The Dresden Files > DFRPG
questions about characters pc and npc
iago:
--- Quote from: epicice on February 01, 2010, 03:37:29 AM ---So one of my friends had a question. The Archive is there favorite character and they were wondering is she would be given stats?
--- End quote ---
We talk about what she's capable of, but she also exists on a Plot Device scale of power, so that means the stats are a little on the light side: you don't take on the Archive, you figure out how to deal with the challenge the Archive represents.
epicice:
Thanks alot :D
SoulCatcher78:
NPCs as plot devices bring up another question. How necessary is it to stat out NPCs? If Joe the bartender has one real role in the story (giving the PCs specific information) do we need to waste energy on developing him? The opposite is true for long running NPCs (Joe owns the bar that the PC lives above and will have more than a single interaction with him/her), developing reoccuring NPCs over time can be important to a campaign (or any multi session game).
One Shot Joe Aspect:
"knows where the bad guy is hiding but is scared to give the information out"
Long Run Joe Aspects:
"knows where the bad guy is hiding but is scared to give the information out"
"related to someone involved"
"pays for his mother's nursing home"
"enjoys poetry"
Over time we can get to know Joe better and find some of the other things out but if he's only going to be around long enough to get his arm twisted for the location of the bad guy, does it really matter?
ClarkValentine:
--- Quote from: SoulCatcher78 on February 09, 2010, 04:09:48 PM ---Over time we can get to know Joe better and find some of the other things out but if he's only going to be around long enough to get his arm twisted for the location of the bad guy, does it really matter?
--- End quote ---
You pretty much have the right of it. If he's just there as a tool for the GM to funnel information to the players, he might need no stats at all. Bare bones would be an aspect or two and a few skill ranks - "Aspects: 'Big Honkin' Sawed-Off 12 Gauge' and 'I Didn't See Nuthin.' If the PCs try to intimidate him for information, he resists with his Average (+1) Discipline, he might lie with his Fair (+2) Deceit, but if he gets really pissed off he's pretty handy with that sawed-off shotgun he keeps under the bar: Fair (+2) Intimidation (invoke the aspect to make it +4), Good (+3) Guns, Weapon:2 shotgun. "
And it's easy to just make that stuff up on the fly.
Ancalagon:
any system where a GM can make up an NPC's stat on the fly has a really good thing going for it! I rather spend more time thinking about NPC's motivations etc and less over complex character stating.
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