Small towns are more than just stops along the road. They shape the world around them, serving as the heart of trade, politics, and daily life. A well-crafted town can be a place of refuge, a source of conflict, or the starting point of an epic journey. The people who live there—blacksmiths, merchants, priests, and thieves—bring it to life, each with their own story to tell.
Whether they provide essential services, enforce the law, or lurk in the shadows, these NPCs can turn any town into a living, breathing world filled with stories waiting to unfold.
Essential Town Roles:
Essential Services – Bakers, blacksmiths, healers
Agriculture & Trade – Farmers, millers, merchants
Crafts & Production – Weavers, masons, tanners
Law & Order – Guards, magistrates, bounty hunters
Religious & Arcane Roles – Priests, hedge witches, alchemists
Entertainment & Hospitality – Innkeepers, minstrels, alewives, brewers
Outcasts & Undesirables – Beggars, thieves, gravediggers
These roles don’t just support the town—they shape its identity, fuel adventure hooks, and create memorable interactions for players.
How AI Can Help Fill Your Town with Meaningful Characters
Creating memorable NPCs can be a challenge, especially when players have a habit of latching onto the one background character you didn’t prepare. A town is only as interesting as the people who live in it, and AI tools like ChatGPT can help bring them to life by quickly generating personalities, backstories, motivations, and dynamic interactions.
A blacksmith is just a blacksmith—until the players learn he once forged the blade that slew a dragon. The innkeeper is just another barkeep—until they realize his riddles contain hidden warnings about the town’s past. AI makes it easy to add depth to these characters on the fly, helping GMs create a town that reacts, evolves, and feels like a living world.
Tips for Creating Complete NPCs with AI:
✔ Start with a Role, then add a Twist – Instead of just “a blacksmith,” ask AI for “a blacksmith who used to be an assassin but left that life behind.”
✔ Give Them a Problem or Goal – What does this NPC want or fear? A miller worried about missing grain is more engaging than one who simply runs a mill.
✔ Tie Them to the Town’s Conflicts – AI can help NPCs reflect the setting’s themes. Is the town on the verge of war? Then every NPC should have an opinion on it.
✔ Make Their Reactions Matter – Use AI to change how NPCs respond based on past player choices. If the party saves a merchant’s son, they’ll get discounts. If they insult the magistrate, expect higher taxes.
✔ Ask AI for Unexpected Details or Quirks – “Describe a mysterious traveler who arrived last night, give them one visible quirk while they walked.” Sometimes, AI-generated surprises create the best story hooks.
Blog: 8 Steps to Building Unforgettable NPCs Using AI Tools Like ChatGPT, DALL-E 3, and The Gamemaster Platform >>
With the right approach, AI doesn’t replace a GM’s creativity—it enhances it, making it easier to fill every town with believable, story-rich characters. Whether you need a friendly tavern owner, a vengeful noble, or a beggar who knows too much, AI can help you build a town that players will never forget.
"A GM doesn’t have to plan every detail, just the ones the players will care about." — Some wise game master, probably.
Important Jobs for Your Town
Essential Services (Bakers, Blacksmiths, Healers)
These are the people who keep daily life functioning. They may not wield swords, but without them, there wouldn’t be food, tools, or medical aid.
The Baker – Master of Bread and Rumors
A baker does more than feed a town—they set the rhythm of daily life. Their shop is the first to open, their ovens warm through the night, and their storefront is where gossip rises faster than the bread.
🛠 How to Use in a Campaign:
Their flour shipment was stolen—was it bandits, or is someone trying to starve the town?
They hide coded messages in loaves for a secret society.
A noble keeps demanding an impossible pastry, claiming it holds the key to a prophecy.
👤 NPC Example: Gerta Hearthhand – A no-nonsense woman who can tell a person’s character by how they knead dough. She once baked for the royal court but fled after poisoning the wrong official.
