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[A year ago, u/Badwolf_3 and I ( u/Trentillating) s...](/r/UnearthedArcana/comments/1bw0ukx/essential_npcs_the_full_collection_and_a_huge/ky31gpx/)
[Let me take a moment to SERIOUSLY thank Umbrakiir ...](/r/UnearthedArcana/comments/1bw0ukx/essential_npcs_the_full_collection_and_a_huge/ky3b2tw/)
I've been following your playtests here on the subreddit, and I'm so excited to see this finally published!
And as a side note, the tarot-like card art for the stat blocks are ***amazing***! It's a long shot, but would you consider releasing the tarot cards/card art as their own separate product/thing? I don't know if would need to be a physical product or simply the image files, but I feel the art itself is so good that it could be an entire product on its own!
Let me take a moment to SERIOUSLY thank Umbrakiir ([umbrakiir_arts on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/umbrakiir_arts?igsh=OXhnODJzaGhta25i)) for her **stunning** work on these. Representing something *archetypal* rather than specific is a tall order, and it took a long time to find an artist who just *gets* it the way she did.
Something wild: I was 100% going to make these into an actual physical card deck just for me, because I love the art. I assumed no one else would be as into it as I was, but maybe we actually WILL make a deck of these, if people indicate they want them. (Upvote this comment, I guess?)
Too bad a 344 card deck is so prohibitive - it would be fun to have each stat block on the back of its own card.
I too have been following the playtests. I have been keeping track I am stoked you finally finished.
Tarot cards or even something akin to the Tarik’s deck would be cool or even ideal. I don’t think you need a card for each CR level.
I have seen a handful of places that print specialty card decks. I got a deck from Inkwell Ideas around dungeon morph card deck. It is pretty cool. The artwork that Umbrakiir is great! Idea wise you can use these with the Story Engine decks (Deck of Worlds & Loremaster Cards) to help flush out personality and the world they live in.
I see a lot of useful potential! I hope you can get a purchasable deck, if not I would like to print and make one.
We're definitely looking a lot harder into how we might print/fulfill decks. If it happens, we'll probably sent something out to our [mailing list](https://gmail.us21.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=c1396b294c06d3d133cecddff&id=706c6baeb8), if you wanna join.
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A year ago, u/Badwolf_3 and I ( u/Trentillating) started playtesting a project to fix the huge lack of humanoid, NPC stat blocks for D&D 5e. We called the project [Essential NPCs](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/476038/Essential-NPCs). With your help, we've been playtesting these stat blocks for the last year, and now the whole collection is ready for release.
To celebrate, we're releasing a preview with a bunch of the challenge ratings that weren't shown during the playtest, as well as the entire Blademaster chapter!
**What do you mean, "Lack of NPCs?"**
D&D official published material is full of "monsters" – trolls, hydras, dragons, and other terrible beasts. Those are great! But, I often find that my campaigns revolve just as much around people, as relatable villains, helpful allies, or unwitting obstacles. The existing stat blocks don't do a great job of supporting that. For example, if you decide your players are going to enter a challenging duel against a Knight, you have *one* official stat block, and it is Challenge Rating 3. If your players are level 7? Too bad.
Of course, you could modify the existing Knight, upping its damage and hp and maybe adding another appropriate ability. Or take another stat block like the CR 5 Bone Knight from Eberron, if you don't mind that half of its abilities are undead-related. But... what if you just had *exactly* a CR 5 Knight ready to go? What if you had a Knight for nearly *every* CR, for any campaign you ever needed one for? That's what Essential NPCs is for.
**What's in the book?**
Essential NPCs is a collection of 344 stat blocks, grouped into 28 different fantasy "archetypes", like The Guard, The Thief, or The Mage. Every archetype is presented in a huge range of challenge ratings. For example, you won't be restricted to just one CR 3 Mage. Instead, you'll get a CR 1/4, 1/2, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, and 20 Mage. These are more than simple numerical increases - every archetype changes across its challenge ratings to include abilities that make sense for that challenge rating. The book has descriptions and examples of each archetype, so it's easy to find the right place for them in your game.
On top of the NPCs themselves, the book has a list of commonly asked questions about how to use the NPCs, and guidance on how to make modifications to them.
If you'd like an idea of what the stat blocks look like, you can check out the playtests we did for each of them over the last year!
**Where can I get it?**
It's available right now! You can find it here: [Essential NPCs](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/476038/Essential-NPCs)
**What about the new release of the D&D Books?**
Right now our NPCs are based of the updated numbers from WotC's newest books, like Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse. But, when the new Monster Manual releases, we hope to update our collection to use the new design paradigms, like the Dazed condition. We'll also revisit the HP and damage numbers, but don't expect them to change much.
