u/Afraid-Frosting1678

If I’m creating NPCs (some of whom become important to the storyline of the campaign and may even temporarily become followers of the party) how should I go about determining their stats? Do I need to create a whole character sheet for them with individual skills and abilities or can I maybe take inspiration from stats from the monster manual?

If the latter how do I know which build / block of stats to go with for the NPC? Trying to make it as balanced as possible for the party, but so they have their own character it’s but don’t blow over in combat?

Also if they end up being in combat do I just run them like I do for the enemies? Where I take their turn but obviously so they’re on the players’ team?

So I’ve started running a campaign with friends (we’re two sessions in) and things are going pretty well. It’s the first time I’m DMing so as expected there are a few teething issues. Are people able to help give me any pointers on the below?

- When combat is started and people roll initiative there’s always a few awkward minutes of silence when I’m writing down the order of combat (getting people’s initiatives etc). Is there a fast / streamlined way to do this? Maybe even like a standard table format I don’t know about to keep track of combat etc?

- Any tips on making travelling less dull? When the characters are walking to somewhere often I say “what are your characters talking about” etc. and potentially throw in a random goblin or something. But if nothing catches it just ends up that “they get to where they’re going”…

- My players are REALLY fun to play with but they’re not always the easiest to get roleplaying in character as their characters. Any tips to encourage this?

- When you’re running sessions what material do you have in front of you as a DM. Behind my screen I’ve got the book with all the notes on my world and cities etc, a monster manual to help with combat, a notepad to note down combat and any important things, on a separate chair I’ve got a DM guide and the PHB and some battle maps if needed. Clearly seems like too much so how do you guys do it?

- I’ve got an artist friend to draw me a world map for my world. Should I get the same done for cities or is this less important? Can it be done online anywhere (or is theatre of the mind better for this?)