💰 Price of Goods – Low, Medium, High:
Low-tier town: Hard, simple bread. (2 cp per loaf)
Medium-tier town: Fresh rolls, pastries, and spiced treats. (5 cp per loaf)
High-tier town: Elaborate cakes, rare honeyed bread, imported delicacies. (1 sp+ per loaf)
The Blacksmith – More Than Just a Hammer
Blacksmiths forge weapons, armor, tools, and sometimes, grudges. Their work arms both heroes and villains alike, making them one of the most influential tradesmen in any town.
🛠 How to Use in a Campaign:
A blacksmith refuses to craft weapons for the town guard—why?
A legendary sword was forged in this very shop, but the truth about its origins has been forgotten.
The blacksmith’s apprentice is making armor too fine for a commoner—who’s their secret client?
👤 NPC Example: Dorn Fellsworn – Once a renowned royal armorer, he now lives in exile after a blade he crafted was used in an assassination. He drinks to forget but still makes weapons too fine for a common blacksmith.
💰 Price of Goods – Low, Medium, High:
Low-tier town: Rust-prone iron, dull blades. (5 gp per short sword)
Medium-tier town: Well-made weapons, sturdy armor. (10 gp per short sword)
High-tier town: Masterwork gear, occasional magical properties. (25+ gp per short sword)
The Healer – Patchwork and Prayers
A town’s healer might be a skilled physician, an herbalist with folk remedies, or a priest who calls upon divine aid. Regardless of their methods, they are often the difference between life and death.
🛠 How to Use in a Campaign:
The healer’s latest medicine batch is tainted—was it sabotage?
An injured traveler arrives with wounds that won’t heal—what did they encounter?
The healer has seen a sickness like this before, but the last time it appeared, the town was wiped out.
👤 NPC Example:Sister Merai – A former battle medic, she now tends the sick in a humble hut. She knows more about war wounds than any healer should, and some claim she once saved a dead man.
💰 Price of Goods – Low, Medium, High:
Low-tier town: Herbal poultices, leech therapy. (2 sp per treatment)
Medium-tier town: Proper bandages, basic potions. (5 gp per treatment)
High-tier town: Restorative magic, exotic cures. (50+ gp per treatment)
Agriculture & Trade (Farmers, Millers, Merchants)
Without agriculture and trade, a town withers. These roles determine the town’s prosperity and what goods are available.
The Farmer – Backbone of the Town
They work from dawn to dusk, battling bad harvests, bandits, and sometimes, things lurking in their fields.
🛠 How to Use in a Campaign:
A farmer's crops are growing too fast and too large—what unnatural force is at play?
A traveling merchant is paying too well for livestock. What’s he really after?
The scarecrow in the fields moves when no one is looking.
👤 NPC Example:Old Joren – A weathered man who swears by the old ways. He keeps a blade of cold iron above his door, and there’s always salt at his windows.
💰 Price of Goods – Low, Medium, High:
Low-tier town: Sparse crops, food shortages. (1 sp per bushel of grain)
Medium-tier town: Sustainable farming, fair markets. (5 sp per bushel of grain)
High-tier town: Bountiful harvests, rare exports. (1 gp+ per bushel of grain)
The Miller – Turning Grain into Gold
A town’s miller is the link between the farmers who grow the grain and the merchants who sell the bread. Their job seems simple—grind grain into flour—but their position holds quiet power. They control the town’s food supply, set prices, and often know exactly how much each farmer brings in. In some places, the miller is a trusted tradesman. In others, they are feared, for a dishonest miller can starve a town just as easily as a famine.
🛠 How to Use in a Campaign:
The miller’s flour is tainted—some say it’s cursed, others say it’s poisoned.
Strange sounds come from the mill at night, but the miller refuses to let anyone inside.
A new miller has arrived in town, offering flour at impossibly low prices. The farmers are grateful… but the old miller vanished without a trace.
👤 NPC Example: Barth "Half-Measure" Rindle – No one can ever prove he’s skimming grain from the farmers, but everyone knows he is. He counts weights with a trained eye, never smiles, and keeps a crossbow behind his counter—for rats, he claims.