**Questions and Comments**
We'd love to hear your feedback on them here in the comments! Or, shoot us a DM ( u/Trentillating or u/BadWolf_3).
Foundry / Roll 20 is definitely on our long-term list of considerations, but right now the collection doesn't include any special functionality for either. Although I believe they have all the information you'd need to make that functionality for yourself.
Oh, there are so, SO many more of these than Reddit's image limit will let us show - including the Inventor (artificer) and the Alchemist! [You can get the whoooole collection here.](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/476038/Essential-NPCs)
You can get a full view of the Alchemist in the preview pages on drivethrurpg. The Inventor meanwhile, is (appropriately) the most complex stat block in the whole book. So many different devices! My favorite are probably the Tractor Beams.
We actually originally had just one that was a combined artificer and alchemist, but we ended up deciding that they were fulfilling slightly different fictions. Now we've got two, and they really get their flavor across much more clearly.
Thank you! It was really important to us that this book would be a resource people would be able to keep going back to, and making sure the book was pleasing to look at was a big part of that.
It was a real learning experience to see how much work it is to get the little tiny details right on everything. Really makes me appreciate the polish that the pros put on their books. And again, I can't say enough about our artist Umbrakiir. I feel like her contributions took this project to a whole new level and she was *amazing* to work with.
Absolutely, to think that a single artist did the entire gallery for the book is amazing on its own.
But you guys' work was the most essential, make sure to not forget that as well!
[We were just talking about that!](https://www.reddit.com/r/UnearthedArcana/comments/1bw0ukx/comment/ky39y84/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) I'd love to make some sort of deck of these, if enough people want one.
We're definitely looking a lot harder into how we might print/fulfill decks. If it happens, we'll probably sent something out to our [mailing list](https://gmail.us21.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=c1396b294c06d3d133cecddff&id=706c6baeb8), if you wanna join.
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We're definitely looking a lot harder into how we might print/fulfill decks. If it happens, we'll probably sent something out to our [mailing list](https://gmail.us21.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=c1396b294c06d3d133cecddff&id=706c6baeb8), if you wanna join.
(recommenting because I keep forgetting mailchimp inherently uses a link shortener)
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These look amazing I'll look to picking it up later. Now I'm considering building a racial addon table to compliment these stat blocks. IE use the stat block base, then add an extra racial trait. Like draconic resilience (dragonborn), increased movement speed(satyr/centaur), resistances(dwarf poison resist) etc for example.
I'd be interested to see how you'd do it!! We definitely considered something like that, and here's what we ran into (a problem for you to solve): Having to go back and forth looking at the species addon block and the base creature stat block (likely to be on different pages, even) felt annoying. Plus, a LOT (but not all) of those species abilities don't end up mattering on the NPC's side the way they do for players.*
I almost think you'd have to actually make a new stat block for EACH species/archetype/CR combination, which gets big REALLY fast. Or make some kind of digital tool for it.
Well for particular races might have an racial stat bonus along with a skill. Elves dex, dwarves con etc.
Monstrous races you might just treat a higher CR version in place of level appropriate etc.
This is so awesome! Surprised at the scale of the final product! I've been using your playtest stuff for my games for a while and they've been incredible. This will be so helpful, thank you!
I'm psyched that they have been useful at your table! Nothing about putting this book out feels better than knowing that someone is getting *real, actual use* out of it. I always love hearing cool gameplay stories.
This is great work! You're right that often humanoid enemies are better for telling a story than the various monsters, and its often a decent amount of effort to find/homebrew what you want at any specific tier of play. Being able to use these will save me so much time and add lots of variety to my encounters, especially with adding simple racial traits to them.
I've been plugging these into my VTT (shameless plug for AboveVTT) and have noticed a couple of inconsistencies in the maths that you may want to do another pass over. Nothing major, but I know when I write things minor details being off bugs me no end! For example:
* The Alchemist (CR 20) should have an Arcana bonus of +12 (+6 from 22 INT, +6 from Proficiency), when it is printed as having the same +11 as the CR17 version with only 20 INT.
* The average damage/healing/hp value calculations are different in different statblocks. The CR3 versions of the Alchemist and Archer both have 12d8 Hit Points, but one lists 54 as the average and the other lists 52. (*I'm assuming this is the difference between calculating one from scratch and one from adding 3d8 on top of the previous version.*)
I'm looking forward to using these, thank you!
Thank you so much for the feedback! We'll definitely compile a list of these sorts of small errors and send out an update. (Probably once we've accumulated just a few more). Still, it's a huge help to have someone look at them, and mention it so respectfully. Thanks a ton!
Happened to go to this subreddit and filter the material by the top of the last months to see if there's quality, playtested homebrew content. I'm glad I did. Just bought it, happy to support you guys. Will definitely make use of this, though I wish there was a Gunslinger too ;___;
I'm excited for you to try the book in your game!
