N Is for Non-Player Characters
None of the character creation rules posted earlier this month apply to non-player characters (NPCs). The players’ characters are the heroes, and they get special treatment at creation time. In contrast, NPCs are challenges, enemies, or resources, and they are typically defined by one or two qualities and a certain number of hit points.
Most NPCs are people, animals, or something similar. The GM just assigns whatever qualities seem appropriate. One or two qualities is usually enough. These qualities are assigned a couple of dice chosen to reflect the NPC’s average level of difficulty. Then add a certain number of hit points, usually no more than 3 hit points per hero. Consider, for example, a Glass-Jawed Brawler. He’s a rough and tumble sort of fellow. He packs a hefty punch, but he usually gets by on intimidation, which is good since he can’t take a punch. Make him a Glass-Jawed Brawler 2d8. Give him 1 hit point per hero for physical damage, but 3 hit points per hero for social damage.
In The Boogie Knights of the Round Table (BKotRT), a situation can also be an NPC. That mysterious package could be a Devilishly Clever Bomb 2d6. Those dice don’t necessarily tell how much damage the bomb does. Instead, the dice are pitted against a hero’s attempts to disable it. This could be played as a simple action or an extended action, but in this latter case, the bomb needs hit points.
Finally, an NPC could be several foes who individually aren’t significant but together represent a threat or obstacle. Perhaps a villainous dee-jay develops a mind-control turntable. He could attack the heroes with a Mind-Controlled Mob 1d6+1d8. The mob has a shared hit point total. Every time the mob is injured, narration describes a few casualties, drop outs, retreaters, et cetera.
The emphasis in BKotRT is speed and fun, not intricately detailed game prep. These guidelines for NPCs are designed to facilitate these goals.
