Hello everyone! I was making an NPC to help aid my adventurers, and I am wondering about how to actually go about it. If it helps, I also use "Another Character Generator" to help make the NPC.

So, here goes. First the setting: roughly 5-7 years after episode 6.

Species: Twi'Lek

Career: Bounty Hunter

Specialization: Assassin

Ok, that's the main info. Now I want to ask the questions. First, I've searched the forums a bit and the only answer to this question I've found is creating a new skill/special ability or something. I want my assassin to use Agility instead of Brawl for fighting. Should I make a special ability for the NPC?

Originally when creating the NPC, I had thought it would be an Ace, as they would use this NPC for escapes and special missions needing to fly in undercover, however since BH's get piloting (Planitary/Space), thematically, does the NPC need to be an Ace? Or will pumping up piloting do the trick?

Dual-Wield, how does one go about that? I'm still sort of new, but I don't recall reading anything about dual-wield in the core rule books. The NPC will be dual-wielding vibroknives. How does combat work this way? Anyone have an idea, or a source to read from?

I realize as an NPC, this character can have all these things if I just say it has them. However, I'd like to keep as grounded as possible with this NPC. Should I make the NPC a PC that I control, meaning using a character sheet, or should I make it a Rival/Nemesis, which is basically the same thing?

The background of this NPC is, (short description)

Higher Calling -

Sold to a slaver at a young age, Yadria'Mey dreamed of becoming something better. When the Empire came to her planet to take over, one of the first places ransacked was her slaver's compound. She narrowly escaped the Imperial forces and found herself hiding in the shuttle docks. However, a band of rebels came to her planet, and she snuck on board the rebel ship as it was departing. Eventually she was found on the ship after the security terminal alerted the crew. There she was rescued by a Rebel. He slowly taught her how to fight with a dagger, and how to pilot a ship. She found this was her calling, to fight for freedom. She had a marvelous knack of catching on quick. She began to open her mind to new training ideas. She learned piloting and stealth, and how to dual-wield. Her section of the rebels were the ones who would get their hands dirty. When they needed Imperial Diplomats executed, they called on her for her first mission. Unknown to her, she is Force-Sensitive, hence her ability to learn quickly, and whatever luck she assumes she has she embraces it.

That's a very short description of her background. So thanks for any help ya'll can muster!

As an NPC you don't have to give her a career or specs. You can give her the talents and skills that would fit her background and upgrade them as you think fit.

If it's important to you, you could do it with Smuggler: Pilot + Gunslinger (Fly Casual) + Force Sensitive Emergent, creating Melee versions of Gunslinger's Ranged: Light talents. (Gunslinger is the last Smuggler spec in the EotE trees, HERE - thank you Doc, the Weasel .)

You could create a talent that lets her use Agility instead of Brawn for Melee, but it's probably not necessary. Just give her a rank or two more than you intended to represent her lethal speed.

A recent thread discussing this can be found HERE .

Be cautious. If you do create an Agility-based talent (or Melee version of Gunslinger) a PC may understandably want to learn it, too. And while you have complete control over how the NPC develops, some players have a way of finding exploitative combinations.

Good luck!

From the outset I'll state that personally I'm a fan of sticking to RAW.

First off look at the Infiltrator and Performer(think knife juggling and throwing) specs for inspiration on the kinds of talents to give this NPC.

Next choose to have either high Brawn & decent Agility or high Agility & decent Brawn based on your vision of the characters style.

Third assign skill ranks in Athletics, Coordination, Piloting(either or both), Brawl & Melee, plus anything else fitting such as Stealth, skullduggery, streetwise, knowledge(anything).

Keep in mind that a Characteristic of 3 and Skill of 5 create a dice pool of YYYGG, the same as if the character had a Characteristic of 5 and Skill of 3. This is how you can get an agile character to be exceptional with Melee weapons.

Finally chose some talents, I would advise Adversary 2 to keep bookkeeping simpler.

Dual Wielding is called Two Weapon Combat in this system, there are plenty of threads but check it out in the Combat chapter of any of the Core rule books first. If you need clarification just ask here and we will happily help.

Two-weapon combat is on p210 of CR.

For an NPC, I wouldn't bother creating a whole new special ability - just use their Agility instead of their Brawn. You don't even have to tell your PCs. Simple.

On the Order 66 Podcast (no idea what episode) they discuss the fact that there's no reason you can't regularly do this, as the situation demands. Have a Lore check where Willpower makes more sense than Intelligence, or a Brawl check where Cunning makes more sense than Brawn? Go ahead. You're the GM.

Now, having said that, in the specific case of Agility/Melee I would be careful, because I think Agility is already OP. Shouldn't matter for an NPC character, but if your PCs start doing it regularly then it could present some problems...

Thanks guys! I'll be checking out all your suggestions! For the life of me, I couldn't find Two-Weapon combat, I don't know why, I must have glossed over it.Keep in mind, this NPC is helping the players. Eventually, she'll become an inquisitor, of which I already set up Now to fully understand the power of the dark si... I mean, force dice, lol. But that's another read all together! Thanks again everyone!

Actually, I remember one question. What does, Critical Rating 5 mean? Does it mean I need to roll 5 advantages? For example, brass knuckles has a crit of 4, is that the extra damage? And how does Brass knuckles work? it says the damage is +1, so does that mean it's brawn rating +1?

