Player Classes as NPCs

[celtchief]

Hello all,
I've been playing Basic off and on for a few years now i guess... I have bought two of the rulebooks and I love the system. One problem I am having though is creating enemies that are player classes/races. I can of course create a 5th level halfling thief, and make it a bad guy.... but I'm not sure how to award XP. Does it count as a HD 3 creature, or a 5 HD monster? Are thieving abilities a special ability.... worth how many asterisks on the XP chart? What about fighters.... a 5th level fighter has as many HP as a 5 HD creature.... but are on the same line as 4 HD monster....
So if there is a thread that points the way, I'd love to see it? Also, if there is not a collection of NPC/Class characters for the different races... is their interest in one being created? I'm not promising... but if I have to do the work anyways for my own campaign...

Anyhow, hope this all made sense.... Thanks, love the game.

Robert

[SmootRK]

I have done it differently at different times... often just an arbitrary amount based upon how difficult the encounter seemed to work out. However, if I were trying to offer specific guidance sticking as closely to the existing rules, then I would suggest HD=Levels (for use in conjunction with table on p. 42) and always use 3 asterisks (because the classes all generally have multiple abilities, whether spells, various class abilities, good equipment, magical items, and so forth).

[dymondy2k]

I treat Level as HD.. quick and easy for XP calculation.

[Maliki]

I treat Level as HD.. quick and easy for XP calculation.

This is how I would handle it as well, as for special abilities, I would only count something that had or could have an impact on combat. A second level mage with two read magic spells memorized would not be worth as much as a second level mage with magic missile and shield memorized for example.

[SmootRK]

I treat Level as HD.. quick and easy for XP calculation.

This is how I would handle it as well, as for special abilities, I would only count something that had or could have an impact on combat. A second level mage with two read magic spells memorized would not be worth as much as a second level mage with magic missile and shield memorized for example.

This is basically why I state that generally I use a more arbitrary assignment based upon how the encounter went. Conversely, a NPC party, acting as a well-practiced team, each supporting, enhancing, and otherwise working in concert can be a formidable force, worth well above the sum of their individual XP rewards. Same goes with a mixture of monster types, but the effect seems more pronounced with Classed individuals.

This is one of the areas of gaming that is less of a mathematical effort or science, and more of an Art.