💰 Price of Goods – Low, Medium, High:
Low-tier town: Coarse, uneven flour, often mixed with husks. (3 sp per sack)
Medium-tier town: Standard, well-milled flour, used for daily bread. (1 gp per sack)
High-tier town: Finely ground flour, prized by bakers and nobles. (5 gp+ per sack)
GM Tip: If the party investigates a town’s troubles, the miller might be the first person who notices something is off—or the first one hiding something.
The Merchant – Honest Tradesman or Master of Lies?
Merchants bring in goods, knowledge, and trouble. Some sell fine wares, others deal in whispered promises.
🛠 How to Use in a Campaign:
A merchant has been selling cursed artifacts without knowing it.
A trade deal gone wrong has made powerful enemies.
The merchant has a ledger full of fake names—who are they hiding?
👤 NPC Example:Varek ‘Silver-Tongue’ – He always has exactly what you need… for a price. He’s rumored to have once out-bargained a devil.
💰 Price of Goods – Low, Medium, High:
Low-tier town: Limited goods, questionable quality. (1 gp per general item)
Medium-tier town: Good stock, fair prices. (5 gp per general item)
High-tier town: Rare imports, exclusive clientele. (10 gp+ per general item)
Crafts & Production (Weavers, Masons, Tanners)
Craftsmen shape the town as much as its rulers do. Their hands build walls, clothe the people, and prepare materials that others take for granted. Whether their trade is humble or high art, these artisans carry the weight of the town’s survival.
The Weaver – Spinner of Threads and Fate
Cloth is more than just fabric—it’s warmth, protection, and status. Weavers produce everything from simple linen shirts to noble banners and elaborate tapestries. Some weave more than just cloth; their work may hide secrets, sacred symbols, or even forgotten spells.
🛠 How to Use in a Campaign:
A noble commission demands a tapestry that includes a hidden message.
Strange figures have been appearing in the weaver’s latest works—faces she’s never seen before.
A legendary pattern has been lost for centuries, but a weaver in town may know the key to its return.
👤 NPC Example: Ila Threadbourne – A quiet old woman with fingers quick as lightning. She speaks little, but her tapestries tell stories long before words reach the town square. Some say she weaves prophecies without knowing it.
💰 Price of Goods – Low, Medium, High:
Low-tier town: Rough, homespun cloth. (2 sp per yard)
Medium-tier town: Well-woven fabrics in various colors. (1 gp per yard)
High-tier town: Fine silks and elaborate patterns. (5 gp+ per yard)
The Mason – Stone by Stone, They Build the Future
A town’s walls, roads, and grand halls all bear the mark of the mason’s craft. Whether carving a noble’s tomb or reinforcing a crumbling bridge, their skill determines whether a town stands or falls.
🛠 How to Use in a Campaign:
An ancient carving was uncovered during construction—one that should have remained buried.
A rival mason's guild is sabotaging projects to discredit the town’s builders.
A crumbling fortress holds secrets, and only an expert mason knows how to access them safely.
👤 NPC Example:
Garrik Stonehand – His hands are thick as bricks, and his patience is thinner than mortar. He claims to have built half the kingdom’s castles, but no one knows why he left his last project unfinished.
💰 Price of Goods – Low, Medium, High:
Low-tier town: Simple, uneven stonework. (5 sp per small repair)
Medium-tier town: Durable walls and well-crafted structures. (5 gp per small repair)
High-tier town: Master-level architecture, rumored to withstand even sieges. (50+ gp per large project)
The Tanner – Working Leather, Hiding Truths
Tanners process raw hides into usable leather, a job that reeks—literally. Their workshops sit on the outskirts of town due to the stench, but their goods are always in demand.
🛠 How to Use in a Campaign:
A rare hide has arrived, but no one knows what beast it came from.
The town’s tanner is secretly preserving something more than just animal skins.
A cursed leather item was made in this shop—can it be undone?
👤 NPC Example: Fendrel "The Nose" – Years of working with animal hides have dulled his sense of smell, but sharpened his sense of people. He can tell a liar just by the way they stand.
