NPC Data

[Jaracove]

Is there a shortcut for statting up npcs? I understand 'bit part' players can be handwaved, but what about adepts?

I imagine that takes some work

Any tips/advice?

Thanks

[Slimcreeper]

There is a chart on p. 140 or so in the GM guide that helps with the Physical Defense, Health ratings, etc. Then I usually make all of the talent ranks equal the adept's circle. Add the circle to the death rating, then add (circle*durability) to death and Unconscious. You can totally fudge a bunch of it, even with adepts. Your players will not be auditing your NPC character sheets. That said, there's not a super fast way to do it other than vigorous copy-pasting.

[Mataxes]

If you've got a decent handle on what a Discipline can do, it's easy enough to fudge it with "Attribute Step + Circle". It's a bit tougher with magicians (because spells), but they're (usually) limited by number of matrices, so you only need to have 3-4 spells ready (depending on character Circle).

This is something that gets easier the more familiarity you get with the system (as is the case with any game with medium-high crunch).

You could also pick up the GM Screen with it's handy tables of each Discipline at Circles 2, 4, 6, and 8.

[Lars Gottlieb]

My old character generator, the second step, has a flexible npc creator built in.

It's for second edition, but if all you need is the basics, it should work just fine. Still at secondstep.dk; the installer doesn't work with windows 7+, but you can grab the stand alone version.

[Marzhin]

My old character generator, the second step, has a flexible npc creator built in.

It's for second edition, but if all you need is the basics, it should work just fine.

Looks like a sweet software. Any hope for an updated version for ED4?

Which makes me think, I understand that FASA's resources are limited, but having an official character generator for ED4 would be great and a huge help in getting new players into the game. Maybe a partnership with HeroLab could be worth considering?

[Lars Gottlieb]

It was a fun project; I keep dreaming of getting to a point where I can update it.

[Jaracove]

I'd gladly pay for a 4th ed character generator

If I had the skills I'd make one

[Slimcreeper]

Short of a generator, what about a shared online database of NPCs? You can share a google folder, right? But then the issue is people knowing it exists.

You know what, maybe I'll make an Earthdawn website with the purpose of sharing this sort of information. I can't make a character generator, but I can do that.

[Dougansf]

Maybe a place like this: https://earthdawn.blogspot.com/

[Slimcreeper]

Yes, but with a gallery for fan art, a repository for npcs & adventures, and so on. Blogs are fine, but I don't care for them as reference sources because it is awkward to browse for what you want.