[CONAN] GM's Guide to NPC Levels

[Supplement Four]

Page 11-12 of the 2nd Edition Conan RPG Core Rulebook is a gem for GMs because there it is described what NPC character levels make up the default Conan game universe.

What does it say, exactly, on those pages?

1. It says that Level 1 characters are young and untried--those who have just completed basic training in their chosen professions. A 1st level Barbarian is an unseasoned young brave. A 1st level Pirate is a lowly deckswab. A 1st level Noble has barely come of age and is still not worthy to inherit the authority of his birthright.

2. Level 4 characters are described as well with examples: A 4th level Nomad is one of the finest warriors in the warband; a 4th level soldier has been on the frontlines of a battlefield several times.

3. There, it also says that 8th level characters are skilled adventurers, famed across the land. An 8th level thief, for example, can kill even the strongest man with a single well-placed blow and has the skills to sneak through a whole temple full of worshippers without being seen. 8th level Scholars have the ability to master three different forms of magic and can invoke potent magics like demon summoning.

4. That small section of the core rulebook also flat-out states that "12th level or higher characters are exceedingly rare--these are legendary figures whose deeds will be remembered for generations to come."





So, what is all this really saying?

It's saying that the Conan RPG, by default, is meant to be played as a low level game (level 10 and below). Every town the PCs encounter should be comprised of NPCs, level 1-10 or so, and only a few would be 8th level or above.

What does that mean about levels above 12? The game has a level cap at Level 20. By deduction, the character levels above 12th are reserve for the truly gifted. If a 12th level character is a legendary figure, then a 17th level character is truly a hero of demi-god like proportions. The second half of the character level scale (those level 11-20) should be reserved for larger-than-life heroes, demi-gods, avatars, demons, and the like.

More evidence that supports this deduction is the Commoner class level cap at Level 10.

This all points to the default setting of the game to be focused on Level 10 and below, with the Level 11+ range reserved for the supernatural and true masters of their fields.





Deduction can take this line of reasoning a step further to say that NPCs earn, roughly, one XP point a day, on average, depending on their environmental conditions (an Aquilonian Soldier stationed near the Pict border will likely advance faster than a counterpart stationed as a city guard in Tarantia.

If your PCs meet an NPC, then meet that NPC again, during the normal course of the campaign, but the meeting takes place several years after the PC's initial encounter with the NPC (and the GM wants to account to the NPC's character growth during that period), it is quite logical to give the NPC 1 XP for each day in between the meetings with the Player Characters.



Given all of the above, this chart may be useful when GM's populate their worlds.



Level 1 - Represents the experience of a novice. On average, a character begins at age 15, thought this number can vary widely depending on the character's background and culture.

Level 2 - Thsi represents the experience of a character in his late teens (17-18 is about right). The character has spent 2-3 years at level 1, finally gaining enough experience to improve to Level 2.

Level 3 - This level represents a character in his early 20's. Age 23-24 is about right. The character has spent 2+ years at Level 1 to obtain Level 2 status, and then spends another 6 years at Level 2 attempting to become Level 3.





Level 4 - This level corresponds to characters in their early 30's. Age 31-32 is about right.

Level 5 - This level corresponds to characters in their early 40's. Age 42-43 is about average.

Level 6 - This level represents a lifetime of experience for a character in his mid-to-late 50's. Age 56-57 is about average.



Level 7 - This level represents the highest level an average NPC can obtain without having excelled at some experience-rich endeavor in the past. This level represents average characters in their early 70's. Age 72-73 is about right.





How to use this information: Keep all of this in mind as you design encounters for your players. For example, let's say that the PCs happen upon a bandit band. The GM may envion a 40 year old leader with the rest of the men either in their late teens or early 20's.

Looking at the chart, we see that the leader is probably a 4th level character with the other bandits falling in the Level 1-3 range. Maybe the band's best warrior is level 3, and the rest are Level 1-2 NPCs.

 

[tneva82]

Level 6 - This level represents a lifetime of experience for a character in his mid-to-late 50's. Age 56-57 is about average.