💰 Price of Goods – Low, Medium, High:
Low-tier town: Cheap, rough leather. (3 sp per hide)
Medium-tier town: Sturdy, reliable leather goods. (2 gp per hide)
High-tier town: Supple, fine leathers fit for nobles. (10 gp+ per hide)
Law & Order (Guards, Magistrates, Bounty Hunters)
A town’s laws may be fair or cruel, but someone has to enforce them. Whether law is upheld by honorable warriors, corrupt officials, or mercenaries-for-hire, these figures decide how justice—or injustice—shapes the town.
The Guard – The First and Last Line of Defense
From the city gates to the darkest alleys, guards keep order. Some are diligent, others are lazy, and a few might be worse than the criminals they chase.
🛠 How to Use in a Campaign:
A recent crime wave has the guard overwhelmed—someone is helping the criminals from the inside.
A veteran guard is investigating a noble family but needs discreet help.
The guard captain has vanished, leaving a power vacuum that others are rushing to fill.
👤 NPC Example: Sergeant Dain "The Wall" – A gruff, battle-worn veteran with a reputation for standing his ground—until he hesitated in his last fight. Now he’s looking for redemption.
💰 Price of Services – Low, Medium, High:
Low-tier town: Few guards, bribery is common. (1 gp bribe for minor offenses)
Medium-tier town: Well-trained, but stretched thin. (5 gp fine for minor crimes)
High-tier town: Highly organized, strict enforcement. (50 gp+ per fine or imprisonment)
The Magistrate – Keeper of the Peace or Puppet of Power?
Every town has someone in charge—at least, that’s what the law says. The magistrate, reeve, or town elder is responsible for keeping order, settling disputes, and ensuring the town doesn’t descend into chaos. But law and justice aren’t always the same thing. Some magistrates rule with an iron fist, while others are little more than a mouthpiece for the wealthiest merchants or the local crime syndicate.
As one disgruntled peasant once put it:"The law is like a sword—useful in the right hands, dangerous in the wrong ones."
A magistrate isn’t just a bureaucrat. They know who really runs the town, what crimes are swept under the rug, and which problems are too dangerous to acknowledge.
Ways to Use the Magistrate in a Campaign
The Reluctant Official – They never wanted power but were forced into the role. Now they struggle to keep a fragile peace between warring factions, secretly hoping someone will solve their problems for them.
The Corrupt Judge – Every ruling goes to the highest bidder. Justice is for sale, and those who can’t pay soon find themselves facing trumped-up charges or mysteriously vanishing.
The Shadow Ruler – The magistrate is a figurehead. The real power is the spymaster, crime lord, or noble whispering in their ear. The town obeys, but no one knows who they really fear.
ChatGPT Prompt:"Describe a magistrate who rules through fear, deception, or secrets."
Example Output:
💬 "Magistrate Helbrun has never once lifted his voice, yet every citizen speaks his name in whispers. His court records are perfect—no crime goes unpunished, no law is broken without consequence. But those who cross him often leave town in the dead of night, never to be seen again. The town’s jail is strangely empty, and yet, the graveyard has fresh plots every month. When asked about the disappearances, Helbrun only smiles and says, ‘Justice was served.’"
Now the magistrate isn’t just an NPC—they’re the center of the town’s hidden struggles.
Price of Justice – Low, Medium, High
How the law works depends on how much power the magistrate really holds.
Low-tier town: The magistrate has little authority—decisions are made by a council or mob justice rules. Bribes are common. (1-10 gp to escape trouble)
Medium-tier town: The law is firm but fair, though wealth and influence can still tip the scales. (50 gp to sway a case)
High-tier town: The magistrate is absolute. Laws are strictly enforced, and justice is carried out swiftly—sometimes too swiftly. (250+ gp, or a favor that can’t be refused)
GM Tip: If the players find themselves in legal trouble, let the magistrate offer them a way out… but at a cost. Maybe they must deliver a secret message, escort a dangerous prisoner, or retrieve an item best not spoken of in public.
The Bounty Hunter – Law for Hire
Some criminals are too dangerous or well-hidden for the local guard to handle. That’s when bounty hunters get involved.
🛠 How to Use in a Campaign:
A bounty hunter is tracking a target who has taken refuge in town—what happens when they catch them?
The players find themselves on a bounty board—who put them there and why?
