Experience points query

Daniel Rushton wrote:
> Hi guys
>
> Does anybody have a clue as to how many experience points should be given to
> older NPC's in Vampire the Masquerade?
>
> I wanna have a 600 year old ventrue prince, and I have no idea how make him
> old and powerfull enough.

My answer: Whatever feels right. I don't generally build NPCs based on
XP totals, as I find it's generally easier and more effective to just
assign abilities based on the needs of the story. If you want the PCs to
be able to defeat him (either in combat or socially), give him stats
that are impressive but not overwhelming. On the other hand, if the
Ventrue prince needs to be able to beat the stuffing out of the PCs,
build him as such.
Further, I find that most "downtime" rules for various White Wolf games
aren't a good metric for NPCs, since they assume a relatively uneventful
existence. An active character will certainly gain experience much more
quickly; if the Ventrue elder has led an eventful unlife, his XP total
could be in the thousands. On the other hand, if he spent most of the
last few centuries in torpor, he could be significantly "underpowered"
for his age. (Now there's a story idea: What if the other elders loathe
the Prince for being little stronger than an ancilla, but cannot
disrespect his age by openly acting against him?)
--
[The address listed is a spam trap. To reply, take off every zig.]
Richard Clayton
"During wars laws are silent." -- Cicero
 >> Stay informed about: Experience points query 

You guys are probably right, I'll probably fudge it in the end

Dan

"Richard Clayton" <rZIGeclaZIGyton.DeleteThis@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:1XH%e.2205$Z96.2057@trnddc05...
> Daniel Rushton wrote:
>> Hi guys
>>
>> Does anybody have a clue as to how many experience points should be given
>> to older NPC's in Vampire the Masquerade?
>>
>> I wanna have a 600 year old ventrue prince, and I have no idea how make
>> him old and powerfull enough.
>
> My answer: Whatever feels right. I don't generally build NPCs based on XP
> totals, as I find it's generally easier and more effective to just assign
> abilities based on the needs of the story. If you want the PCs to be able
> to defeat him (either in combat or socially), give him stats that are
> impressive but not overwhelming. On the other hand, if the Ventrue prince
> needs to be able to beat the stuffing out of the PCs, build him as such.
> Further, I find that most "downtime" rules for various White Wolf games
> aren't a good metric for NPCs, since they assume a relatively uneventful
> existence. An active character will certainly gain experience much more
> quickly; if the Ventrue elder has led an eventful unlife, his XP total
> could be in the thousands. On the other hand, if he spent most of the last
> few centuries in torpor, he could be significantly "underpowered" for his
> age. (Now there's a story idea: What if the other elders loathe the Prince
> for being little stronger than an ancilla, but cannot disrespect his age
> by openly acting against him?)
> --
> [The address listed is a spam trap. To reply, take off every zig.]
> Richard Clayton
> "During wars laws are silent." -- Cicero
 >> Stay informed about: Experience points query 

Daniel Rushton wrote:

> Does anybody have a clue as to how many experience points should be given to
> older NPC's in Vampire the Masquerade?
>
> I wanna have a 600 year old ventrue prince, and I have no idea how make him
> old and powerfull enough.
>

I usually give them 1-5 XP per year of unlife for my NPCs. 1 for sit at
home and never leave types and 5 for the real movers and shakers who
are always on the move. The average is around 2 with 3 going to most
Princes and other people who are constatnly required to act. 4 and 5s
are usually reserved for younger vampires such as Sabbat war parties
because anybody that active will probably get killed before 50 years or
so (like PCs).

So if I was making your prince for my chronicle, I'd make a normal
character, maybe flub the generation some. Give him 1200 or 1800 XP and
build him (following the elder rules if I feel like it), coming up with
some sort of XP equivilant for aditional background or merit points.
Make them well rounded with lots of skills. It makes for powerful
elders but if your chronicle lasts any length, the players will end up
getting several hundred XP themselves and be pretty powerful and he'll
still be able to challenge them on whatever field they want to act in.
 >> Stay informed about: Experience points query 

Cheers I'll give that a go I think

Dan

<marc17 DeleteThis @painandgreed.com> wrote in message
news:1128661942.847066.299250@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>
> Daniel Rushton wrote:
>
>> Does anybody have a clue as to how many experience points should be given
>> to
>> older NPC's in Vampire the Masquerade?
>>
>> I wanna have a 600 year old ventrue prince, and I have no idea how make
>> him
>> old and powerfull enough.
>>
>
> I usually give them 1-5 XP per year of unlife for my NPCs. 1 for sit at
> home and never leave types and 5 for the real movers and shakers who
> are always on the move. The average is around 2 with 3 going to most
> Princes and other people who are constatnly required to act. 4 and 5s
> are usually reserved for younger vampires such as Sabbat war parties
> because anybody that active will probably get killed before 50 years or
> so (like PCs).
>
> So if I was making your prince for my chronicle, I'd make a normal
> character, maybe flub the generation some. Give him 1200 or 1800 XP and
> build him (following the elder rules if I feel like it), coming up with
> some sort of XP equivilant for aditional background or merit points.
> Make them well rounded with lots of skills. It makes for powerful
> elders but if your chronicle lasts any length, the players will end up
> getting several hundred XP themselves and be pretty powerful and he'll
> still be able to challenge them on whatever field they want to act in.
>
 >> Stay informed about: Experience points query 

Even for my PC's I throw the starting points out the window. If a
character needs a skill then the character gets it. As long as the
character's history can justify it then I'm OK, I'm more interested in
having well rounded chararcters than sticking to the system. With NPC's
it should be the same. Write you're NPC's history and then assign
appropriately.
 >> Stay informed about: Experience points query