These non-playing characters (NPCs), he argues, just show up, talk for a bit, and disappear forever. Monte Cook, designer of the third edition of D&D and the Numenera roleplaying game, wrote an interesting article called PCs versus NPCs in which he discusses the time we often waste putting together statistics for NPCs. Attack Bonus / Primary Saves = 3 + 1/2 CR.If you want some quick creature statistics, try out the following formulas (round down): If you end up needing combat statistics for your NPC or monster, grab the closest stat block from the Monster Manual and reskin it for flavor. When improvising an NPC or custom monster during the game, you can often start with a base DC between 10 (easy) and 20 (hard). Note, this article has been updated from the original posted in February 2016. New to Sly Flourish? Start Here! Instant NPCs for Fifth Edition D&D
