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Post by OFTHEHILLPEOPLE on Mar 8, 2017 7:53:37 GMT -8
From the street drunkard who "knows a guy" to the fair and just King himself, every game needs NPCs to push the story along. Some play huge parts in propelling the characters forward while other are just there to set the tone for a location the characters have gone to. So as sort of an exercise I put the question out there: What NPC types do you include in every one of your games?
Is there always a drunk veteran with a chip on his shoulder, ready to inspire the characters to action? Or do you like to introduce a fast talking scrappy kid to put the characters back on track?
What are your favorites and "go to" NPCs everyone should try to include in their games?
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Post by ilina on Mar 8, 2017 12:57:45 GMT -8
the Sickly little girl with the Rich Father Figure who pays the PCs quite generously to escort her to an important diplomatic meeting and bring her back home fully intact and alive. generally include some slave traders who want to do some kidnapping and assassins from enemy noble houses. generally done as a fork that decides the fate of a nation.
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Post by weaselcreature on Mar 8, 2017 13:20:09 GMT -8
There's always the ex-adventurer barkeep. He understands what the PCs are going through, and is willing to drop them info on the "bad guys."
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fredrix
Master Douchebag
Posts: 2,142
Preferred Game Systems: Fate, L5R, Pendragon, Gumshoe, Feng Shui
Currently Playing: Pendragon, Song of Ice and Fire, L5R, Feng Shui, Traveller
Currently Running: Fate, Coriolis, Nights Black Agents
Favorite Species of Monkey: 1970's NTV, dubbed by the BBC (though The Water Margin beats it)
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Post by fredrix on Mar 8, 2017 13:42:58 GMT -8
Every party needs a reoccurring NPC who comes and saves them when they fuck up, or indeed comes and kills the big bad when they've tracked him, or her or it, down. He should be able to do everything the PCs can do, but be a little better than them all at everything. Except dying.
He should probably have two swords, and a companion animal (something cool like a wolf or snow leopard, or sabretooth tiger). The companion animal should only be a little better than the best PC fighter.
The NPC should have a long and complex backstory, which through play, the PCs can discover, and if it goes really well, they should feel immersed in it, almost as though they are supporting characters in a novel about the NPC.
To help the PCs' immersion, the NPC should probably share one or more wardrobe items (e.g. a cool long black leather coat, a really gnarly belt buckle, hair dyed the same colour) with the GM.
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Post by OFTHEHILLPEOPLE on Mar 8, 2017 13:59:21 GMT -8
Every party needs a reoccurring NPC who comes and saves them when they fuck up, or indeed comes and kills the big bad when they've tracked him, or her or it, down. He should be able to do everything the PCs can do, but be a little better than them all at everything. Except dying. He should probably have two swords, and a companion animal (something cool like a wolf or snow leopard, or sabretooth tiger). The companion animal should only be a little better than the best PC fighter. The NPC should have a long and complex backstory, which through play, the PCs can discover, and if it goes really well, they should feel immersed in it, almost as though they are supporting characters in a novel about the NPC. To help the PCs' immersion, the NPC should probably share one or more wardrobe items (e.g. a cool long black leather coat, a really gnarly belt buckle, hair dyed the same colour) with the GM. imgflip.com/i/1l1g7f
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Post by Monkeyfun Dave on Mar 8, 2017 20:33:14 GMT -8
Little old ladies with hand cannons.
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Post by lowkeyoh on Mar 8, 2017 21:06:26 GMT -8
A bastard. A bastard that the party hates with all their hearts. A bastard that stabs them in the back, laughs, and escapes.
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dnddad
Journeyman Douchebag
They're bullywugs aren't they Pat...
Posts: 200
Preferred Game Systems: WEG D6 Star Wars, Shadowrun 2nd, Battletech 3rd, Mechwarrior 2nd, AD&D 2nd, AFMBE rev, Savage Worlds Deluxe, Usagi Yojimbo, Marvel Super Heroes Advanced
Currently Playing: Frostgrave & Boltaction
Currently Running: from my problems
Favorite Species of Monkey: Spong
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Post by dnddad on Mar 12, 2017 7:04:30 GMT -8
With my group there is always the NPC that needs help and ends up being hunted down by the party instead.
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Post by jonas on Mar 29, 2017 7:04:01 GMT -8
I usually include a party sidekick that makes the pcs look good in comparison.
I hadn't planned it in my last game, but one scene called for an incompetent weakling to drive the drama (the players were visiting a cult and I wanted to show them what happened to a member who was asking the wrong kind of questions).
I improvised the lamest character I could think of on the spot, and of course one of my players reaction was "I ask him to join us."
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sbloyd
Supporter
WHAT! A human in a Precursor service vehicle?!
Posts: 2,762
Preferred Game Systems: Storyteller; Dresden; Mage
Favorite Species of Monkey: Goddamnit, Curious George is a CHIMP not a monkey! Stop teaching my daughter improper classification!
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Post by sbloyd on Mar 31, 2017 11:50:31 GMT -8
Wizened old masters, who the PCs can learn to lean on.. and who you can brutally murderize to kick the PCs in the pants.
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Post by chronovore on Apr 1, 2017 17:50:35 GMT -8
My shopkeepers are usually greedy jerks, so I include one town with a nice shopkeep that the players immediately take a liking to. This guy will give fair prices for their loot, and occasionally drop them a present as thanks for being good customers.
Then I put the shopkeep in danger: they get framed, robbed, or mugged, or the town's firebug burns down their store, and the players will rush to aid them.
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Provinto
Initiate Douchebag
Posts: 11
Preferred Game Systems: GURPS
Currently Playing: PFRPG, WoD
Currently Running: GURPS
Favorite Species of Monkey: Black Irish Setter
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Post by Provinto on Apr 17, 2017 20:24:30 GMT -8
I have an optional villain who's usually a part of the backdrop/setting -- a greedy, exploitative, and callous boss of a (usually impoverished) town or county. The PCs might hear about how much a jackass this guy is and either move on or figure "hmm, maybe after we're done with whatever quest we're currently on, we'll swing by and murder him." Or if my players aren't feeling like murder-hobos whose actions seem justified by the assurances of the slowly falling paladin, they could stage a coup d'etat, organize an insurrection, or something else.
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