Minimalistic generic statblock

[ELF]

I'm putting together a simplistic statblock generator for an NPC generation project. I'm trying to find a format that would fill the following requirements:

• system-neutral: no ties to a game system (SRD or otherwise), preferably genre neutral as well
• compact: the 'stat' block should not fit in the minimum of space
• readable: No cryptic abbreviations (or even icons)
• useful: Despite these harsh limitations, the output should still be at least of some use to the GM.

My current work in process outputs results like this:

Ancient male dwarf, level 4 sorcerer.
Intelligent but weak.
Masterful magical ability with abjuration and proficient with theory of magic.
Plot seed: Needs information.

(That's just the 'crunch' part, another generator would handle the name and descriptive details and call this one. And that "plot seed" is an occasionally generated addition that could perhaps contain a rudimentary plot element - the current line is just a placeholder.

I'm tempted to drop the level reference and speak instead of a novice/experienced/formidable etc. character. These could be seen as relative to the PC's, but might be too opaque.

How about personality and equipment, for example? Would it be more useful to codify them here, or leave that in the longer description? Is there something essential that I'm missing, or is this style too vague to be useful?

 

[ELF]

Oh yes, I should mention that the inspiration for this format comes from Flying Buffalo's systemless Citybook series of supplements.

Instead of specifying the full magical repertoire of spellcasters, they used a 2-character code to signify their schoolI(s) of magic and the associated level of proficiency. A similar system has been used elsewhere as well:
http://thoulsparadise.blogspot.com/2015/07/the-ten-schools-of-magic-in-trollworld.html

 

[JochenL]

Can you remove the level and instead an experience descriptor (learning, experienced, master, etc.)?

 

[ELF]

Can you remove the level and instead an experience descriptor (learning, experienced, master, etc.)?

Yes, I have considered that, and it would certainly help to make the description more system neutral.

And as an added bonus, this grading could maybe be seen as relative to the player characters.

Still, I wasn't sure if that would be too vague. But perhaps something like this would indeed work:

1. novice
2. expert
3. adept (?)
4. master
5. legendary

With more steps than that it could be difficult to tell if outstanding would be better than illustrious, for example.

 

[JochenL]

I would remove adept.

 

[ELF]

I would remove adept.

I have used a 5-degree scale, elsewhere so I would like to that here as well.

For skills I have used something that could almost work here as well:

    {
      "name": "ability level",
      "explanation": "Random degree of talent.",
      "entries": [
        {
          "m": 1,
          "v": "inferior"
        },
        {
          "m": 2,
          "v": "average"
        },
        {
          "m": 4,
          "v": "competent"
        },
        {
          "m": 2,
          "v": "proficient"
        },
        {
          "m": 1,
          "v": "masterful"
        }
      ]
    },

...but not quite.

 

[JochenL]

I would have gone with craftsman ranks:

• Apprentice/Novice/Junior
• Journeyman/Trained
• Master/Expert/Senior
• Grand Master
• Legendary

EDIT: or maybe a variant of the Fate Ladder (dropping roughly every other rank)...

• Mediocre
• Fair
• Good
• Great
• Fantastic
• Legendary

 

[ELF]

That doesn't sound half bad, actually!

 

[77IM]

Blades in the Dark uses a fairly nice in-line shorthand:
"Their leader is Baszo Baz (crime boss, genial, ruthless, cunning, whiskey connoisseur) who resides in an old warehouse..."

 

[ELF]

"Their leader is Baszo Baz (crime boss, genial, ruthless, cunning, whiskey connoisseur) who resides in an old warehouse..."

Now that's compact! No wasted words, and still immediately understandable. Something like that should be the goal.

 

[ELF]

It would be good if the same adjectives would work both for character and skill levels, but alternative meanings can make it hard to avoid the risk of misinterpretation.

An example could be a fair fighter who is in fact dark, a good wizard who is in fact evil, etc.

So neutral expressions like mediocre, competent and masterful sound like the best bet.

 

[Hannu]

monster Island for Mythras uses these
Novice
Competent
Proficient
Expert
Master
Paragon

And then attaches rulesystem specific percentages ro each. This works pretty well.