Strolen's Citadel

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Minor NPCs

Started by Ancient Gamer Jan 15, 2005 14 posts Locked

  1. Minor NPCs

    #1
    While the NPCs on the main site are well made and certainly enjoyable, I have one problem; what I mostly need is minor NPCs with a couple of lines of information only. The main site NPCs are great, but when preparing an adventure, I have no need or time for using 20 such grand personalities. 1-4 are great, but more than that and it is (usually) overkill.

    Now; I have noticed that Manfred has created a number of NPC generators and a thought presented itself: What if Strolen's featured a database of minor NPC descriptions, ones that could be called from one of Manfreds generators or be browsed by name or craft by the GM?

    These NPCs would need a name, some general clothing, an occupation and some personality notes for the GM.

    Thus the generator would be ever expanded and Strolen's could provide a handy tool to a game master in distress.

    Just a thought brought on by the laziness of a GM.
    Opinions?

  2. Minor NPCs

    #2
    So are we looking for interesting minor NPCs or mooks (folks to be mowed down)?

    We could easily create a thread for this in the Idea Scroll, a list of minor NPCs... Give the requirements for each NPC (What they look like, what they can do, what they are like) and the limitations (such as they are minor, that they are generic, and the size of each section). These character would eventually be funneled into the NPC section in Strolen v2.0

    These Color and Archetypal characters are useful. Need a Barkeep, minor footpad, or storekeeper? Need a dock tough? Need some guards with more than a rubber stamp personality? Why spend more time creating your own, when you can just get an idea from Strolens.

    Some of the owners or staff from the Establishment sections or npcs suggested by other posts are ready made to be stuffed into such a thread.

    Mook write ups could give you a gang or what a class of mook would be like. (So a certain ship full of sailors, the generic sailor is xxxx, a clan of ninjas, the generic ninja looks/ acts/ does xxxx, a street gang looks like this generically..., a set of temple priests is like this xxxxx)

    Just like we require completeness for Mythic, Major, and Minor NPCs (like we post up in the front page), each write up must include enough description that the GM does not have to think of anything extra to impliment the character.

    Anyone game for this idea? If we can get a couple of people, I will post up the thread.

  3. Minor NPCs

    #3
    Sure, why not? There's no reason why NPC's that aren't central to the storyline cannot be interesting, or at least plausable as people. This is true even if they aren't powerful by virture of a position of authority, high level, or special abilities.

  4. Minor NPCs

    #4
    I aggree - creating a set of minor characters is often the most time-consuming part of scenario writing and lazy GMs (and I must admit this includes myself) often end up with little more than "some thugs".

    A litle advice - when I'm feeling a little more creative (and energetic), I've found that simply assigning a name and key phrase (say a defining trait/quirk or a phrase they like to use) to each NPC can be helpful. This works well since it is quick and easy to do but provides a handy tag to expand on of those most unpredictable of creatures (the PCs) take more interest in them than you intended.

    I think that a database of minor or secondary NPCs, each with a little background information, whould be useful.

    Try the following headings:

    Name - pretty obvious
    Appearance - include race/species, colour of hair/eyes/skin/whatever, normal clothing and/or armour and/or weapons etc
    Background - family (these may or may not also be posted as seperate caharacters), how he/she makes a living, etc
    Traits and/or Quirks - things the character likes to do or say - might also include some of the more common phobias

    Note that each heading would consist of little more than a few words or key phrases - don't bother with descriptions, all you need is a few ideas for the GMs mind to play with

  5. Minor NPCs

    #5
    I think this sounds great. I know that I often get bogged down with trying to create believable NPC's that aren't necessarily the center of attention or the conerstone of a new plot. But you don't want to just use some lackey in case the PC's make them more important than they were originally intended to be. I think it would be wonderful to have a generator, (or at the very least, a thread), that could provide numerous ideas for these NPC's. Sometimes a little spark of imagination can go a long way!

  6. Re: Minor NPCs

    #6
    Well, obviously I am for this idea. I would be a steady contributor (every saturday) to such a thread.

    Note that each heading would consist of little more than a few words or key phrases - don't bother with descriptions, all you need is a few ideas for the GMs mind to play with


    I would appreciate facial descriptions, clothing and some notes about voice acting. I am big on voice acting (begin preparing my voice 2-3 days in advance and all :D)

    Perhaps a "verbose" option could be added to an eventual generator, satisfying every need and desire.

  7. Minor NPCs

    #7
    Those are good ideas, AG. Personality traits, speaking quirks, and the like are very useful to add verisimilitude. Weapons, species, class levels, and such would vary according to game system and campaign, but a convincing character description could be used universally.

  8. Minor NPCs

    #8
    Yes KS - thats pretty much what I was trying to get at

    and I agree with AG about a verbose option - covers the occasional one that grabs your imagination when you're writting it

  9. OKAY

    #9
    I am waiting for a little piece of information from Strolen before posting up the thread.

    NOW EVERYONE WHO POSTED HERE MUST POST AT LEAST THREE MINOR/ EXTRAs NPCs. IF NOT MORE!!!!!

    If I am going to the effort of creating a category and transfering all of them to version 2.0, I want to make it worth the while. Also, the cateory really needs the a large number of submissions to make it worth it to others who will view it.

    Besides everyone has a few extra color NPCs hanging around.

  10. Minor NPCs

    #10
    I have a few stock+ NPC's I can use.

  11. Minor NPCs

    #11
    OK - I should be able to find a few

  12. And the Dust Settles

    #12
    And on the Monday of the next week, after he rested, he picked up his cosmic hammer and made some more things. .....

    http://www.strolen.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=29470#29470

    Remember: Generating Content is fun. One should be a useful poster. One is only useful if one posts good content.

    Okay the thread is up. Now post. I mean it. Go on.. why are you still here? ...

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  13. Ancient Gamer... where are you?

    #13
    Okay, other than Kinslayer, DragonLord, and myself, you all have not posted your extras and minor characters.

    Ahem. Remember what you said. Three characters if you posted in this thread. So Post Now.


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  14. Minor NPCs

    #14
    Patience is a virtue, of which my professors exhibit none. You guys on the other hand have to be patient.

    I'll be back! I'll be back! I'll be back! I'll be back! I'll be back! I'll be back! I'll be back! I'll be back! I'll be back! I'll be back! I'll be back! I'll be back! I'll be back! I'll be back! I'll be back! I'll be back! I'll be back! I'll be back! I'll be back! I'll be back! I'll be back! I'll be back! I'll be back! I'll be back! I'll be back! I'll be back! I'll be back! I'll be back!

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