[Torg] More shtuff: NPC levels

[Benjamin Grant]

I just came up with a quick off the cuff way to build NPCs:

Determine the relative level of the NPC to the PCs:  Inferior, Lesser,
Equal, Greater, Superior.

Based on the relative level, the NPC gets more or fewer starting attribute
point to make up for it:

Inferior = 56 Attribute Points
Lesser = 61 Attribute Points
Equal = 66 Attribute Points
Greater = 71 Attribute Points
Superior = 76 Attribute Points

Also based on the relative level, the NPC gets more or fewer starting skill
adds:

Inferior = 10 skill adds
Lesser = the average number of current skill adds of the party
Equal = the average number of current skill adds of the party
Greater = the average number of current skill adds of the party
Superior = 1.5 times the average number of current skill adds of the party

As the PCs grow and advance, the NPCs generally do not.  Eventually PCs will
out-advance most NPCs.  Some NPCs can be selected as Signature NPCs - when
the PCs finally advance to equal stature, from that point on the signature
NPC advances at the same rate as the PCs, and thereby remains equal.

Two comments:

1)  I know that technically all characters should start with 66 attribute
points, and the heavy hitters should simply have more skill adds, but it
seemed a simpler shortcut and functional equivalent to have the main
differentiation be in attribute points: -10, -5, 0, +5, +10.  Mathematically
it works out to be very similar.

2)  I also know that this is not and can be an absolute rule - it is merely
supposed to be a guideline for creating NPCs both friend and foe and little
sister.  ;)

For what it's worth.

-Benn Grant
eFix Computer Consulting
benn at 4eFix.com
603.283.6601