N.P.C. Creation

[Lord Z]

If you are running the game strictly as it is intended, yes. The part where you are wrong is where you wrote that it seemed a "little" time consuming. You should thoroughly roll up and calculate every NPC and every monster. Some GMs prefer to fake it and guesstimate what the stats of each NPC should be. I always run into trouble when I try that.

I suggest using the Nexus. Nexus Nine dot net has a collection of NPCs for Rifts who are ready for the table. You could use those and add to the collection by submitting your own.

[Lord Death]

There are some stats of CS NPC's in bk. 2 Coalition Overkill from the Siege on Tolkeen.

[SkyeFyre]

When I need an NPC on the fly I just use this basic formula.

Minor NPCs (Usually cannon fodder, ya know, most likely to get run over, blown up, shot, or just do nothing)
HP:10
SDC: 10
All stats are 9-10
Bonuses = Level divided by two

Little less minor NPCs (The ones that may be detailed later, or need to be tougher)
HP:15
SDC: 20
All stats 9-10 but if you want him to be tough just say his PS is higher...etc
Bonuses = Level divided by two

Juicers and others just take minor changes on the spot.

Equipment... well I've got a large amount of it memorized so that's not an issue, as well as bonuses for stats or roughly what kind of HP and SDC Juicers and Crazies have...etc.

[Lord Z]

Wait, I never agreed with that at all. I suggested hunting down what pre-gen characters you can find and using those. Do the same with the monsters (good luck because there won't be nearly as many).

Look, if you were thinking about a having a rampaging rhino-buffalo in your game, but you have fury beetle instead, use the fury beetle. My fiance actually got angry at me because I was spending so much time making NPCs and monsters for my last Rifts campaign. She was right. I really shouldn't have spent more than hour preparing each game session.

[mobuttu]

Here you'll find some pre-made character of my own. Feel free to use it.

[lather]

Forget the NPCs and get the PCs to turn on each other. It writes itself.

But yea generally I just have an idea and some rough numbers unless the NPC is going to be important. If the NPC becomes important then I'll stall until I can catch up.