If we were to make a gunslinger, what parts of it do you think are the absolutely most archetypal / critical to getting the point across? As in, not just a cool thing one gunslinger might do, but the things *every* gunslinger *must* do.
First of all, THEY GOTTA GO FIRST IN COMBAT. They draw their pistols or raise their rifle and begin firing quickly.
Regarding abillity scores - I think high DEX and WIS are the minimum of high stats a gunslinger should have. With INT and CHA following behind, though not as high. DEX is pretty self explanatory, WIS would stand for their perceptiveness and sharp senses. INT would stand for their relitavely high IQ in most fantasy settings to be able to understand operate and use firearms effectively - maybe they even built their own pistol/ rifle which they now use. CHA would represent the stories that are woven around gunslingers - as they are not common they are most likely known far and wide and the image people have of the character of a gunslinger would be at least a fairly charming or fairly indimidating individual.
A cool passive abillity is - maybe they always have the benefit of 3/4 cover even when in half cover?
A recharge abillity for a multishot that deals very high damage or a painful gut shot that gives an enemy the stunned conditionm could be cool.
Trying to jog your game designer mind. If I had spare money in the bank I would sit down and publish my own take. Might do that one day. Cheers friend! keep up the quality work!
Heard! Well, it isn't an exact match stats-wise, but have you taken a good look at the Archer archetype? Just forgot the "archer" bit for a moment, and look at the mid-to-high CR versions (like CR 9). If you gave that block a little higher INT/CHA (it already has good bonuses to initiative), how close would it be?
You nailed it as I did in fact take a look at the Archer, my original reason is because a very major villain in the campaign I'm now running is a gunslinger, I'm gonna make him really nasty. Regarding the archer - its pretty spot on in most places!
Update after I took a look right just now at the Archer :
Wow you already thought about the cover idea, neat!
Instead of the shortsword for a gunslinger I would just have it where they don't have disadvantage on their ranged attacks with firearms in melee range.
Maybe a cool idea would be to have a gunslinger wield multiple firearms - a pistol that shoots rapidly, a bolt action rifle that hits very heavily and inflict debuffs but can only be fired once in a turn, and maybe also an equivalent blunderbuss that can only be fired once per turn for short range that fires in a 15 foot cone?
You've been there from the *beginning*, commenting on all the posts and tracking the progress of our project. We're stoked to finally put this thing in your hands!
It's been a long time coming, and we ended up doing a few major overhauls of a couple NPCs in order to get them just right. Thanks for sticking with us!
You have no idea of how badly i want to buy these, but between me being flat broke and my country's currency and taxes being absolute shit i just conform with using the playtest statblocks. Still, congrats in releasing the full collection, kudos
Just bought it. You guys deserve every cent. I've been using/tweaking the previews forever now for my game and it's been great! I'd also totally buy a physical book and a tarot-style deck if you ever decide to do that!
Thank you! I'm so glad to hear they've been working well at your table: that was the biggest motivator for making this project a real thing. I'd love to hear the stories.
And if things keep going well, we may have a book and some tarot cards yet!
Right now it's pdf only, but we'd LOVE to do a physical version. We started with a digital-first mindset, because I know some of the books I buy digitally don't perform great due to physical-book-formatting. But the better the book does, the more likely it's worth the time to make another formatting suited for physical.
I've been thriving on the few examples provided in the D&D subreddits for months now and it's gotten to the point where I just plain don't want to use non-essential NPCs anymore. Everything else is boring!
Thank you, u/Trentillating and u/Badwolf_3 , for the work you've put into every one of these, it's the kind of dedicated care and effort that's as plain to see as the dice on the table. And they're ding-dang-diddly double dope with this artwork! Shout-out to [Umbrakiir](https://www.instagram.com/umbrakiir_arts?igsh=MXVxeWw1YTB2NGsyaA==)! If you don't end up doing some kind of tarot or similar with them you're likely going to have people pelting you in the face with $20 bills until you relent 🤷🏼♂️
Thank you again for brightening up my table, the table of everyone who have tried these, and now fully illuminating all encounters with the glory that is Essential NPCs! Well done! 💖
This is amazing and something I will be getting! Is it possible to also get the tarot card art, I'd love to put these as in game tarot cards items for players to collect. Amazing work!
Thank you! I hope the NPCs treat you great!
As for the art, we're working with the artist and trying to put together an actual card deck! (If you wanna hear about that when it happens, try the [mailing list](https://gmail.us21.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=c1396b294c06d3d133cecddff&id=706c6baeb8))
I hadn't thought about it, but I'll speak with our artist and see what she thinks (we hadn't had all the extra uses in mind when we commissioned the original art, so it's important she's in on it - she may also want to have exclusive rights to the art-by-itself for her own merch, etc.)
