supply many, many examples) is an illusion brought about by DnD's many books and their domination of the market.

A mook is a visual description, 11 Guns skill, and what's in his pockets, or what he knows when questioned.

A monster is the same; what it looks like, what it's attak does, what you gain from dealing with it. It's ecology is obvious from the circumstances in which you discover it. -and perhaps there's a clue as to who sent it, as well.

Really, it's that simple. :)

[Rasputin]

Originally Posted by sgtcallistan

A monster is the same; what it looks like, what it's attak does, what you gain from dealing with it. It's ecology is obvious from the circumstances in which you discover it. -and perhaps there's a clue as to who sent it, as well.

A monster is different from a mook here, since mooks have clear point of reference. An average human is all 10s, so we just assume that the mook has the same, with a relevant skill (say Guns-12 or Broadsword-12) for the encounter unless we have reason to know otherwise.

However, we have no idea just what a frozbozz can do. You can wing some of it, of course, but it helps to have a written point of reference for one, especially if it is not manlike at all. An orc is easy, a dragon gets tricky, a shoggoth is mind-warping.

[Classic Uncle Sam]

There has yet to be writers for the Foes supplements on the GURPS Wish List. Certainly there would be generic NPC write-ups in that. One day, mayhaps...

[Grouchy Chris]

If you are running a TL3 or 4 campaign, then I highly recommend Historical Folks and its update to 4th edition. It was going to be an official release by SJG, but for whatever reason, they passed on it. Pity. But at least this way, it's free.

[vicky_molokh]

For monsters, one can look at CotN or the DF monstrous supplement. For NPCs, are you looking for an 'enemy mook bestiary' (I'd second the comments above), or at actually 'long-term' NPCs that, while not being protagonists, hang around a lot and need actual personalities?

[Bruno]

I'm surprised this thread's gotten this far without someone mentioning the Homebrew Monster thread by Mailanka.

[Psychotime]

Here's a page that puts some work into covering a couple of areas in the animal kingdom.

http://panoptesv.com/RPGs/animalia/animalia.html

[thulben]

Originally Posted by Bruno

I'm surprised this thread's gotten this far without someone mentioning the Homebrew Monster thread by Mailanka.

Absent basic creatures, the templates in that thread aren't of much use. But I agree that the archetypes are definitely there.