NPCs

[ss2020]

I know the Errata gives NPCs proficiencies with weapons they carry. But what about a Forte? I have a player who wants to take a few feats on his Personal Lt. that require a Forte. 
  My thinking is they should not be allowed as it detracts from the players do the great and awesome things. Is there any ruling on this or has anyone else run into things?

[Sletchman]

I know the Errata gives NPCs proficiencies with weapons they carry. But what about a Forte? I have a player who wants to take a few feats on his Personal Lt. that require a Forte.  
  My thinking is they should not be allowed as it detracts from the players do the great and awesome things. Is there any ruling on this or has anyone else run into things?

Page 233 (Fantasy Craft core book, second printing): [An NPC] must meet any feat or Species prerequisites but ignores all other prerequisites.


You are, of course, entitled to rule however you feel most comfortable - if you want NPCs to not have access to certain feats then feel free to say "no" to the player.  That's just the RAW.

EDIT: Added in "must", which really changes the whole context of the text.  Not sure how I missed it...

[ss2020]

Okay, great. Now I assume the NPC does not actually bet the benefits of the feats he does not have in that case, correct?

  IE shield basics requires Blunt Forte I think, he does not actually get that forte for free also. Does he?

[Soulcatcher]

To clarify, Sletchman accidentally omitted a key word: the quote is "[The NPC] must meet any feat or Species prerequisites but ignores all other prerequisites."

He doesn't have (and can't take) a blunt forte, but for him there are no prerequisites for Shield Basics (but Mastery still requires Basics).

[TheTSKoala]

Your assumption and Soul is correct.  The rule basically erases the pre-req.  It doesn't grant extras.

[Coyote0273]

Okay, great. Now I assume the NPC does not actually bet the benefits of the feats he does not have in that case, correct?

  IE shield basics requires Blunt Forte I think, he does not actually get that forte for free also. Does he?

Basically, the NPC can use any weapon or feat you decide he can, but he doesn't get the bonuses from it, as attack and defense are calculated seperately. So he can use the Shield feats, or the bow feats, etc, but he doesn't get that +1 bonus from the forte.

Since it's a PL, I would also keep track of what weapons and such he has assigned to him. Just in case (for example), a PL that doesn't come equipped with guns picks one up off a dead bad guy isn't suddenly badass at that too.

[Sletchman]

To clarify, Sletchman accidentally omitted a key word: the quote is "[The NPC] must meet any feat or Species prerequisites but ignores all other prerequisites."

He doesn't have (and can't take) a blunt forte, but for him there are no prerequisites for Shield Basics (but Mastery still requires Basics).

Yeah, I kinda stuffed that one up, didn't I?


@ss2020 - NPCs ignore anything that isn't a species or feat prerequisite when picking feats.  So you can grant them Bow Basics without a Bow forte, but can't grant them Bow Mastery without Bow Basics.  Likewise, they cannot gain Owl Nation without actually being an Elf.

And just to reemphasise:  If it's for a Personal Lieutennant or Animal Partner and you don't feel comfortable with the feats they have, you are well within your rights to say no to it - it's written right into the feats that the GM must approve it, so make sure you're ok with it.  By and large though, feats don't create a huge problem with most player-NPCs that I've come across.

[ss2020]

thanks everyone.