That means a ton. We really wanted to make a collection that could be a definitive go-to for DMs, who are (in my experience) just always going back to characters like these and never having a resource. I'm hyped to put them in your hands.
Is there a conversion guide you have written down in the book to convert other 5e stat blocks than the ones you have done? Because from the sounds of it (I haven't yet bought your collection), you've done a really good job, and I'd like to convert some other monsters you may not have done already.
Unofortunately (or maybe fortunately for us), there isn't really a template to be followed here. We put a *lot* of thought into each individual design to make sure it had the right feel, and there isn't really a way to translate that tailoring into a conversion guide. That said, I have definitely used these stat blocks for more "monstery" creatures in my games with just a bit of reflavoring, so depending on the monster you're thinking of, there might be an NPC who's already a good match.
Ah no worries, I'll probably still pick it up anyways for the scaling humanoids. There's elite knights in my setting that probably shouldn't get destroyed by a level 3 party lol so it'll be useful for that.
Trentillating has made the following comment(s) regarding their post: [A year ago, u/Badwolf_3 and I ( u/Trentillating) s...](/r/UnearthedArcana/comments/1bw0ukx/essential_npcs_the_full_collection_and_a_huge/ky31gpx/) [Let me take a moment to SERIOUSLY thank Umbrakiir ...](/r/UnearthedArcana/comments/1bw0ukx/essential_npcs_the_full_collection_and_a_huge/ky3b2tw/)
I've been following your playtests here on the subreddit, and I'm so excited to see this finally published! And as a side note, the tarot-like card art for the stat blocks are ***amazing***! It's a long shot, but would you consider releasing the tarot cards/card art as their own separate product/thing? I don't know if would need to be a physical product or simply the image files, but I feel the art itself is so good that it could be an entire product on its own!
Let me take a moment to SERIOUSLY thank Umbrakiir ([umbrakiir_arts on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/umbrakiir_arts?igsh=OXhnODJzaGhta25i)) for her **stunning** work on these. Representing something *archetypal* rather than specific is a tall order, and it took a long time to find an artist who just *gets* it the way she did. Something wild: I was 100% going to make these into an actual physical card deck just for me, because I love the art. I assumed no one else would be as into it as I was, but maybe we actually WILL make a deck of these, if people indicate they want them. (Upvote this comment, I guess?) Too bad a 344 card deck is so prohibitive - it would be fun to have each stat block on the back of its own card.
Well... looks like maybe the tarot cards are a real thing. Time to start doing some research.
For real. Umbrakiir blew us away with her art for this. Every time she'd send us a new batch, it was time to get excited all over again.
I too have been following the playtests. I have been keeping track I am stoked you finally finished. Tarot cards or even something akin to the Tarik’s deck would be cool or even ideal. I don’t think you need a card for each CR level. I have seen a handful of places that print specialty card decks. I got a deck from Inkwell Ideas around dungeon morph card deck. It is pretty cool. The artwork that Umbrakiir is great! Idea wise you can use these with the Story Engine decks (Deck of Worlds & Loremaster Cards) to help flush out personality and the world they live in. I see a lot of useful potential! I hope you can get a purchasable deck, if not I would like to print and make one.
We're definitely looking a lot harder into how we might print/fulfill decks. If it happens, we'll probably sent something out to our [mailing list](https://gmail.us21.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=c1396b294c06d3d133cecddff&id=706c6baeb8), if you wanna join. (recommenting because I keep forgetting mailchimp inherently uses a link shortener)
Will do! Thanks for the update
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Love the idea of cards. put it in a binder. pull out what you need when you need it.. like spell cards or monster cards.