A bounty hunter has been hired to find a missing person, but the case isn’t as simple as it seems.
👤 NPC Example:Varik "Deadeye" Kane – A man of few words and even fewer friends. His crossbow is older than he is, and no one knows how many notches it has.
💰 Price of Services – Low, Medium, High:
Low-tier town: Amateurs looking for quick coin. (10 gp per bounty)
Medium-tier town: Professional hunters with skills to match. (100 gp per bounty)
High-tier town: Legendary hunters who never fail. (500+ gp per bounty)
Religious & Arcane Roles (Priests, Hedge Witches, Alchemists)
Every town, no matter how small, has its beliefs. Some towns have grand temples, while others rely on whispered prayers to old gods. Then there are those who seek answers in herbs, potions, and forbidden knowledge. Whether their power comes from faith, magic, or something in between, these figures hold more influence than they often admit.
The Priest – Shepherd of Souls or Puppet of Power?
A priest may be a beacon of hope, a manipulator of faith, or something in between. Some preach in great temples, others wander the roads, spreading the word of their god. The town's priest might be a genuine believer… or merely using faith as a tool to control others.
🛠 How to Use in a Campaign:
The priest has been receiving visions of a coming disaster—real prophecy or madness?
A new faith is spreading, challenging the priest’s influence. Is it a true awakening, or something more sinister?
The town’s most pious figure has gone missing. What secret were they hiding?
👤 NPC Example:Father Ellian of the Silent Chapel – Known for his gentle words and unwavering faith, he never raises his voice. But in his study, hidden behind a bookshelf, is a rusted dagger and a book of prayers written in a language no one in town speaks.
💰 Price of Services – Low, Medium, High:
Low-tier town: Simple blessings and last rites. (1 sp donation)
Medium-tier town: Healing prayers and minor divine magic. (5 gp per service)
High-tier town: Resurrection, miracles, or visions of the future. (500+ gp or an oath in return)
The Hedge Witch – Wise Woman or Dangerous Outcast?
Where priests rely on gods, hedge witches turn to the land, the stars, and secrets passed down through generations. Some are respected healers; others are feared. A few deserve that fear.
🛠 How to Use in a Campaign:
A dying noble seeks the hedge witch’s help, but the cure comes at a price no one wants to pay.
A child was born under an ill omen, and the town demands the witch deal with it.
Someone has stolen the hedge witch’s most sacred relic, and now things are changing in the woods.
👤 NPC Example: Grandmother Naeva – A woman as old as the town itself, her hut is always warm, her tea always fresh. The villagers bring her gifts of bread and wool. They do not ask why she never seems to age.
💰 Price of Goods – Low, Medium, High:
Low-tier town: Simple herbal remedies. (5 sp per potion)
Medium-tier town: Minor hexes, charms, and elixirs. (10 gp per spell or potion)
High-tier town: Powerful rituals or breaking curses. (100+ gp, or a favor yet to be named)
The Alchemist – Scientist or Madman?
Alchemists mix the line between magic and science. They brew potions, create poisons, and sometimes blow up half the town in pursuit of "progress."
🛠 How to Use in a Campaign:
A new potion is causing strange side effects. Was it tampered with, or is something worse at play?
An alchemist has vanished, leaving behind notes on an unfinished experiment.
The town’s well has been tainted—the alchemist swears it wasn’t their fault.
👤 NPC Example:Lucian Whitt – Always covered in soot, ink, or strange glowing residue. He claims he’s one step away from making gold. His workshop, unfortunately, is one spark away from disaster.
💰 Price of Goods – Low, Medium, High:
Low-tier town: Basic salves, weak tonics. (2 gp per vial)
Medium-tier town: Effective potions, but quality varies. (10 gp per potion)
High-tier town: Experimental, rare, and possibly unstable elixirs. (100 gp+, or first-time buyers must sign a waiver)
Entertainment & Hospitality (Innkeepers, Minstrels, Brewers)
A town without music, drink, or a warm bed isn’t a town—it’s a graveyard waiting to happen. These figures keep spirits high, but sometimes, they’re more than they seem.
