NPC stat creation help

[robertjames83]

Fellow DMs,

One of the biggest difficulties I'm finding so far with 5e is NPC generation. I mean NPCs with stats--those who could be potential foes. I find various resources from other editions or sources and when I'm trying to make a stat block I get stuck because I have no clue what is proper in terms of damage/HP/AC/etc. per a given CR. I know there's charts and resources in the DMG, but the "suggested" ratings for attack/damage and defense/HP seem grossly different than published NPCs.

Does anyone know of a homebrew definitive NPC creation method, or could just offer some helpful advice?

Thanks!

[MrStabby]

I think you might have some challenges about this.

My way might not be what you are looking for though.

CR is not usually a good measure of how tough a fight is - I treat it more as an afterthought to determine how many XP to award (if running XP leveling).

To generate an NPC I think about the encounter and their place in the world.

In the encounter I work out where the tension in the encounter is intended to be. Is it that the enemy might win and force a retreat or a TPK? Is the tension in the encounter consuming too many resources and leaving the party unprepared for another encounter? Is the tension trying to stop them getting away to raise an alarm. Different roles will require different HP, different abilities etc..

If they will fight back I usually ensure they have three or more different things they can do. One of the three is usually an attack action but limited spellcasting or a battlemaster type spell attack is also good. Emphasis may vary but I like the different abilities to span both damage and control. A reaction option is also good.

Regarding the world - this is just matching NPC or faction abilities to the info the PCs have or could deduce. For example if an assassin has killed a powerful wizard they would almost certainly have access to dispel magic or other ways to get past glyphs and wards.

A rough rule of thumb I use for "main" NPCs is HP equal to the party's 1 round output, about 65% chance of a hit/failed save and ways of not having everyone be able to target them all the time (abilities like the rogues cunning action or wall spells or illusory duplicates and so on.)

Average damage per turn of 80% of the weakest character HP should avoid 1-shot kills on characters whilst still making hits hurt. Lower damage is better if you give more support in the encounter.

Finally take the NPC, find something roughly as tough in the monster manual and give them a CR/XP number equivalent to that.

Just think back from what is supposed to make the encounter fun and work in things that are needed to keep the world consistent.

[DragonSorcererX]

I recommend taking a look at the AngryGM stuff on creating monsters:

http://theangrygm.com/monster-building-201-the-dd-monster-dissection-lab/
(http://theangrygm.com/monster-building-201-the-dd-monster-dissection-lab/)http://theangrygm.com/monster-building-202/
(http://theangrygm.com/monster-building-202/)http://theangrygm.com/monster-building-202-supplement-monster-building-with-angry/