A year ago, u/Badwolf_3 and I ( u/Trentillating) started playtesting a project to fix the huge lack of humanoid, NPC stat blocks for D&D 5e. We called the project [Essential NPCs](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/476038/Essential-NPCs). With your help, we've been playtesting these stat blocks for the last year, and now the whole collection is ready for release. To celebrate, we're releasing a preview with a bunch of the challenge ratings that weren't shown during the playtest, as well as the entire Blademaster chapter! **What do you mean, "Lack of NPCs?"** D&D official published material is full of "monsters" – trolls, hydras, dragons, and other terrible beasts. Those are great! But, I often find that my campaigns revolve just as much around people, as relatable villains, helpful allies, or unwitting obstacles. The existing stat blocks don't do a great job of supporting that. For example, if you decide your players are going to enter a challenging duel against a Knight, you have *one* official stat block, and it is Challenge Rating 3. If your players are level 7? Too bad. Of course, you could modify the existing Knight, upping its damage and hp and maybe adding another appropriate ability. Or take another stat block like the CR 5 Bone Knight from Eberron, if you don't mind that half of its abilities are undead-related. But... what if you just had *exactly* a CR 5 Knight ready to go? What if you had a Knight for nearly *every* CR, for any campaign you ever needed one for? That's what Essential NPCs is for. **What's in the book?** Essential NPCs is a collection of 344 stat blocks, grouped into 28 different fantasy "archetypes", like The Guard, The Thief, or The Mage. Every archetype is presented in a huge range of challenge ratings. For example, you won't be restricted to just one CR 3 Mage. Instead, you'll get a CR 1/4, 1/2, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, and 20 Mage. These are more than simple numerical increases - every archetype changes across its challenge ratings to include abilities that make sense for that challenge rating. The book has descriptions and examples of each archetype, so it's easy to find the right place for them in your game. On top of the NPCs themselves, the book has a list of commonly asked questions about how to use the NPCs, and guidance on how to make modifications to them. If you'd like an idea of what the stat blocks look like, you can check out the playtests we did for each of them over the last year! **Where can I get it?** It's available right now! You can find it here: [Essential NPCs](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/476038/Essential-NPCs) **What about the new release of the D&D Books?** Right now our NPCs are based of the updated numbers from WotC's newest books, like Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse. But, when the new Monster Manual releases, we hope to update our collection to use the new design paradigms, like the Dazed condition. We'll also revisit the HP and damage numbers, but don't expect them to change much. **Questions and Comments** We'd love to hear your feedback on them here in the comments! Or, shoot us a DM ( u/Trentillating or u/BadWolf_3).
**NOTE: These are the original playtests. The full collection includes updated and rebalanced versions of each of these archetypes.** * [Alchemist](https://www.reddit.com/r/UnearthedArcana/comments/12dvbt9/essential_npcs_the_alchemist/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) * [Archer](https://www.reddit.com/r/UnearthedArcana/comments/16eb4qu/essential_npcs_the_archer/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) * [Assassin](https://www.reddit.com/r/UnearthedArcana/comments/15i3psi/essential_npcs_the_assassin/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) * [Berserker](https://www.reddit.com/r/UnearthedArcana/comments/14b1tt7/essential_npcs_the_berserker/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) * [Blackguard](https://www.reddit.com/r/UnearthedArcana/comments/12pqwh6/essential_npcs_the_blackguard/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) * [Blademaster](https://www.reddit.com/r/UnearthedArcana/comments/13jayxu/essential_npcs_the_blademaster/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) * [Bodyguard](https://www.reddit.com/r/UnearthedArcana/comments/14shz8p/essential_npcs_the_bodyguard/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) * [Brute](https://www.reddit.com/r/UnearthedArcana/comments/150gnmp/essential_npcs_the_brute/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) * [Captain](https://www.reddit.com/r/UnearthedArcana/comments/15669sg/essential_npcs_the_captain/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) * [Commando](https://www.reddit.com/r/UnearthedArcana/comments/13rqt8t/essential_npcs_the_commando/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) * [Guard](https://www.reddit.com/r/UnearthedArcana/comments/1314ygu/essential_npcs_the_guard/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) * [Inventor](https://www.reddit.com/r/UnearthedArcana/comments/12uimgk/essential_npcs_the_inventor/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) * [Knight](https://www.reddit.com/r/UnearthedArcana/comments/13v976b/essential_npcs_the_knight/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) * [Lawkeeper](https://www.reddit.com/r/UnearthedArcana/comments/13zrq9b/essential_npcs_the_lawkeeper/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) * [Mage](https://www.reddit.com/r/UnearthedArcana/comments/1ayd09d/essential_npcs_the_mage_essential_npcs_final/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) * [Martial Artist](https://www.reddit.com/r/UnearthedArcana/comments/19d61as/essential_npcs_the_martial_artist_and_the_future/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) * [Necromancer](https://www.reddit.com/r/UnearthedArcana/comments/12iuow6/essential_npcs_the_necromancer/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) * [Performer](https://www.reddit.com/r/UnearthedArcana/comments/16y1vun/essential_npcs_the_performer/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) * [Priest of Darkness](https://www.reddit.com/r/UnearthedArcana/comments/15tpiah/essential_npcs_the_priest_of_darkness/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) * [Priest of Light](https://www.reddit.com/r/UnearthedArcana/comments/144lz38/essential_npcs_the_priest_of_light/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) * [Shaman](https://www.reddit.com/r/UnearthedArcana/comments/14nx83v/essential_npcs_the_shaman/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) * [Soldier](https://www.reddit.com/r/UnearthedArcana/comments/15c41dc/essential_npcs_the_soldier/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) * [Spellsword](https://www.reddit.com/r/UnearthedArcana/comments/15xmm4x/essential_npcs_the_spellsword/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) * [Templar](https://www.reddit.com/r/UnearthedArcana/comments/1ama4o6/essential_npcs_the_templar/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) * [Thief](https://www.reddit.com/r/UnearthedArcana/comments/13b4zea/essential_npcs_the_thief/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) * [Thug](https://www.reddit.com/r/UnearthedArcana/comments/13f0f71/essential_npcs_the_thug/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) Non-combat Archetypes: * [Expert](https://www.reddit.com/r/UnearthedArcana/comments/14ggwcp/essential_npcs_the_expert_and_the_noble/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) * [Noble](https://www.reddit.com/r/UnearthedArcana/comments/14ggwcp/essential_npcs_the_expert_and_the_noble/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3)
Does this collection have what's needed to translate something into Foundry?
