What are the NPC-Only Statistics?

[howandwhy99]

I believe certain stats and game designs were left off the Player Characters, so the Players could take those actions themselves.

So, what were the Stats left off the PCs?

This can be anything for Monsters or NPCs, however you put it. Even non-creature stats might be worth something. But I'm really trying to hash out the additional game design for Non-Player Characters.

[howandwhy99]

Here's a short list of my own (not just from OD&D).

Morale
Loyalty
Ego
Organization
Treasure Type
Number Appearing
Frequency
Environment/Habitat
Percent in Lair

And I think the 3 mental stats break down into more subscores too. But I'm not sure what.
---

I think these are all filled in for humans and demi-humans, just not the PCs.

--------------EDIT - Adding from ideas given below

Personality Traits
Interests
Lair Types
Socio-Economic Class / Social Status

Reaction Adjustments
Racial Relations / Monster Relations
Authority

[derv]

howandwhy99, do you have access to Arneson and Snider's Adventures in Fantasy? Even though it is from 1978, it's a fascinating read in relation to the First Fantasy Campaign. If you do have a copy, it might be worth looking at Book 3's description of Dragons and compare it to OD&D. If you review some of the Q&A's with Arneson on here, he sometimes refers to this product for how he was originally doing things (like skills for example).

[tetramorph]

I prefer a more Tony Bath style, where you build NpC families and lineages and motivations in order to determine war game actions.

[howandwhy99]

Jun 18, 2017 6:44:48 GMT -6 derv said:

howandwhy99 , do you have access to Arneson and Snider's Adventures in Fantasy? Even though it is from 1978, it's a fascinating read in relation to the First Fantasy Campaign. If you do have a copy, it might be worth looking at Book 3's description of Dragons and compare it to OD&D. If you review some of the Q&A's with Arneson on here, he sometimes refers to this product for how he was originally doing things (like skills for example).

I have the First Fantasy Campaign, but I'll have to hunt to see if I bought a PDF of Adventures in Fantasy. Is there anyway you could do a quick hash of the broad idea?

[derv]

Sure, I'll give you the basic idea.

For player characters in AiF:
Characteristics: ST, DEX, IN, CH, Stamina (CON), Health
Hit points are determined based on ST, Stamina, and Health
Social Status (level or rank)
Starting Age
Education (learning skills)
Equipment/ supplies
Encumbrance and Speed

Dragons are covered in 9 pages. They are somewhat of a composite creature.
All monsters have 5 stats in the game: Average Hit points, Movement Rate (Speed), Alignment, Body Type, and Hit Dice.
On a separate chart there is also Number Appearing.

For Dragons you also have Age Grade, Size Grade, Sex, Intelligence, Egotism Index, Greed Index, Personality Traits, Interests, Magic (Magic Points), Treasure Types, Lair Types.

[Deleted]

Jun 18, 2017 6:46:14 GMT -6 tetramorph said:

I prefer a more Tony Bath style, where you build NpC families and lineages and motivations in order to determine war game actions.

Given time to do it I would like to combine both methods, IIRC Phil Barker with his EPT game pretty much combined both methods together.

[Deleted]

Jun 18, 2017 19:24:45 GMT -6 derv said:

Sure, I'll give you the basic idea.

For player characters in AiF:
Characteristics: ST, DEX, IN, CH, Stamina (CON), Health
Hit points are determined based on ST, Stamina, and Health
Social Status (level or rank)
Starting Age
Education (learning skills)
Equipment/ supplies
Encumbrance and Speed

Dragons are covered in 9 pages. They are somewhat of a composite creature.
All monsters have 5 stats in the game: Average Hit points, Movement Rate (Speed), Alignment, Body Type, and Hit Dice.
On a separate chart there is also Number Appearing.

For Dragons you also have Age Grade, Size Grade, Sex, Intelligence, Egotism Index, Greed Index, Personality Traits, Interests, Magic (Magic Points), Treasure Types, Lair Types.

Yeah, this is a gold mine of ideas for upping the game of your dragons.

[howandwhy99]

Jun 18, 2017 19:24:45 GMT -6 derv said:

Sure, I'll give you the basic idea.

For player characters in AiF:
Characteristics: ST, DEX, IN, CH, Stamina (CON), Health
Hit points are determined based on ST, Stamina, and Health
Social Status (level or rank)
Starting Age
Education (learning skills)
Equipment/ supplies
Encumbrance and Speed

Dragons are covered in 9 pages. They are somewhat of a composite creature.
All monsters have 5 stats in the game: Average Hit points, Movement Rate (Speed), Alignment, Body Type, and Hit Dice.
On a separate chart there is also Number Appearing.

For Dragons you also have Age Grade, Size Grade, Sex, Intelligence, Egotism Index, Greed Index, Personality Traits, Interests, Magic (Magic Points), Treasure Types, Lair Types.

Wow, that is some serious NPC and Monster material. I like it. Here's some thoughts, off the cuff:

I'm thinking these are already PC stats too, but some really come into their own for NPCs
Starting Age
Education
Equipment/Supplies
Body Type
Age Category / Age Grade
Sex

I'm guessing this may be like Ego, extrapolated from intelligent items
Egotism Index

These are unique, but AD&D really made a big deal about Personality Traits. I need design though
Greed Index
Personality Traits
Interests
Lair Types
Social Status*

*I really like Social Status, in part because it made me remember some other D&D NPC elements:
1. Reaction Adjustments - Tracked relations to other characters. Most importantly to particular PCs.
2. Racial relations, but Monster relations too - These are like Group Reaction Adjustments and default status.
2. Authority - This is a big forgotten one I think goes to Loyalty, Obedience, and the leadership/management game.