The Innkeeper – Knows Everyone, Forgets Nothing
The inn is the heart of any town, and its keeper is both its lifeblood and its gatekeeper. A good innkeeper sees all, hears all, and speaks only when it benefits them.
🛠 How to Use in a Campaign:
The innkeeper has been keeping a ledger of names—some of whom should not be in town.
A secret room in the inn is always occupied… but no one ever sees who stays there.
The innkeeper knows about a bounty on a PC’s head but hasn’t decided what to do about it yet.
👤 NPC Example:Mira Thornshade – Smiles like she’s your best friend, but her eyes never stop watching. No one knows where she came from before she bought the inn, and no one dares ask.
💰 Price of Goods – Low, Medium, High:
Low-tier town: Straw bunks, watered-down ale. (5 sp per night)
Medium-tier town: Cozy rooms, decent drinks. (1 gp per night)
High-tier town: Private suites, fine wine, and secrets at a premium. (5+ gp per night)
The Alewife – Brewer of Beverages and Secrets
An alewife does more than serve drinks—she controls the social heartbeat of the town. Her tavern is where farmers unwind, merchants strike deals, and travelers spill their secrets over a mug of strong ale. She’s the first to hear rumors, the last to believe them, and if you know how to ask, she might have information worth far more than gold.
A good alewife knows how to keep the peace, but she also knows when to stir trouble. Some offer nothing more than a warm drink and a knowing smile. Others are deeply involved in the town’s politics, passing coded messages between rebels, hiding fugitives in their cellars, or serving drinks laced with just a little too much knowledge.
🛠 How to Use in a Campaign:
The alewife serves a drink no one remembers the next morning. What’s she hiding in that brew?
A stranger left behind a sealed letter at the tavern with instructions for delivery… but the recipient has been dead for years.
The alewife always knows what’s happening in town—but this time, she’s afraid to talk.
A rare shipment of wine went missing before reaching the tavern. The local merchants blame bandits, but the alewife thinks someone in town is behind it.
👤 NPC Example:
Maggie "The Toad" Thistlebrew – A short, round woman with calloused hands and a voice like thunder. She’s been running The Crooked Keg longer than anyone remembers, and she’s seen everything—from secret lovers to assassination plots. She never waters down her ale, but her stories? Well, those depend on how much you’re willing to pay.
💰 Price of Goods – Low, Medium, High:
Low-tier town: Weak, watery ale, a half-burnt stew, and a cold bench by the fire. (2 cp per drink)
Medium-tier town: Decent mead, fresh bread, and a warm hearth. (5 cp per drink)
High-tier town: Aged wines, spiced ciders, and a quiet corner where deals are made. (2 sp+ per drink)
GM Tip:
An alewife is more than just a bartender—she’s a story catalyst. If the players need information, push them toward her. If they’re looking for work, have her mention a job in passing. And if you ever need a plot twist, make her the one pulling the strings all along.
The Minstrel – A Song for Every Occasion
Minstrels are more than entertainers. They carry news, secrets, and sometimes, coded messages. A good song can uplift a crowd—or drive a dagger between friends.
🛠 How to Use in a Campaign:
A minstrel performs a song no one has heard before… but one PC recognizes the lyrics.
A stolen songbook contains a cipher that must be decoded.
A traveling bard has been spreading false stories about the party—who’s paying them?
👤 NPC Example:Revel Rynn – A wandering minstrel with a silver tongue and an even sharper dagger. If you pay her well, she’ll forget that song about your past.
💰 Price of Services – Low, Medium, High:
Low-tier town: Simple folk songs, out-of-tune lute. (5 sp per night)
Medium-tier town: Well-performed ballads, up-to-date gossip. (2 gp per night)
High-tier town: Noble performances, whispered secrets. (10 gp+, or a song for a song)
Outcasts & Undesirables (Beggars, Thieves, Gravediggers)
Every town has those who live on the fringes, scraping by in the shadows of society. Some are criminals, some are forgotten souls, and some know things no honest citizen ever should. These figures may not have power in the usual sense, but underestimating them is a mistake few get to make twice.