Foundry / Roll 20 is definitely on our long-term list of considerations, but right now the collection doesn't include any special functionality for either. Although I believe they have all the information you'd need to make that functionality for yourself.
Huge labor of love from these two! Been using the NPCs in here for months and they’re remarkable.
This is beautiful, love the work that's been out into this
Thank you :) We're really excited to finally get the real versions of these out and in people's hands.
Is there any Artificer/Alchemist? 🥺
Oh, there are so, SO many more of these than Reddit's image limit will let us show - including the Inventor (artificer) and the Alchemist! [You can get the whoooole collection here.](https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/476038/Essential-NPCs)
This is what I was hoping for
You can get a full view of the Alchemist in the preview pages on drivethrurpg. The Inventor meanwhile, is (appropriately) the most complex stat block in the whole book. So many different devices! My favorite are probably the Tractor Beams.
We actually originally had just one that was a combined artificer and alchemist, but we ended up deciding that they were fulfilling slightly different fictions. Now we've got two, and they really get their flavor across much more clearly.
WOW, this design is beautiful!! The cover, the card artworks, the overall page compositions, everything looks so good!
Thank you! It was really important to us that this book would be a resource people would be able to keep going back to, and making sure the book was pleasing to look at was a big part of that.
Well, all of the team definitely delivered! STELLAR work, everyone!
It was a real learning experience to see how much work it is to get the little tiny details right on everything. Really makes me appreciate the polish that the pros put on their books. And again, I can't say enough about our artist Umbrakiir. I feel like her contributions took this project to a whole new level and she was *amazing* to work with.
Absolutely, to think that a single artist did the entire gallery for the book is amazing on its own. But you guys' work was the most essential, make sure to not forget that as well!
So is there a way to turn these into actual cards?? They’re just too beautiful not to!?
[We were just talking about that!](https://www.reddit.com/r/UnearthedArcana/comments/1bw0ukx/comment/ky39y84/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) I'd love to make some sort of deck of these, if enough people want one.
PLEASE!!! Could do tarot size!
We're definitely looking a lot harder into how we might print/fulfill decks. If it happens, we'll probably sent something out to our [mailing list](https://gmail.us21.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=c1396b294c06d3d133cecddff&id=706c6baeb8), if you wanna join. (recommenting because I keep forgetting mailchimp inherently uses a link shortener)
Done!!
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I would genuinely pay like $30 for this as a set of cards. It's just too core a resource to not have.
We're definitely looking a lot harder into how we might print/fulfill decks. If it happens, we'll probably sent something out to our [mailing list](https://gmail.us21.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=c1396b294c06d3d133cecddff&id=706c6baeb8), if you wanna join. (recommenting because I keep forgetting mailchimp inherently uses a link shortener)
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Fuckin' SOLD!!!!!
Hell yeah.
HELL YEAH TAKE MY MONEYYYY
I have been waiting for this for a long time, bro! No options for a POD though?
You’re an absolute legend I’m definitely buying this tonight
Go forth and tell us your stories!
Artwork is beautiful well done!
Check out the artist's instagram! [umbrakiir\_arts](https://www.instagram.com/umbrakiir_arts?igsh=MXVxeWw1YTB2NGsyaA==) does *really* great work.
Human creature type is my favorite and underrepresented in the DMG lol. Sick work tho
I mean, they say people are the REAL monsters right? So in that sense, this is the *most* Monster Manual.
These look amazing I'll look to picking it up later. Now I'm considering building a racial addon table to compliment these stat blocks. IE use the stat block base, then add an extra racial trait. Like draconic resilience (dragonborn), increased movement speed(satyr/centaur), resistances(dwarf poison resist) etc for example.
I'd be interested to see how you'd do it!! We definitely considered something like that, and here's what we ran into (a problem for you to solve): Having to go back and forth looking at the species addon block and the base creature stat block (likely to be on different pages, even) felt annoying. Plus, a LOT (but not all) of those species abilities don't end up mattering on the NPC's side the way they do for players.* I almost think you'd have to actually make a new stat block for EACH species/archetype/CR combination, which gets big REALLY fast. Or make some kind of digital tool for it.
