For those DMs that create character sheets for the NPCs, do you build them in the Character Builder or as a Homebrew Monster?
From what I can tell there's more customization allowed in the Homebrew Monster method, but players in my campaigns can then also look up the info on homebrew using the name. But building them as Characters allows players to see them in the Campaign menu as Unassigned Characters.
Are those the primary differences, or are there other pros and cons that I'm not aware of?
I tend to use the monster method but you do not need to give the players access to the stats. If you make it a monster you can remove it from your collection and find it in your creations. If you make it a character, you can simply not make it in the campaign. One problem with the character method is that the players can figure out what it is and know its stats if you use certain abilities.
I like to use monster that are already made and just tweak them a bit. Think Lion King, scar is far more intelligent than Mufasa. Dress up a cyclops and decrease his Str, and increase his Int and Char, give him an additional language, and then have him pose as guard at the gate or something. He might not be as strong as a "normal" cyclops, but travelers do not know that. This is just a single example of what I like to do. It is quicker than making something yourself, and more fun for me and my players.
For important NPCs who have magic items or abilities from class levels, I create their initial build as a PC, then I convert it to a monster stat block. For less important NPCs, I adjust an extant stat block. My players never see them.
Having a full-blown character sheet for NPCs is a pain when you're running an encounter or trying to look something up quickly. Also, you can't include them in the encounter builder as enemies. NPCs that have monster stat blocks can be added as additional enemies and help you get a better sense for how deadly an encounter could be.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
For those DMs that create character sheets for the NPCs, do you build them in the Character Builder or as a Homebrew Monster?
From what I can tell there's more customization allowed in the Homebrew Monster method, but players in my campaigns can then also look up the info on homebrew using the name. But building them as Characters allows players to see them in the Campaign menu as Unassigned Characters.
Are those the primary differences, or are there other pros and cons that I'm not aware of?
I tend to use the monster method but you do not need to give the players access to the stats. If you make it a monster you can remove it from your collection and find it in your creations. If you make it a character, you can simply not make it in the campaign. One problem with the character method is that the players can figure out what it is and know its stats if you use certain abilities.
I am leader of the yep cult:https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/off-topic/adohands-kitchen/82135-yep-cult Pronouns are she/her
Always monsters. I'm not spending time deisgning something the PCs will either never fight, or will fight and kill in one combat.
I like to use monster that are already made and just tweak them a bit. Think Lion King, scar is far more intelligent than Mufasa. Dress up a cyclops and decrease his Str, and increase his Int and Char, give him an additional language, and then have him pose as guard at the gate or something. He might not be as strong as a "normal" cyclops, but travelers do not know that. This is just a single example of what I like to do. It is quicker than making something yourself, and more fun for me and my players.
For important NPCs who have magic items or abilities from class levels, I create their initial build as a PC, then I convert it to a monster stat block. For less important NPCs, I adjust an extant stat block. My players never see them.
Having a full-blown character sheet for NPCs is a pain when you're running an encounter or trying to look something up quickly. Also, you can't include them in the encounter builder as enemies. NPCs that have monster stat blocks can be added as additional enemies and help you get a better sense for how deadly an encounter could be.