Level 7 - This level represents the highest level an average NPC can obtain without having excelled at some experience-rich endeavor in the past. This level represents average characters in their early 70's. Age 72-73 is about right.

Problem with these are that age starts to kick in. Especially since we are dealing s&s era. Average age of humans _increases_ all the time. Conversevely back in past they lived shorter and likely were not in as good shape in their seniorities.

60-70's aren't likely to be in shape for slaughtering marauding barbarians without breaking a sweat. Which level 8 characters rulewise would be more than able to do...

So I would be capping age of characters around 40's at most or if going further than that artificially reduce appropriate stats. And 60's and 70's would be a) rare b) have some serious drawbacks especially physically but also mentally. They might have lots of experience but sadly generally age does slow down thinking. And around the time of Conan people hit their seniority stage sooner than around our time in average.

 

[Supplement Four]

Level 7 - This level represents the highest level an average NPC can obtain without having excelled at some experience-rich endeavor in the past. This level represents average characters in their early 70's. Age 72-73 is about right.

Problem with these are that age starts to kick in. Especially since we are dealing s&s era. Average age of humans _increases_ all the time. Conversevely back in past they lived shorter and likely were not in as good shape in their seniorities.

60-70's aren't likely to be in shape for slaughtering marauding barbarians without breaking a sweat. Which level 8 characters rulewise would be more than able to do...

Think it through a little bit more....I think those numbers are spot on, given the guidelines provided in the Core Rulebook.

The book specifically describes Level 8 characters as those that are the leaders--the masters at what they do. Not everybody has the stuff to become a accomplished to that degree. For example, in a Cimmerian clan, not every warrior has what it takes to become the clan Chieftain. It is the rare individual that rises to 8th level who becomes chief.

Remember that the list I provided are rules of thumb--averages of NPCs. Some characters will obtain higher level at an earlier age. If you take twin Aquilonian brothers and have them serve a couple of years at different posts--one in the town guard of Tarantia and the other to a fort on the Pictish frontier--it is likely that, although both are Soldier classed characters, the one on the Pictish frontier will end the tour at a higher level than the one who served in the town militia (akin to a soldier during the Vietnam crisis serving in Germany or in Vietnam for the same period of time--one comes back with more combat skills).

A characters personal experiences determine if he will reach a higher level at a younger age. Thus, not all NPCs will be dead or in their 70's at level 7. A character in his 50's could be level 7 given a personal experience that allowed him to excel over others.

I would be capping age of characters around 40's at most or if going further than that artificially reduce appropriate stats.

I completely agree that an age of the 40's should be the beginning of old age for Hyborian Age characters, with many not living past that. But, I don't think the chart should be changed. The average stays the same.

Thus, the average character reaches level 4-5-6 during his lifetime.





Given the parameters mentioned in the book, most characters that the PCs encounter should be in the Level 1-5 or 1-6 range. The chiefs and leaders and high nobles they meet should reach levels 7-8-9. And, the true masters that they meet should (kings and legendary heroes) should be in the 10-11-12 range.

Think about this. Most towns should be filled with NPCs, whether Commoner or classed characters, that are in the level 1-5 range. The village elder, town champion, or clan chieftain, might be level 8.

The default setting for the Conan RPG features NPCs that are level 10 and below, with an emphasis on the level 5 and below.

If you look at the NPC section of the Beastiary section of the core rules, , you'll find more support for what I'm saying here. The Commoner class maxes out at level 10. Belit's Black Corsairs are level 2 Pirates. The sample Black Kingdom Cannibal is a level 3 Barbarian. The average Pict is a 1st level Barbarian. The average Zamorian Thief is a 2nd level Thief. The average Turaninan Light Cavalry Soldier is a 2nd level Soldier. Your typical Peasant is a 1st level Commoner. A typical Merchant is a 3rd level Commoner/1st level Scholar.