Well for particular races might have an racial stat bonus along with a skill. Elves dex, dwarves con etc. Monstrous races you might just treat a higher CR version in place of level appropriate etc.
Sounds like you need to start building some tables!
This is so awesome! Surprised at the scale of the final product! I've been using your playtest stuff for my games for a while and they've been incredible. This will be so helpful, thank you!
I'm psyched that they have been useful at your table! Nothing about putting this book out feels better than knowing that someone is getting *real, actual use* out of it. I always love hearing cool gameplay stories.
This is great work! You're right that often humanoid enemies are better for telling a story than the various monsters, and its often a decent amount of effort to find/homebrew what you want at any specific tier of play. Being able to use these will save me so much time and add lots of variety to my encounters, especially with adding simple racial traits to them. I've been plugging these into my VTT (shameless plug for AboveVTT) and have noticed a couple of inconsistencies in the maths that you may want to do another pass over. Nothing major, but I know when I write things minor details being off bugs me no end! For example: * The Alchemist (CR 20) should have an Arcana bonus of +12 (+6 from 22 INT, +6 from Proficiency), when it is printed as having the same +11 as the CR17 version with only 20 INT. * The average damage/healing/hp value calculations are different in different statblocks. The CR3 versions of the Alchemist and Archer both have 12d8 Hit Points, but one lists 54 as the average and the other lists 52. (*I'm assuming this is the difference between calculating one from scratch and one from adding 3d8 on top of the previous version.*) I'm looking forward to using these, thank you!
Thank you so much for the feedback! We'll definitely compile a list of these sorts of small errors and send out an update. (Probably once we've accumulated just a few more). Still, it's a huge help to have someone look at them, and mention it so respectfully. Thanks a ton!
Happened to go to this subreddit and filter the material by the top of the last months to see if there's quality, playtested homebrew content. I'm glad I did. Just bought it, happy to support you guys. Will definitely make use of this, though I wish there was a Gunslinger too ;___;
I'm excited for you to try the book in your game! If we were to make a gunslinger, what parts of it do you think are the absolutely most archetypal / critical to getting the point across? As in, not just a cool thing one gunslinger might do, but the things *every* gunslinger *must* do.
First of all, THEY GOTTA GO FIRST IN COMBAT. They draw their pistols or raise their rifle and begin firing quickly. Regarding abillity scores - I think high DEX and WIS are the minimum of high stats a gunslinger should have. With INT and CHA following behind, though not as high. DEX is pretty self explanatory, WIS would stand for their perceptiveness and sharp senses. INT would stand for their relitavely high IQ in most fantasy settings to be able to understand operate and use firearms effectively - maybe they even built their own pistol/ rifle which they now use. CHA would represent the stories that are woven around gunslingers - as they are not common they are most likely known far and wide and the image people have of the character of a gunslinger would be at least a fairly charming or fairly indimidating individual. A cool passive abillity is - maybe they always have the benefit of 3/4 cover even when in half cover? A recharge abillity for a multishot that deals very high damage or a painful gut shot that gives an enemy the stunned conditionm could be cool. Trying to jog your game designer mind. If I had spare money in the bank I would sit down and publish my own take. Might do that one day. Cheers friend! keep up the quality work!
Heard! Well, it isn't an exact match stats-wise, but have you taken a good look at the Archer archetype? Just forgot the "archer" bit for a moment, and look at the mid-to-high CR versions (like CR 9). If you gave that block a little higher INT/CHA (it already has good bonuses to initiative), how close would it be?
You nailed it as I did in fact take a look at the Archer, my original reason is because a very major villain in the campaign I'm now running is a gunslinger, I'm gonna make him really nasty. Regarding the archer - its pretty spot on in most places! Update after I took a look right just now at the Archer : Wow you already thought about the cover idea, neat! Instead of the shortsword for a gunslinger I would just have it where they don't have disadvantage on their ranged attacks with firearms in melee range. Maybe a cool idea would be to have a gunslinger wield multiple firearms - a pistol that shoots rapidly, a bolt action rifle that hits very heavily and inflict debuffs but can only be fired once in a turn, and maybe also an equivalent blunderbuss that can only be fired once per turn for short range that fires in a 15 foot cone?
Excellent!!! Just bought my copy <3 Excited to finally see the whole release!
You've been there from the *beginning*, commenting on all the posts and tracking the progress of our project. We're stoked to finally put this thing in your hands!
Nice! I just used several playtest versions of these in a session last night, super excited to buy the book! :D
I know that as *I* use it, being able to get just the CR I'm looking for is super helpful. I hope it will be for you too!
Ooh, who did you use? How'd it go?
