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6 Steps to NPC Creation

You are a GM working on developing Non-Player Characters (NPC's) for a campaign. This page outlines the steps we are taking to create the player characters.

1. Start with Their Purpose

Description: Define the NPC's core role or purpose within the game world. This starting point anchors them in the story and gives direction to their interactions with players. Knowing their purpose informs their motivations, personality, and how they impact the story.

Components:

  • Purpose Examples: Quest giver, ally, merchant, mentor, healer, informant, spy, antagonist, diplomat, guard, entertainer, scholar, blacksmith, priest, innkeeper, ranger, thief, noble, mercenary, shopkeeper, traveler, emissary, rebel leader, guide, storyteller, recruiter, enchanter, mapmaker, potion master, artifact collector, seer, beast tamer.

2. Choose an Archetype

Description: Selecting an archetype provides a familiar structure that players can quickly recognize. Archetypes give NPCs a foundation of personality and can hint at behaviors or motivations, adding depth without extensive backstory.

Components:

  • 12 Archetypes:

    • The Innocent: Optimistic and kind-hearted, always hopeful.

    • The Everyman: Relatable and grounded, seeking belonging.

    • The Hero: Brave and protective, driven by a need to overcome.

    • The Outlaw: Independent and rebellious, dislikes authority.

    • The Explorer: Adventurous, seeking new experiences.

    • The Creator: Imaginative, always innovating or building.

    • The Ruler: Commanding, values order and control.

    • The Magician: Mysterious, seeks hidden knowledge.

    • The Lover: Emotional and devoted, prioritizing relationships.

    • The Caregiver: Compassionate and protective, supports others.

    • The Jester: Playful, uses humor to lighten situations.

    • The Sage: Wise and thoughtful, dedicated to understanding and guidance.

3. Add Memorable Traits

Description: Unique physical traits and quirks make an NPC memorable, helping players to immediately identify and remember them. Traits might include appearance, voice, and habits that give the NPC a distinctive flavor.

Components:

  • Appearance: Patchwork cloak, ink-smeared fingers, singed eyebrows.

  • Physical: Scarred voice, iron grip, one-eyed wink.

  • Smell: Peppery scent, sweet tobacco scent, herbal aura.

  • Tick: Restless tapping, rattling trinkets, nervous whistler.

  • Voice/Communication Style: Soft-spoken, flowery speech, staccato speech.

  • Behavioral Quirks: Obsessive organizer, overly generous, suspicious glances.

  • Body Language: Unbreaking eye contact, fidgeting hands, stoic posture.

  • Magical or Unusual: Flickering shadows, sparkling eyes, shimmering skin.

4. Develop Their Relationships and Backstory

Description: Relationships and past experiences influence how NPCs interact with the world and other characters. Even a brief backstory can reveal motivations and add emotional depth, creating relatable NPCs with a purpose in the world.

Components:

  • Exiled Noble: Banished from their family, now seeking redemption or revenge.

  • Haunted Veteran: Former soldier haunted by losses, speaking to spirits.

  • Disgraced Scholar: Expelled for forbidden knowledge, wants to restore their reputation.

  • Forgotten Heir: Noble by birth but raised by commoners, bridging two worlds.

  • Brokenhearted Alchemist: Experiments to reach a lost loved one, haunted by failure.

  • Deserted Pirate: Betrayed by crew, now distrustful and vengeful.

  • Cursed Artisan: Cursed by a deity, creating eerie masterpieces while seeking a cure.

  • Escaped Cultist: Left a dark cult, now hiding and haunted by the past.

  • Wandering Seer: Gifted with visions, rejected by their village, seeking purpose.

  • Betrayed Merchant: Lost everything to betrayal, mistrustful but eager for revenge.

5. Define Motivations and Goals

Description: Clear motivations give NPCs direction and authenticity, shaping their choices and behavior in the game. When motivations align with players’ actions, NPCs feel real and invested in the story.

Components:

  • Core Motivation: Revenge, justice, ambition.

  • Short-Term Goals: Secure funding, gain knowledge, survive immediate threats.

  • Long-Term Goals: Reclaim heritage, end a curse, rebuild connections.

  • Conflicting Motivations: Loyalty vs. personal safety, duty vs. freedom, revenge vs. compassion.

  • Emotional Triggers: Mentions of family, symbols of power, discussions of injustice.

6. Signature Phrases and Dialogue Style

Description: Signature phrases and a distinct dialogue style make NPCs recognizable and give them a memorable voice. This familiarity builds player connection and reinforces personality traits.

Components:

  • Dialogue Style: Formal, casual, cryptic.

  • Examples of Signature Phrases:

    • Garron Stonebrew: “If ye say so,” “Seen worse in my mining days.”

    • Lira Willowshade: “Nature’s patience is endless,” “The forest holds many secrets.”

    • Rowan “Rumble” Tacker: “Life’s a gamble,” “Eh, come closer! I don’t bite… hard.”

  • Conversation Techniques:

    • Reactions to players’ experiences.

    • Advice or caution relevant to the story.

    • Small gifts or gestures to build rapport.

    • Anecdotes that add depth or hint at their past.

    • Consistent use of phrases to reinforce personality.

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