Your average scary Sorcerer is a 4th level Scholar. A typical Dancing Girl is a 2nd level Temptress. Your average City Guardsman is a 2nd level Soldier. Bandits are typially 2nd level Borderers.



See the trend? All the sample characters are low level. The highest example given is the NPC Sellsword, who is a 4th level multi-classed character, 2nd level Soldier/2nd level Borderer.

The game "lives" at the very low levels.

By deduction, GM's should award very low amounts of XP, allowing the PCs to advance steadily but slowly. The PCs will be heroes, and they should be able to obtain character levels higher than 6th or 8th in their lifetimes. But, when the GM creates a town for the PCs to explore, or Bandit party that will ambush the PC's, the GM should remember that most of what the PCs will fight (regardless of PC level) should be NPCs that are in the level 1-5 range, with an emphasis on Levels 1-2-3.

Entire campaigns can be played, spanning the PCs' entire lives, without seeing the PCs reach 10 level.

 

[Spectator]

Holy Crap! I agreed with EVERYTHING you just posted.
The mayan calender year 2012 will be our doom!

Level 7 - This level represents the highest level an average NPC can obtain without having excelled at some experience-rich endeavor in the past. This level represents average characters in their early 70's. Age 72-73 is about right.

Problem with these are that age starts to kick in. Especially since we are dealing s&s era. Average age of humans _increases_ all the time. Conversevely back in past they lived shorter and likely were not in as good shape in their seniorities.

60-70's aren't likely to be in shape for slaughtering marauding barbarians without breaking a sweat. Which level 8 characters rulewise would be more than able to do...

Think it through a little bit more....I think those numbers are spot on, given the guidelines provided in the Core Rulebook.

The book specifically describes Level 8 characters as those that are the leaders--the masters at what they do. Not everybody has the stuff to become a accomplished to that degree. For example, in a Cimmerian clan, not every warrior has what it takes to become the clan Chieftain. It is the rare individual that rises to 8th level who becomes chief.

Remember that the list I provided are rules of thumb--averages of NPCs. Some characters will obtain higher level at an earlier age. If you take twin Aquilonian brothers and have them serve a couple of years at different posts--one in the town guard of Tarantia and the other to a fort on the Pictish frontier--it is likely that, although both are Soldier classed characters, the one on the Pictish frontier will end the tour at a higher level than the one who served in the town militia (akin to a soldier during the Vietnam crisis serving in Germany or in Vietnam for the same period of time--one comes back with more combat skills).

A characters personal experiences determine if he will reach a higher level at a younger age. Thus, not all NPCs will be dead or in their 70's at level 7. A character in his 50's could be level 7 given a personal experience that allowed him to excel over others.

I would be capping age of characters around 40's at most or if going further than that artificially reduce appropriate stats.

I completely agree that an age of the 40's should be the beginning of old age for Hyborian Age characters, with many not living past that. But, I don't think the chart should be changed. The average stays the same.

Thus, the average character reaches level 4-5-6 during his lifetime.





Given the parameters mentioned in the book, most characters that the PCs encounter should be in the Level 1-5 or 1-6 range. The chiefs and leaders and high nobles they meet should reach levels 7-8-9. And, the true masters that they meet should (kings and legendary heroes) should be in the 10-11-12 range.

Think about this. Most towns should be filled with NPCs, whether Commoner or classed characters, that are in the level 1-5 range. The village elder, town champion, or clan chieftain, might be level 8.

The default setting for the Conan RPG features NPCs that are level 10 and below, with an emphasis on the level 5 and below.

If you look at the NPC section of the Beastiary section of the core rules, , you'll find more support for what I'm saying here. The Commoner class maxes out at level 10. Belit's Black Corsairs are level 2 Pirates. The sample Black Kingdom Cannibal is a level 3 Barbarian. The average Pict is a 1st level Barbarian. The average Zamorian Thief is a 2nd level Thief. The average Turaninan Light Cavalry Soldier is a 2nd level Soldier. Your typical Peasant is a 1st level Commoner. A typical Merchant is a 3rd level Commoner/1st level Scholar.