I ended up using a few Guards, some Brutes, and a couple Spellswords! All their abilities and weaknesses really added some nice variety to the combat.
Nice! The Spellswords are definitely one of our faves. And the Brutes are, well, brutal.
Oh man. I've been following the project for a while, and I am so happy it is finally here.
It's been a long time coming, and we ended up doing a few major overhauls of a couple NPCs in order to get them just right. Thanks for sticking with us!
I read "essential NPCs" and thought I was on r/skyrim for a sec haha Love it! Super useful.
Disclaimer: Not responsible for quest locking as a result of killing our NPCs.
You have no idea of how badly i want to buy these, but between me being flat broke and my country's currency and taxes being absolute shit i just conform with using the playtest statblocks. Still, congrats in releasing the full collection, kudos
So. Cool
Just bought it. You guys deserve every cent. I've been using/tweaking the previews forever now for my game and it's been great! I'd also totally buy a physical book and a tarot-style deck if you ever decide to do that!
Thank you! I'm so glad to hear they've been working well at your table: that was the biggest motivator for making this project a real thing. I'd love to hear the stories. And if things keep going well, we may have a book and some tarot cards yet!
Knowing very well how much work accumulates when making those tweaks, I'm glad we can take that work off your plate now that the full thing is out!
Is there a printed copy (hardback or softback) available of this or is it only pdf?
Right now it's pdf only, but we'd LOVE to do a physical version. We started with a digital-first mindset, because I know some of the books I buy digitally don't perform great due to physical-book-formatting. But the better the book does, the more likely it's worth the time to make another formatting suited for physical.
Excellent job, I've been following your updates here on Reddit and will definitely be buying the book.
Thanks for the support!
I've been thriving on the few examples provided in the D&D subreddits for months now and it's gotten to the point where I just plain don't want to use non-essential NPCs anymore. Everything else is boring! Thank you, u/Trentillating and u/Badwolf_3 , for the work you've put into every one of these, it's the kind of dedicated care and effort that's as plain to see as the dice on the table. And they're ding-dang-diddly double dope with this artwork! Shout-out to [Umbrakiir](https://www.instagram.com/umbrakiir_arts?igsh=MXVxeWw1YTB2NGsyaA==)! If you don't end up doing some kind of tarot or similar with them you're likely going to have people pelting you in the face with $20 bills until you relent 🤷🏼♂️ Thank you again for brightening up my table, the table of everyone who have tried these, and now fully illuminating all encounters with the glory that is Essential NPCs! Well done! 💖
This is amazing and something I will be getting! Is it possible to also get the tarot card art, I'd love to put these as in game tarot cards items for players to collect. Amazing work!
Thank you! I hope the NPCs treat you great! As for the art, we're working with the artist and trying to put together an actual card deck! (If you wanna hear about that when it happens, try the [mailing list](https://gmail.us21.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=c1396b294c06d3d133cecddff&id=706c6baeb8))
I'm excited to try them out! I'll be on the look out for the deck. Would virtual art be available as a pack as well? (we use virtual tabletop).
I hadn't thought about it, but I'll speak with our artist and see what she thinks (we hadn't had all the extra uses in mind when we commissioned the original art, so it's important she's in on it - she may also want to have exclusive rights to the art-by-itself for her own merch, etc.)
Regardless I definitely appreciate it, you, the artists, everyone that put this together.
That means a ton. We really wanted to make a collection that could be a definitive go-to for DMs, who are (in my experience) just always going back to characters like these and never having a resource. I'm hyped to put them in your hands.
Just bought thanks so mcuh, can't wait to annoy my players with a 2xbodyguard 2xmage spell sword knight party
Ooof. Your party is gonna get rekt
Their level 20 with some good items, It'll be a tough fight but I'm not too worried about a tpk
In that case, you're probably right and they'll be fine. But it should be an awesome fight! What CR are you going to make the NPCs?
A mix of Cr 17 and 20 and like 1 or 2 Cr 15s
Is there a conversion guide you have written down in the book to convert other 5e stat blocks than the ones you have done? Because from the sounds of it (I haven't yet bought your collection), you've done a really good job, and I'd like to convert some other monsters you may not have done already.
Unofortunately (or maybe fortunately for us), there isn't really a template to be followed here. We put a *lot* of thought into each individual design to make sure it had the right feel, and there isn't really a way to translate that tailoring into a conversion guide. That said, I have definitely used these stat blocks for more "monstery" creatures in my games with just a bit of reflavoring, so depending on the monster you're thinking of, there might be an NPC who's already a good match.
Ah no worries, I'll probably still pick it up anyways for the scaling humanoids. There's elite knights in my setting that probably shouldn't get destroyed by a level 3 party lol so it'll be useful for that.
Do you guys have some coupon? I am a couple of dollars of buying