Thanks guys! I'll be checking out all your suggestions! For the life of me, I couldn't find Two-Weapon combat, I don't know why, I must have glossed over it.Keep in mind, this NPC is helping the players. Eventually, she'll become an inquisitor, of which I already set up Now to fully understand the power of the dark si... I mean, force dice, lol. But that's another read all together! Thanks again everyone!

Actually, I remember one question. What does, Critical Rating 5 mean? Does it mean I need to roll 5 advantages? For example, brass knuckles has a crit of 4, is that the extra damage? And how does Brass knuckles work? it says the damage is +1, so does that mean it's brawn rating +1?

The crit rating is # of Advantages needed to inflict a critical injury with a successful attack that exceeds the target's soak value. The +1 on brass knuckles is added to a successful attack's damage.

Keep in mind that a Characteristic of 3 and Skill of 5 create a dice pool of YYYGG, the same as if the character had a Characteristic of 5 and Skill of 3. This is how you can get an agile character to be exceptional with Melee weapons.

Is that so? I thought yellow only upgrades based on skill of dice pool? so, the dice pool would then be 3, if the characteristic is 3? If the characteristic is 3, and the skill is 3, only three dice will be rolled, if the characteristic is 3, and skill 5, there should only be three dice, no? Did i misunderstand the book? lol.

If her role in the party is to be a support character, is it really important how she fights? Unless your players like watching NPCs try to kill each other, it might be better to have all her combat take place "off-screen" ("You guys go ahead, I'll finish off the stragglers!").

Keep in mind that a Characteristic of 3 and Skill of 5 create a dice pool of YYYGG, the same as if the character had a Characteristic of 5 and Skill of 3. This is how you can get an agile character to be exceptional with Melee weapons.

Is that so? I thought yellow only upgrades based on skill of dice pool? so, the dice pool would then be 3, if the characteristic is 3? If the characteristic is 3, and the skill is 3, only three dice will be rolled, if the characteristic is 3, and skill 5, there should only be three dice, no? Did i misunderstand the book? lol.

Re-read the section on creating dice pools... the larger of skill or stat sets the number of dice. It doesn't matter which. 5 skill and 3 stat makes the same pool as 5 stat and 3 skill.

So ... you start with 5 green dice, regardless. 3 upgrade to yellow, giving you a total dice pool of YYYGG, as above.

Keep in mind that a Characteristic of 3 and Skill of 5 create a dice pool of YYYGG, the same as if the character had a Characteristic of 5 and Skill of 3. This is how you can get an agile character to be exceptional with Melee weapons.

Is that so? I thought yellow only upgrades based on skill of dice pool? so, the dice pool would then be 3, if the characteristic is 3? If the characteristic is 3, and the skill is 3, only three dice will be rolled, if the characteristic is 3, and skill 5, there should only be three dice, no? Did i misunderstand the book? lol.

Re-read the section on creating dice pools... the larger of skill or stat sets the number of dice. It doesn't matter which. 5 skill and 3 stat makes the same pool as 5 stat and 3 skill.

So ... you start with 5 green dice, regardless. 3 upgrade to yellow, giving you a total dice pool of YYYGG, as above.

This.

There are a couple of elements here to go over further. Skills have a maximum rank of 5, with cybernetics able to raise that 1 further to 6. Meanwhile Characteristics have a natural limit of 6, which can be raised to a maximum of 7 with cybernetic enhancement. So up to a certain point skill training can compensate for an average Characteristic, but to reach the pinnacle with a particular dice pool you have to have a good Characteristic and then cut your body up and augment it.

This whole system really makes it so that any character can do anything to a significantly competent level with a solid investment in Skill Ranks, but when they do this they are never going to have more yellow than their Characteristic. For NPC's this is irrelevant essentially since the GM can do whatever they want. But for PC's this is an important consideration during character creation, every Characteristic is setting the limit on the number of Yellow dice they will be able to roll with any related Skills.

But it also creates some very cool opportunities for PC juxtaposition... the socialite who absolutely rips with a Heavy Repeating Blaster? or the completely charming Demolitionist? How about a Rebel Ace who has a fascination with ancient Lore?

And then there is the example in the OP, a highly Agile character, who is not that Brawny, but great in Melee or Brawl thanks to training.

Edit: its also the reason Droids are not necessarily as bad as people first think. or any other species flaw for that matter.

Great, thanks everyone! Sorry for the late reply, been busy with thangs! (Not easy to decide to put your favorite cat down... anyway.)

Which page was that dice info on? I'll have to reread that myself! I've played where NPC's fight with NPC's, it's typical in D&D campaigns, at least the ones I've played. Also, you can see it on Critical Role via Geek & Sundry. Just depends on the scenario and such that the NPC is used. Although, she's more support, she isn't taking over anything that the players are doing.

I've got about 3-5 players, I like to make things tough for the,, so they'll welcome any NPC help that comes along anyway, lol.

Force and Destiny page 27-28:

Under the main heading "Building a Basic Dice Pool" sub heading "Applying Skills and Characteristics" read paragraphs 2 and 3 (last 2 on on page 27 then continuing on 28), then the 3 examples following.

im away from my EotE and AoR books but ill edit later with page numbers for those too.