Your average scary Sorcerer is a 4th level Scholar. A typical Dancing Girl is a 2nd level Temptress. Your average City Guardsman is a 2nd level Soldier. Bandits are typially 2nd level Borderers.



See the trend? All the sample characters are low level. The highest example given is the NPC Sellsword, who is a 4th level multi-classed character, 2nd level Soldier/2nd level Borderer.

The game "lives" at the very low levels.

By deduction, GM's should award very low amounts of XP, allowing the PCs to advance steadily but slowly. The PCs will be heroes, and they should be able to obtain character levels higher than 6th or 8th in their lifetimes. But, when the GM creates a town for the PCs to explore, or Bandit party that will ambush the PC's, the GM should remember that most of what the PCs will fight (regardless of PC level) should be NPCs that are in the level 1-5 range, with an emphasis on Levels 1-2-3.

Entire campaigns can be played, spanning the PCs' entire lives, without seeing the PCs reach 10 level.

 

[Supplement Four]

Ever heard of the E6 style of game play? (Click Here for a Wiki on the E6 style of play.) The default Conan game seems to default to what, in E6 terms, is a gritty style of play, with toes in the Heroic Fantasy pool.

The default Conan game also falls in line with the writings on this web site.



A few notes:

1. The default Conan game is actually easier on the GM because he's dealing with lower level NPCs. It's much easier to stat-out a 2nd level character than it is one of 12th level.

2. The Conan RPG is stagnant, level wise. The level cap is level 20. This means that each level of experience does equate to a particular amount of experience. That's why pages 11-12 in the 2E Rulebook exist--to help the GM define what those levels mean.

3. From the player's point of view, there's less guesswork as to the level of his human enemy. If PCs are attacked by bandits, the players can assume (given the level definitions) that the young looking bandits are probably level 1. The more seasoned guys are level 2. The lieutenants and right-hand-men are probably level 3 or 4. And, the bandit ambush leader is most likely level 5. If the bandits are part of a bigger gang, then the ambush leader probably answers to a higher power in the form of a level 6-7-8 Bandit Leader. And, with a Bandit Leader that high, there's a good chance the PCs have heard of him.

4. As the Conan stories progressed, Conan's fame progressed. This corresponds to the game. Level 8 represents fairly well-known characters with fame or infamy that spreads a far distance.

5. If the GM needs an NPC on the spot, chances are the NPC is level 1-5 unless circumstances dictate a higher level character for some reason.

6. As the book says, powerful, well-known sorcerers are level 12. They really don't need to be level 20.

7. Demons, demi-gods, and god-like beings (and humans of unimaginable skill, possible only in a fantasy world) are in the 15-20 level range. Unless your campaign deals with these types of beings, keep your PCs lower level so that they won't over power all of their enemies too easily.

8. Follow the default rules for character attribute generation. When rolling 4d6 and dropping the lowest, arranging by taste, you will sometimes get numbers 9 or below. Make the player deal with that. That's what keeps the game gritty and Conan-ish. If all the PCs have uber stats because you went soft during character generation, you'll pay for it later having to up the default NPC (and bad guy) level.

9. On average, a character should stay at 1st level for 2-3 game years. This is akin to an apprentice learning his craft. It takes time. And, the time a character stays at each level should lengthen with each increase (requireing more and more XP to advance). Think about it. Belit's Black Corsairs are 2nd level Pirates. Following my deductions here means that those pirates have up to a decade's worth of experience under their belts (the pirate began as a kid, swabbing the decks at age 15; spent 3 years learning his profession, and spent up to an additional 6 years as a seasoned professional pirate--that's what level 2 means).

10. Your PCs are heroes. You want them to be better than average NPCs. So, the PCs will gain levels faster than everyday joes. But, keep PC level progression in check. If you need to increase the level of an NPC over a long amount of time, in between meetings with the PC, figure that normal characters receive an average of 1 XP per day. It takes almost 3 years for an average NPC to gain 1000 XP. So, most likely, the NPC will be the same level that the he was when he first met the PCs unless several years have passed.

