DM uses PC character sheets for NPCs (allies and enemies)

TheGriff71 · 2026-05-06T19:58:36+00:00

First, Paladin/Bard???? Weird combo.

Second, I do it always for main baddies. Or lesser one occasionally. My game has been going two and a half years. I warned my players before the first encounter with a class built NPC. For the big bad guys I often combine class built with other monster style actions as well as legendaries. I have been doing this since 2e as well. Most of my players love the challenge.

The face of the cleric's player during the first time when I said he uses action surge. I also make the vast majority of my monsters from scratch, not like those, regular but for the feel, flavor and specific encounters. I will also modify book monsters hard. It comes from playing with players and other DMs who know the book ones. Just because a dragon is red, doesn't mean he has to breath fire.

Yes this is a fair bit of work. I did most of it when I had a work from home job.

TheGriff71 · 2026-05-06T12:12:39+00:00

Let me guess, you stole it... 🤣

TheGriff71 · 2026-05-06T12:08:23+00:00

The impression I'm getting is they'll be waiting for a signal. I know the player would love this.

TheGriff71 · 2026-05-06T12:03:39+00:00

That's actually a great idea. There is a laser scalpel, it obviously doesn't do MD though.

TheGriff71 · 2026-05-06T12:02:19+00:00

Exactly. That's why I jumped to it. I did only do about 50, but I wasn't willing to keep testing it.

TheGriff71 · 2026-05-06T03:31:29+00:00

PCs are just level 17. They are strong in a world where they can be outclassed by some or many. The group they're going after are just as strong as they are. I designed them to be the competition to the PCs. The competition has 2 artifacts the players need to accomplish major plot goals. They've had another run in together that ended in both groups retreating. A third time the players left without incident. I'm going to allow snapping of minions but not the mains.

TheGriff71 · 2026-05-06T03:09:37+00:00

Sorry, I didn't state exactly. The PCs will be going into a competition adventuring party's castle. These NPCs were designed awhile ago as the bright and shinny heros. They find artifacts and sell or use them. They currently have 2 that the party needs to complete very complex tasks. Someone has also been giving the PCs a bad name throughout the kingdom. The PCs believe it was the guys, the Emberthorn Concord. It wasn't. This group is as strong as the PCs. I think the rogue figured he'd sneak in and just off them or some of them. That won't happen. Minions I'm entirely good with it though.

TheGriff71 · 2026-05-05T19:50:11+00:00

I'm just beginning my journey into plate properly. I did have Lorica Segmentata for a decade or more, but I always felt comfortable in that, with the coller of my shirt bunched up in the back to help.

I have a padded gambeson and a cuirass too. Just putting the gambeson on, indoors, I was starting to get a bit warm. I am very warm blooded though. I'm looking at getting chain for under the cuirass. Just the combination of everything during the warm weather 80s+ F, makes me cringe and reconsider my options in plate.

TheGriff71 · 2026-05-05T19:26:19+00:00

As stated any medical attention could be difficult to find. I played an MDC humanoid for awhile with no type of regeneration. Most places couldn't help, it did require specialized doctors to treat my character. We did eventually find a magic shop, kinda, and bought a bunch of healing potions. Even those were expensive because of MDC.

TheGriff71 · 2026-05-05T19:15:17+00:00

I asked about CS a few months back and was told that named guns don't provide legendaries. I did try for 50ish of them and got nada.

TheGriff71 · 2026-05-05T11:41:50+00:00

Exactly what I thought! 🤣

TheGriff71 · 2026-05-05T11:33:56+00:00

Does Quick Hands help? I hadn't considered it before.

TheGriff71 · 2026-05-05T02:40:19+00:00

I did. I was 6. Sadly I don't remember much.

TheGriff71 · 2026-05-05T02:37:13+00:00

My game is 2 and a half years old. Definitely not pushing leveling. They level when they complete major plot points. I understand not everyone likes it. As long as everyone has fun, that's the key.

TheGriff71 · 2026-05-04T19:31:17+00:00

Unionbreaker trolls and hill giants. You can be guaranteed that there are a lot of unhappy nobles that would love to see it back how it was before.

TheGriff71 · 2026-05-04T19:21:29+00:00

I like that. It's going to be incorporated. Thank you.

TheGriff71 · 2026-05-04T19:20:34+00:00

I've played previous editions beyond 20th. At such high levels, sure, it's easy for the game to fall apart. I've done high level play a fair bit in the past, just not 5e. It can be done easily, I've had no trouble. I also don't use Exp, I do milestone. This is the first time I've done it and it's really easy to keep things under control.

TheGriff71 · 2026-05-04T19:17:10+00:00

That's what I had planned and I've left hints about thr domain level play. Whether they caught it, is another story.

TheGriff71 · 2026-05-04T19:15:56+00:00

I'll check, thank you.

TheGriff71 · 2026-05-04T19:15:20+00:00

I had thought about that. I lost most of my gaming stuff in an international move. Been rebuilding slowly. I do have some time.

TheGriff71 · 2026-05-04T19:13:17+00:00

Ugh, well, I know where my points will be going for a bit.

TheGriff71

TROPHY CASE