Combat and the NPC experience

Greetings everyone.

I have been thinking about this quite a bit since the May event, and maybe it belongs in a different category, but I am posting it in New Players since perhaps it is a pretty obvious question for experienced players.

So, here we go:

I really enjoy NPC duty and have discovered that I really like fighting (I never would have guessed!) despite the fact I am not very good at it. I have also found that I learn a ton about combat when I get to play a NPC with skills that far exceed what my PC has (or will have in the near future). I also completely understand and respect the idea that NPC's are there to entertain the PCs.

However, I have found in a number of NPC roles, that NPCs that seem powerful (at least to me) get slaughtered really quickly. For example, in May, an NPC I played had 500 BP and some really nice melee offenses/defenses (I liked the one that caused anyone who hit the NPC to suffer daze for 5 seconds). My poor NPC, however, got attacked about 6:1 and ended up dead within about 2 minutes (probably less - 30 seconds - it is hard to tell time while fighting). Even taking into account that I am a pretty crummy fighter at this stage (it is only my 3rd event, so what can I say. . . ), my question is, how do more experienced players make sure they entertain the PCs enough, and what is the line. I don't want to completely ignore my NPC card, but on the other hand, my NPC is not too entertaining when dead within only a few seconds (I know as a PC I want to fight something that is at least somewhat threatening).

So, how do you make sure your NPCs strike the proper balance between threatening and entertaining? Or do you just follow you card and leave it up to the MM and ST?

I look forward to your insights.

Crystal

The easiest way I think to explain this, is actually answered in your question. When PC's take on a 500BP NPC 6:1 it's not that scary. But put this situation in....a level, say 10 PC, sees this, lets say Demon......that player is now scared out of their mind and going to run away and get help so people can go at you 6:1.

It is an even balance of RP as the NPC card demands and following the card to the letter. I found it all comes with experience. (Also from what I have seen as you get better at fighting and do it more often....your natural combat skill will keep you alive longer.

As a new player I find the NPC duty really eye opening as to how wussy my little newbie character is. I usually drop pretty quick, get hit in the kidneys or bashed in the face, so I do wish I was better at melee combat at times, but no matter how good you are if you get dogpiled on it's all over and that is usually what it boils down to. :ohmy:

I kinda feel the same! I love giving people a good whack! But I think "ALRIGHT FEAR ME!" and I go down in 30 seconds! Haha I think it's all because I just stink at combat but I worry that I'm not doing a good job because I die so fast! I worry that if I get a "you get no respawns" NPC that I get killed so quick it wasn't even a challenge!

You know my feels man!?

trust me your npc will fall into some pretty hopeless situations. I remember my first shift back in february i think. myself and two other guys were sent out as some mild brigands going to attack people for loot right. now I was still really new to combat in general so I took this role to get more experience. we came upon connor and two other guys who offered us food. Now at first we all agreed not to attack until we at least all got food. But this one guy, the genious that he is after getting his share held the door close keeping connor inside and initiatig combat. after a while more people showed up to beat us down and then connor walks up to me completely IG and I look at him and realize that my friend was keeping him lokced in the building. I look over and I hear my fellow npc yelling for help INSIDE the building he was keeping closed. Connor to this day I sitll have NO IDEA how you pulled that off. but in the end it pretty much came down to me with both my legs pinned with two seasoned warriors on either side and 3 archers pointed streight at me. moral of the story is your npc will not survive long for most of the time. So take every combat role you can get and start fighting. Think of npc combat as training for your character and work with that. if you keep fighting you will get better. Also dont be afraid to ask some of your firends to spar with you IG. heck find me IG sometime and if I am not busy ill spar with you for a bit. just keep practicing and you will get better. cause its as connor said. your natural skill is what will keep you alive longer.

I noticed the same thing and had somewhat similar thoughts, also being new and having all the combat savvy of a slighty soggy paper bag. The main problem is, of course, numbers. In general the NPC's will be outnumbered merely due to logistical reasons. This becomes more apparent in an open area. I noticed that the few encounters that took place in the woods or brush allowed one to limit the number coming at them, and (somewhat) even the odds.
I think part of it is just time, as others have said combat experience increases and you get better at strategies, plus getting to know PC's and their fighting styles.
But entertainment is more than just putting up a good fight, in my opinion. Reacting to the blows, threatening or insulting your opponent, looking demonic, or feral, or whatever you are supposed to be...plays as big a role. Acting so that players don't say "Oh ho hum, I took that npc down easy" but rather "Did you see that horrible thing, and how menacing it was? Can you believe we defeated it? Good thing there was six of us!". And I would think that gets easier with time also, rather than (as I was) trying to remember what all the skills do, and what their effects are, and to react to weapon and spell strikes appropriately when you're frantically trying to do math in your head.