DCC's NPC demographics, and how they fit in with module B2

[geoffrey]

Page 359 of the DCC rulebook has numbers for the rarity of characters above level 0. Using the note for 7th-level characters ("One per continent or century" and "1 in 250,000"), and assuming seven continents, we arrive at the following demographics for the entire planet:

1,750,000 total people
1,695,181 0-level people
35,000 1st-level people
17,500 2nd-level people
1,750 3rd-level people
350 4th-level people
175 5th-level people
35 6th-level people
7 7th-level people
2 8th-level people
0 9th-level people
0 10th-level people

That seems consistent with Gary's B2: The Keep on the Borderlands, in which the Keep is civilization's main bulwark against the encroaching forces of Chaos. A 6th-level fighter (the Castellan) commands the Keep, and everyone else in the module is of lower level than the Castellan.

In other words, the Realm of law appointed the very best man they could find to stand athwart the forces of darkness. In all the world there are only 44 people of 6th or higher level, and undoubtedly there is not much intercourse amongst the continents. In the continent in which the Keep stands, there is probably only ONE person of higher level (7th) than the Castellan, and a mere FOUR persons of equal level (6th).

The world's two 8th-level people (perhaps Conan and Gandalf the White) are off wandering elsewhere, probably on different continents. For all we know the Keep's continent's one 7th-level person is a crusty, neutral magic-user who can't be bothered to leave his researches in his tower. So the 6th-level Castellan is the Realm's best of the best, the Realm's shining champion.

I like this. I've long thought that it wouldn't make much sense to put a 6th-level guy (commanding 1st-5th level guys) in charge of civilization's defenses if there are a bunch of 9th, 10th, 12th, and higher level NPCs running around.

[doublejig2]

Good math - my current gametable's party draws from the 1750 3rd level and 17500 2nd level!

[bobjester0e]

Nice. I haven't had the time to really look at this table in the DCC rules, but I recall something similar done for 1e in the DMG.

Did you consider that since DCC characters only go to level 10, and each DCC character is equivalent to two levels of a D&D character when comparing the Keep on the Borderlands to this table in DCC?

Or, would that factor be insignificant to the overall scheme as far as the Keep environs go, since the Castellan is the highest level NPC at 6th level?

[geoffrey]

Oct 13, 2021 8:45:55 GMT -6 bobjester0e said:

Did you consider that since DCC characters only go to level 10, and each DCC character is equivalent to two levels of a D&D character when comparing the Keep on the Borderlands to this table in DCC?

Or, would that factor be insignificant to the overall scheme as far as the Keep environs go, since the Castellan is the highest level NPC at 6th level?

No, I did not take anything such as that into account.

Is it accurate to say that a DCC character is equivalent to a D&D character twice his level (e. g., a 10th-level DDC wizard is equivalent to a 20th-level D&D magic-user)? I have never played DCC, having only perused the rulebook. Let's compare DDC wizards with B/X magic-users:

Hit points are the same: 1d4 per level. (Quibble: At 10th level a DCC wizard gains 1d4 hp, while a B/X magic-user gains 1 hp.)

A 10th-level DCC wizard has 16 spells, and a 10th-level B/X magic-user has 14 spells.

A 10th-level DCC wizard gets +4 to hit as compared to a 1st-level DCC wizard. A 10th-level B/X magic-user gets +2 to hit as compared to a 1st-level B/X magic-user.

A 10th-level DCC wizard has bonuses of +3/+3/+5 (+3.67 on average) on saving throws as compared to a 1st-level DCC wizard. A 10th-level magic-user has bonuses of +2 on saving throws as compared to a 1st-level B/X magic-user.

A clear picture does not emerge, but it does not look to me as though a 10th-level DCC wizard is all that much more powerful than a 10th-level B/X magic-user. Consider an 11th-level B/X magic-user:

Only 0.5 fewer hp on average than a 10th-level DCC wizard.

Gets 16 spells, just like a 10th-level DCC wizard.

+5 to hit (better than a 10th-level DCC wizard's +4 to hit)

+5 on saving throws (better than the 10th-level DCC wizard)

If I had to spit-ball it, I would say instead that perhaps a DCC character is equivalent in power to a D&D character of one higher level. (So, for example, a 10th-level DCC wizard is roughly equal to a B/X magic-user of 11th level.)

Admittedly, apples and oranges.

[bobjester0e]

I haven't played DCC enough to see how 1 DCC = 2 D&D levels. But this is what I've read (somewhere in the rules) and on the GG forums, especially when it comes to converting older module NPCs to DCC.

After looking at the DCC wizard level 10 # of spells & all character hit points, etc, that's how I look at it too - eg: 1 level higher equivalency.

But regarding the Keep's Castellan, Level 6 makes this guy one of the highest levels for NPCs (max level 10 for PCs, probably not so much for allied NPCs). Easily on par with noble warrior leaders of large cities, princes, and generally a force to be reckoned with. (Not a force combat wise exclusively, but if we just look at the Castellan as a Mover & Shaker...)

This means that the Keep on the Borderlands should be moved up a few notches in importance for for the world within the context of it's campaign background.

I mean, a level 6 DCC module should be treated as a level 14+ D&D module (following DCCs leveling equivalency concept), as far as deadliness and complexity, not to mention exotic backdrops and equally compelling NPCs & monsters, so I think it's fair that the obverse comparison is made.

A DCC version of the Keep on the Borderlands could very well get to the heart of true Chaos in the Caves! That would really be mind blowing!