 

[Supplement Four]

In a nutshell, the Core Rulebook says this:

Novice = Level 1.

Professional = Level 4.

Expert = Level 8.

Legend = Level 12.





And, here's a cleaner version of my Average NPC Age Chart.

Level X - Avg. Age to obtain level - Avg. time at the level

L1 - 15/3 (Novice)
L2 - 18/5
L3 - 23/8

L4 - 31/11 (Professional)
L5 - 42/14
L6 - 56/17

L7 - 73/19
L8 - 92/22 (Expert)
L9 - 114/24

L10 - Special
L11 - Special
L12 - Special (Legend)



Now, as mentioned earlier in the thread, a 73 year old Level 7 character will probably not be effective due to his age. It's obvious, from the chart, that the average NPC rarely makes it to Level 7 before dying (given that the average mortality rate during the Hyborian Age is less than 73--probably much less!). So, in order to an NPC character to reach levels higher than Level 6, the character must be unusual and gifted with intense, non-standard, experiences during his long career. It is these types of characters--the ones that reach Level 3 before their 16th birthday--that excel and reach levels higher than Level 6. We're talking about Clan Chieftains, Bandit Leaders, Petty Kings, Dukes and high nobles, Free Company Commanders, an the like.

The PCs are heros and mostly likely better than the avearge NPC, thus the PCs will also reach levels higher than L6 during their lifetimes.

But, remember that, in the default Conan campaign, the entire length of the story can be run without the players ever meeding a character of 10th level or greater. For these characters are, indeed, of super-hero calibur. The stuff of myths and legends.

 

[tneva82]

Think it through a little bit more....I think those numbers are spot on, given the guidelines provided in the Core Rulebook.

The book specifically describes Level 8 characters as those that are the leaders--the masters at what they do. Not everybody has the stuff to become a accomplished to that degree. For example, in a Cimmerian clan, not every warrior has what it takes to become the clan Chieftain. It is the rare individual that rises to 8th level who becomes chief.

Yes but in your calculations level 8 characters would be in his 80's. By then a) 99% likely he's dead due to old age b) his physical abilities are totally diminished. You might have been Cimmerian barbarian that slaughtered dozen Hyborian weaklings single handedly in your youth but now even untrained beginner with a sword would likely beat the crap out of you...Yet game stats tells you are incredibly adept at fighting...And even your mental abilities have more likely or not(especially seeing this is S&S time period) taken quite a hit. You are probably taken care by your relatives rather than doing any sort of leading/fighting/whatever.

Wait 'till you are in your 90-100's(to account for the fact we generally live longer and in better shape these days than 500 years before) and tell how you feel

 

[Supplement Four]

Yes but in your calculations level 8 characters would be in his 80's. By then a) 99% likely he's dead due to old age b) his physical abilities are totally diminished.

You didn't read completely what I said, or didn't understand what I said. In order to advance up the level chart, a character needs to gain more experience than an average NPC does. Thus, your 8th level characters will not be "average" but rather those that excel and become leaders. They won't be 80. They'll be younger. Maybe he's 50. Maybe he's 45. A true wunderkind would be in his 30's at level 8, destined to become a legend at the higher levels.

In no way am I advocating that your 80 year old should be a bad-ass 8th level Barbarian Chief. What the chart is saying is: If you've got an 80 year old NPC, he would be 8th level if age has not happered him. Age does hamper him, so you either make him lower level, mute his 8th level abilities (as if he used to be 8th level when he was younger but has now aged), or you make him something reasonable and less physical like an 8th level Scholar or an 8th level Commoner.



EDIT: And, my chart says that an 8th level NPC averages age 92 and spends 22 years in the level before advancing to level 9.

What might be more intuitive for the chart is to cut it off at level 6 and say that the average NPC does not advance higher than that. The leaders, the gifted, and those that excell rise above level 6, but these are the exceptions (those that go on to become chiefs, high nobles, miliary commanders, legends, and so on).