As I'm a beginner DM (AKA building up to it) what advice can be given to sell the idea that NPCs I'd made using Monster Manual stat blocks were in fact characters possessing qualities that make them recognizable as PHB classes.
I know spellcasting can be done that way sometimes, but there are other things that wouldn't fit without them. Any smooth methods to accomplish this?
While is easy to determine the proficiency and the hit points in function of the "monster" level, it is not that easy for other abilites or features, like Poison, Charm, Multiattack.
The idea is really fun, (playing a beholder for example), but requires a lot of work for the DM.
I kind of did this for an NPC of mine. I was converting/implementing a system-agnostic adventure into a 5e adventure. There was an NPC that was clearly a Cleric, so I used the Priest NPC Stat Block. However, I needed this NPC to be a follower of Lathander, the Morning God in Forgotten Realms. Therefore I made the decision he was a Cleric of the Light Domain. I then swapped out his spells for the spells of the Light Domain.
But, as @Filcat alluded to, it was extra work for me that my PCs really didn't, and don't, notice. Granted they're all relatively new to the D&D and so are not intimately familiar with all the Cleric Domains. :-D
Playing a beholder for example? I *think* we're on the same page, but I lost you here. Kinda looking for the fine touch required to say "Any savvy player should recognize this NPC I made from scratch with a stat block is supposed to be a ____ (insert PHB class, perhaps w/ archetypes) but not merely due to me saying so."
Especially when it comes to conversions. Half the fun of considering "If ___ was a tabletop RPG character, or an Expy of him/her was, _____." is filling in that last blank with "they'd be a (insert class)".
As I'm a beginner DM (AKA building up to it) what advice can be given to sell the idea that NPCs I'd made using Monster Manual stat blocks were in fact characters possessing qualities that make them recognizable as PHB classes.
I know spellcasting can be done that way sometimes, but there are other things that wouldn't fit without them. Any smooth methods to accomplish this?
Simple, Make PCs that are NPCs. Give them the same class abilities, level them up like you would a PC and toss them into the game world. For example, to start my next campaign there is a third level NPC wizard that is essentially the boss for one of the adventures. I wanted him to have certain second level spells, hence why he is level 3. But because the PCs will eventually face him by himself should they catch him, he can afford to be level 3. It does mean I can't really use magic missile or he could probably take the PCs out, but limiting his attacks to only one per round will help even the odds. (PCs already weak from a previous encounter). He is going to have something like 30+ hp, which are artificially high for a third level wizard PC, but in line with what a solo type monster from the Monster Manual would probably have.
Its easy to assume that an NPC with PC levels is a certainly deadly encounter for a PC of that same class and level, so you do have to watch out. But if they are the exception, it should be fairly easy to handle. You may need to tweak the hp you give them or follow the rules in the book that state a medium creature has a d8 hit dice per level regardless of their class.
You can opt for the much more simple approach of letting the NPC do something the PC class would do rather than being a complete PC class.
Well, so far the characters I want to do some explorative building for (the Gatewatch, and other notable planeswalkers from Magic: the Gathering) aren't accomplished with PHB classes alone, so a stat block featuring traits and perhaps Legendary Actions) would be best, but I do want to throw in characteristic class traits where they fit.
Haven't played magic in forever. Anyway the best option seems to be to give them something notable from the player classes. For fighters, this tends to be action surges, though you may opt for something more noticeable by the PCs.
The biggest issue is that if the PCs are like, oh he is a fighter, I want to learn how to do that! Then you just have to remind them that he was only part fighter and something else, or that the monsters have certain abilities that are beyond the grasp of the PCs.
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As I'm a beginner DM (AKA building up to it) what advice can be given to sell the idea that NPCs I'd made using Monster Manual stat blocks were in fact characters possessing qualities that make them recognizable as PHB classes.
I know spellcasting can be done that way sometimes, but there are other things that wouldn't fit without them. Any smooth methods to accomplish this?
While is easy to determine the proficiency and the hit points in function of the "monster" level, it is not that easy for other abilites or features, like Poison, Charm, Multiattack.
The idea is really fun, (playing a beholder for example), but requires a lot of work for the DM.
I kind of did this for an NPC of mine. I was converting/implementing a system-agnostic adventure into a 5e adventure. There was an NPC that was clearly a Cleric, so I used the Priest NPC Stat Block. However, I needed this NPC to be a follower of Lathander, the Morning God in Forgotten Realms. Therefore I made the decision he was a Cleric of the Light Domain. I then swapped out his spells for the spells of the Light Domain.
But, as @Filcat alluded to, it was extra work for me that my PCs really didn't, and don't, notice. Granted they're all relatively new to the D&D and so are not intimately familiar with all the Cleric Domains. :-D
HTH
I wear pants, short pants.
I also ask a lot of questions; insatiably curious
Playing a beholder for example? I *think* we're on the same page, but I lost you here. Kinda looking for the fine touch required to say "Any savvy player should recognize this NPC I made from scratch with a stat block is supposed to be a ____ (insert PHB class, perhaps w/ archetypes) but not merely due to me saying so."
Especially when it comes to conversions. Half the fun of considering "If ___ was a tabletop RPG character, or an Expy of him/her was, _____." is filling in that last blank with "they'd be a (insert class)".
Well, so far the characters I want to do some explorative building for (the Gatewatch, and other notable planeswalkers from Magic: the Gathering) aren't accomplished with PHB classes alone, so a stat block featuring traits and perhaps Legendary Actions) would be best, but I do want to throw in characteristic class traits where they fit.
Haven't played magic in forever. Anyway the best option seems to be to give them something notable from the player classes. For fighters, this tends to be action surges, though you may opt for something more noticeable by the PCs.
The biggest issue is that if the PCs are like, oh he is a fighter, I want to learn how to do that! Then you just have to remind them that he was only part fighter and something else, or that the monsters have certain abilities that are beyond the grasp of the PCs.