So i'm running my first homebrew campaign and trying to figure out how best to integrate NPCs into the team for the Enounters tool. I have the Master account, if that makes a difference.

FIRST SET OF QUESTIONS:
If I build out an NPC using the character builder tool and set it to view as Private only (as if it's my own character), then when I add it to our current campaign, will the other players be able to see it? Will they see only the name but no further in the list of characters of the campaign or is it invisible to them?

NEXT QUESTION AREA:
i see a lot of people asking for enemy NPCs to be added as "monsters" in the Encounters tooL so that Challenge Rating calculations will be more accurate. However, I'm wondering if this workaround will work? As follows:

First i have to figure out the CR of the NPC, as an estimate. Then i add a monster of that level into the Encounter Builder and build out the rest of the encounter. Then after it's all set, i delete the monster and add the NPC to the Campaign (as if it's one of the PCS) and set it to Private. Then when I run the Encounters Tool, there will be a slot in the count to add in the NPCs initiative as if it were one of the PCs. But on that turn, i just play it as I would as any standard NPC.

Does that make sense? Would that work? 

 If you add a character to your campaign the players will see it. If you set the character to private then they will not be able to look at the character sheet. They will still see the name, level, race, class, and subclass. That's okay for an NPC party member but bad for an opponent. It gives away too much info.

The best way to make an NPC is to use the homebrew tools becuase you'll see the statblock in the encounter builder. However, the homebrew system can be a pain to use. The easiest way to make an NPC is to use the character generator but you end up with too much information and have to open it in a different browser window to use. Makes it harder to run.

If you are going to use an NPC you created using the character generator you don't have to add it to the campaign. In the encounter builder under manager characters click on add character. Then name it what you want. It still messes up the CR calculation, so you're on your own figuring that out. Only problem with this method is the NPC dice rolls won't show up in the campaign log. Not really an issue if you keep your rolls hidden from the players.

Quote from EWhitehart >>

 If you add a character to your campaign the players will see it. If you set the character to private then they will not be able to look at the character sheet. They will still see the name, level, race, class, and subclass. That's okay for an NPC party member but bad for an opponent. It gives away too much info.

The best way to make an NPC is to use the homebrew tools becuase you'll see the statblock in the encounter builder. However, the homebrew system can be a pain to use. The easiest way to make an NPC is to use the character generator but you end up with too much information and have to open it in a different browser window to use. Makes it harder to run.

If you are going to use an NPC you created using the character generator you don't have to add it to the campaign. In the encounter builder under manager characters click on add character. Then name it what you want. It still messes up the CR calculation, so you're on your own figuring that out. Only problem with this method is the NPC dice rolls won't show up in the campaign log. Not really an issue if you keep your rolls hidden from the players.

Awesome. Thank you for taking the time to describe these workarounds. Very helpful! I'll keep my NPCs in a separate campaign so they don't learn any details. And as you suggest add a generic character to track the initiative roll. You're also right, if i roll on that character sheet, they won't see my rolls...but that's okay, they trust me, and it will keep it more mysterious anyway.

I sure hope DDB updates these needs soon. I know people have been clamoring for NPC integration. And sidekick integration too.