NPC Designer Review
What is NPC Designer?
NPC Designer is a program for generating random D20 characters. At this point (version 1.0.117) characters can be generated from the SRD, the Modern SRD, and support for Arcana Evolved is being added in. This software requires Windows 98 or higher. It is written by David Jones (Vascant) and is available at RPGAttitude and at the ENWorld Game Store.
From the NPC Designer site:
NPC Designer Features:
- Races: All of the SRD races
- Monster Races: Dozens of monster and more being created each week.
- Advancing Monsters: Many monsters have the ability to be advanced.
- Epic: In Progress
- Racial Paragons: Working and new scripts are being created.
- Bloodlines: Working and new scripts are being created.
- Templates: Working and new scripts are being created.
- Classes: 4 classes and up to 50th level in each.
- Prestige Classes: 4 Prestige classes and up to 50th level in each.
- Skill Selection: Based on not just a random class list but also other factors such as background and region.
- Feats: Go beyond just normal d20 prereq’s, you can also design your own to fit your world.
- Spells: Add your own and have them selected intelligently based on alignment, god and even feats.
- Stat Block: NPC Designer is offers you a wide range of stat blocks and formats to include the new format, Fantasy Grounds Import, DM Genie Import and you can create your own
- Designer Screens: Have that perfect NPC in your mind, use the designer skills to select exactly what you want your NPC to have.
- Equipment: Selected and any modifications are made to the NPC.
- Constant Development: 10+ hours a day is put into this software, that means on most days there is an update with improvements and new functionality ready for you to create with. Have a game this weekend and need a certain feature to work in the system? Let me know on the forums.
I would say that NPC designer is mostly made to generate bit characters, e.g. the evil overlord’s 10th level guards and their supporting clerics and wizards. With a little bit of tweaking to make the generated character fit your needs, you could even use this to create the evil overlord himself. If your evil overlord is known for using a +3 dire flail, or for being unusually intelligent, or for being an expert in mounted combat, you can specify those kinds of options prior to character generation and you’ll get a character that has those items, attributes, or skills/feats.
Pros:
- This program works well. If a generated character has +2 dire flail, they will have exotic weapon proficiency (dire flail), and probably weapon focus (dire flail) and weapon specialization (dire flail). Feats make sense for the generated character.
- The support is unparalleled. Vacant usually answers any questions posted on the messageboard within an hour or two. He’s also very responsive to user requests for new features.
- There are lots of options to customize the characters prior to generation so that you can get that neutral wizard with the heighten spell feat, the lawful good warrior with the +5 warhammer, or the chaotic evil cleric with the eyes of petrification.
- This program is easy to use. The most complicated parts are some of the fancier options for what to do with the generated statblocks, and those don’t take too much effort to learn.
- With a little bit of work, many aspects of the program can be customized, e.g. new races and classes can be added or old ones changed.
Cons:
- There are occasional issues with the Windows 98 version. These have been resolved quickly in every case where they’ve popped up.
- Arcana Evolved support is only just being added in. Don’t count on being able to create Arcana Evolved characters for some time yet.
- The documentation stinks. This isn’t an issue for using the program as is, but customizing the program is a matter of trial and error at this point.
Conclusion
This is a great program. If you are a GM and need a variety of random NPCs quickly, this program is ideal. There are some problems, but none of them prevent the program from being very useful. A demo is available at RPGAttitude. Overall rating 4 out of 5.