The Beggar – Watcher of the Streets
Most see beggars as nuisances or as part of the town’s background. But few realize that those who go unseen also see everything. A beggar knows who comes and goes, who walks with purpose, and who is trying to hide something.
🛠 How to Use in a Campaign:
The beggar has been warning people not to go out after dark—are they mad, or do they know something others don’t?
A wealthy patron was last seen giving a beggar a coin. The patron is now missing.
The beggar used to be someone important. The wrong people want them dead before they remember why.
👤 NPC Example:Old Tom – Blind in one eye, missing three fingers, and always exactly where you don’t expect him to be. If you buy him a drink, he’ll tell you something you didn’t want to know.
💰 Price of Information – Low, Medium, High:
Low-tier town: Idle gossip, nothing solid. (5 cp per tip)
Medium-tier town: Genuine information, but often fragmented. (1 gp per tip)
High-tier town: Dangerous secrets, given at great risk. (5+ gp, or a promise to "owe a favor")
The Thief – The Hand That Takes
Some thieves are desperate, stealing just enough to survive. Others are professionals, taking only what interests them. Some are part of guilds, some work alone. All of them are used to running when things go bad.
🛠 How to Use in a Campaign:
A thief has stolen something from the party—but not for themselves. Who was their employer?
A famous burglar has been caught, but the loot is still missing.
The town’s noble just hired a thief to “recover” something from a rival. Will the party take the job, or stop it?
👤 NPC Example:Selka “Quick Fingers” – Smiles like an angel, disappears like a ghost. She doesn’t steal, she “redirects property to those who need it more.” Conveniently, that’s usually her.
💰 Price of Services – Low, Medium, High:
Low-tier town: Pickpockets, desperate amateurs. (5 sp for minor thefts)
Medium-tier town: Reliable smugglers, minor heists. (10 gp per job)
High-tier town: Master thieves, impossible jobs. (100+ gp, or "a cut of the take")
The Gravedigger – Keeper of the Dead’s Secrets
Someone has to tend the graves, and that someone often hears things others don’t. The dead have no need for gold, but the living do—especially when they need to hide something.
🛠 How to Use in a Campaign:
The gravedigger buried a body with something important—where is it now?
A fresh grave appeared overnight, but no one in town knows who was buried there.
The dead won’t stay buried, and the gravedigger refuses to say why.
👤 NPC Example:Lazlo “Last Nail” – Thin as a skeleton, pale as a ghost. Never speaks above a whisper. Rumors say he once dug his own grave, just in case.
💰 Price of Silence – Low, Medium, High:
Low-tier town: Small bribes, loose lips. (1 gp to look the other way)
Medium-tier town: Will take secrets to the grave—if the price is right. (10 gp per request)
High-tier town: The gravedigger knows things best left buried, and their silence costs more than just coin. (50+ gp, or "one day, you’ll dig for me")
Working with the AI to Develop an NPC
Pre-Built Merchant in Game Master Platform Library
Tying It All Together
Towns aren’t just buildings and shops—they’re the people within them. The best settlements in D&D feel alive, shaped by the everyday struggles, ambitions, and secrets of their inhabitants. With these nine roles, Game Masters can create towns full of conflict, mystery, and adventure hooks, giving players more than just a place to rest, but a world to explore.
Whether it’s the blacksmith with a cursed blade, the merchant who sells more than just goods, or the gravedigger who knows too much, every NPC has the potential to be a doorway into something deeper.
So next time your players walk into town, ask yourself: Who’s watching them? Who needs their help? Who wants them dead?
The answers might just turn a simple stop into the heart of your next great story.
And that’s a wrap! 🎭 Thanks for sticking with me through all these roles—this should give you the GM plenty of material to craft meaningful, immersive towns. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Great formatting for these, great ideas and ways to think about all the different ways NPC's can bring a City, Town, or village to life! In my short experience in being a GM I have added a few points of interest and NPC's into an already existing large city that I wanted to work into my campaign, I used AI to help spark some ideas and NPC's to help weave together parts of my overall campaign. Definitely will incorporate some of your ideas into building these out in the future. Always learning and revising. Thanks for the write up!