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Archives of Nethys

Archives of Nethys

Pathfinder RPG (1st Edition) Pathfinder RPG (2nd Edition) Starfinder RPG

Rules Index | GM Screen | Player's Guide
NPC Core / Introduction

Adjusting Creatures

Source NPC Core pg. 5
This section guides you through some basic strategies you can use to adjust an NPC's power level and specifics.

Combat Power

Source NPC Core pg. 5
In many cases, you can make relatively minor adjustments to a creature's statistics, called elite and weak adjustments, to raise or lower its level by 1. Elite and weak adjustments work best with creatures that focus on physical combat.

These adjustments overstate the normal numerical gains the creature would make from increasing its level to make up for the lack of new special abilities. Creatures that cast spells or rely on noncombat abilities typically need specific adjustments. Applying the elite or weak more than once to a creature should be avoided. For major changes, see the Pathfinder GM Core guidance on building creatures.

Specialist Levels

The level on an NPC's stat block is their level for a combat encounter. But many of these NPCs are primarily noncombatants much more skilled in their occupation than in combat. Specialist NPCs' stat blocks include an entry noting that they have a higher level when the PCs have to compete against them in their area of expertise.

Elite Adjustments

Source NPC Core pg. 5
Sometimes you'll want a creature that's just a bit more powerful than normal so that you can present a challenge that would otherwise be trivial or show that one enemy is stronger than its kin. To do this quickly and easily, apply the elite adjustments to its statistics as follows:
  • Increase the creature's level by 1; if the creature is level –1 or 0, instead increase its level by 2.
  • Increase the creature's AC, attack modifiers, DCs, saving throws, Perception, and skill modifiers by 2.
  • Increase the damage of its Strikes and other offensive abilities by 2. If the creature has limits on how many times or how often it can use an ability (such as a spellcaster's spells or a dragon's breath), increase the damage by 4 instead.
  • Increase the creature's Hit Points based on its starting level (see table below).

Elite Adjustment

Starting LevelHP Increase
1 or lower10
2-415
5-1920
20+30

Weak Adjustments

Source NPC Core pg. 5
Sometimes you'll want a creature that's weaker than normal so you can use a creature that would otherwise be too challenging or show that one enemy is weaker than its kin. To do this quickly and easily, apply the weak adjustments to its statistics as follows.
  • Decrease the creature's level by 1; if the creature is level 1, instead decrease its level by 2.
  • Decrease the creature's AC, attack modifiers, DCs, saving throws, Perception, and skill modifiers by 2.
  • Decrease the damage of its Strikes and other offensive abilities by 2. If the creature has limits on how many times or how often it can use an ability (such as a spellcaster's spells or a dragon's breath), decrease the damage by 4 instead.
  • Decrease the creature's HP based on its starting level.

Weak Adjustment

Starting LevelHP Decrease
1-2-10
3-5-15
6-20-20
21+-30

Languages

Source NPC Core pg. 5
You can freely add or remove languages from stat blocks! The main languages are listed can be found here.

Gear

Source NPC Core pg. 5
Most NPCs rely on gear, like armor and weapons. If an NPC loses a crucial piece of gear, follow the advice listed here.

Skills, Perception, and Proficiency

Source NPC Core pg. 5
If you need to know the creature's proficiency rank, creatures are trained in the skills listed in their stat blocks and untrained in the rest. Proficiency in listed skills usually upgrades to expert around 5th level, master around 9th level, and legendary around 17th level. Many creatures start with expert proficiency in Perception and improve to master proficiency around 7th level and legendary proficiency around 13th level. You might grant a creature with world-class aptitude for a particular skill or Perception a higher proficiency rank.