Question: When and how do NPCs act (especially in combat)?

Question: When and how do NPCs act (especially in combat)?

Question: When and how do NPCs act (especially in combat)?

As mentioned before I come from a background of more rigid combat rules with initiative values and a sequence of PC- vs. NPC-actions.

In my experience the player is only waiting for his/her turn to do his/her mega-ultra-one-hit-kill-them-all-combo and it’s the task of the game mechanics to figure out if the PC is still standing to actually do it. Yes, I already understood that BitD is extremly different with the fiction-first approach, but this will need some training for my group.

One of my first impressions was “Oh, only 3 attributes and a bunch of skills/traits linked to them. Cool, easy to track this for the NPCs.”

Then I realized that NPCs don’t have attributes/traits at all, which made me a bit nervous because I’m out of my already-know-it-comfort-zone.

In chapter “The Core System” I read “When the NPCs have the iniative, the GM says what they do…” but from the rules I don’t see an “initiative” neither for the PCs nor NPCs.

So, my understanding right now is that initiative is a concept which belongs in the fiction part of the game and…

1. NPCs “act” as a consequence from PCs Action Rolls. Maybe the roll was 1-3 or the GM will buff a Position due to knowledge the PCs don’t have yet (like John did in the Cyclop Fight in the first episode) and the NPCs acts/counterattacks as a consequence of a bad die result / Bad Outcome. After that we’re back in the fiction part of the game. To quote the Quickstart here:

“Since NPCs don’t have stats and action ratings, it’s by the severity of their dangers and harm (and the position of the PC’s action roll) that their capabilities are manifest in the game”

2. (Attenion Rule Lawyers!) NPCs act pure fiction first and the PCs have to react with their actions, again with considerung positions etc.

“Also, a dangerous NPC can take the initiative. Tell the players what the NPCs is about to accomplish, then ask them what they do.”

Part 2. will be a stranger and bitter pill for my players chuckle I will see how this will work out chuck building up to evil laughing

Is my understanding of initiative and NPC actions correct?

7 thoughts on “Question: When and how do NPCs act (especially in combat)?”

  1. This is more easily explained in the Dungeon World guide. But basically combat or out of combat, initiative is the conversation that happens, in any order that makes sense. The GM has the agency to spotlight characters as seems appropriate and interject with NPC actions as needed

  4. The class playbook style is in keeping with Apocalypse World hacks including DW. Although the general mechanics are very different there are certainly many times if helps to be familiar with these games.

  5. Yeah, Sefan, I think your understanding is correct.

    Everyone (PCs and NPCs) act as the fiction indicates. Often, a player’s roll will resolve both the action of the PC and the action of the NPC. Like this:

    “The Red Sash slashes at your face. What do you do?”

    “I parry her blade aside and smash her in the teeth with the pommel of my sword.”

    (Roll Skirmish, which resolves what happens here)

    Sometimes, the NPC will clearly have the advantage and will beat the PC to the punch (or vice versa):

    “As you open your coat to draw out our pistols, Bazso’s bodyguard tackles you to the floor.”

    “Oh no, I want to avoid that! Can I roll Finesse or Skirmish or something to dodge him?”

    “I don’t think so. He’s ready for you to make a move, and you don’t have easy access to your guns since they’re concealed. You can resist him with a resistance roll, though. Then carry on with your own action. Or Skirmish with him after he tackles you. Up to you.”

    So it’s all situational. It does take some practice! But you’ll find that it gets easy the more you do it.

    If any old-school players complain, tell them that this was the method of the original kreigspiel referee. So it’s true old-school! 🙂

  6. John Harper Hi John, thanks a lot for the insight. I will remember your advice when I’m under pressure during a game. Can’t wait to get it startet 🙂

    BTW (beeing not only old-school but also a real certified smart ass and a German native speaker) it’s “Kriegsspiel”. If you’re ever in need for a native German speaker as translator for your game, please count me in. I’m more than happy to help with that and would be proud to to so.

    Fun Fact German Kriegsspiele: Did you know that German Army/Bundeswehr don’t use pratice ammo during their “war games” but are shouting “peng, peng” to conserve ammunition? Which brings as back to the referee 🙂

  7. Thanks for correcting my sloppy German! (I should have looked up the spelling) I hadn’t heard about the “peng, peng” thing. That’s wonderful. 🙂

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