DM Takes 10 - Easy NPCs

[Ry]

My DM Takes 10 pages are short DM aids I designed to help generate easy ideas either during or just before a game. Attached is DM Takes 10 - NPC. The document comprises of just 2 d% charts; one with a bunch of stock NPC types, and the other with a bunch of distinguishing NPC characteristics and twists.

Why not more detail? Because when you use an NPC generator that gives hair, eyes, birthmarks, siblings, friends, enemies, occupation, hobbies, and so on, it's creating more information than a group of players can really take in, let alone remember. Keeping it simple makes it easy for you, and easy for them - and if you decide later you want something more complex, well, roll for more twists!

How to use: Roll once on the first chart for an easy NPC. Roll once on the second chart if you want to give the NPC some distinguishing characteristic. If you want something unusual, roll twice on the first chart, and mix the two. If you want a group of NPCs who are interacting, just keep on rolling until something pops out of you. I've actually found the chart quite versatile, once you give it a few tries.

Note: No rules here, just a hand for putting NPC ideas together when you're stumped for ideas. For most of these characters, stats won't matter (unless you have an unusually violent group of players).

 

[Ry]

*BUMP*

Just want to give this one a chance at life; any feedback would be appreciated.

 

[NTZ]

Looks simple and straightforward so I will probably give it a try. I will be DMing for the first time in a long time soon, so I am on the look out for things like this to help me out. I laughed when I read trait number 25 on page 2. Just wondering how I would describe that during the game

How do you handle coming up with NPC names? I am thinking I should have a list of generic names I can use on-the-fly but I don't have one yet.

NTZ

 

[Ry]

Well if it's a female NPC, there's always "Huge... tracts of land."

Or then again there's the Mario Puzo's route - if you've read the original Godfather, the magnitude of Sonny's gusto was actually a major plot point (no joke).

 

[Pbartender]

How do you handle coming up with NPC names? I am thinking I should have a list of generic names I can use on-the-fly but I don't have one yet.

Try this website: http://www.kleimo.com/random/name.cfm

Just set it the obscurity you want, and generate a quick list of 30 names...

1. Lonnie Rabalais
2. Milagros Steinbeck
3. Tabatha Menges
4. Max Savala
5. Karina Qualey
6. Elnora Vadnais
7. Christian Goldschmidt
8. Alejandra Secord
9. Carlene Sloop
10. Lance Preslar
11. Rosalinda Slovinsky
12. Allan Abee
13. Erik Sedlak
14. Harriett Goodwill
15. Lorrie Goldblatt
16. Christian Faz
17. Darryl Weisgerber
18. Javier Um
19. Carlene Grumbles
20. Javier Hodnett
21. Clayton Castillon
22. Ted Studivant
23. Jami Mcandrews
24. Benita Greening
25. Neil Rine
26. Brow
27. Tania Fenimore
28. Nita Weimar
29. Lenore Fulp
30. Jessie Marcell

 

[NTZ]

Try this website: http://www.kleimo.com/random/name.cfm

Just set it the obscurity you want, and generate a quick list of 30 names...

Now that's pretty cool.
Thanks for the link.

NTZ

 

[exile]

It's a little more tedious, but I use a book of international baby names to generate culture specific first names (when designing a character from a real-world culture or from a culture which uses naming conventions not unlike those of a real-world culture). I've found internet searches pretty decent for coming up with family names.
Chad

 

[Ry]

I first come up with names that fit my setting, divided by language, then glance at that list to pick particulars. I break them down by language; here's the page I currently bring to campaigns (I take names off as soon as I'm done). The deal is phonetics and morphology - the word-sounds of a language and structure of words - and these are what you can really quickly make up. Like my hobgoblin language; lots of tee-zed sounds (like Ganotz, Tazzengotz). So lots of "sh" and "ax" in draconic words. Orcish names in my setting are very long, indicating lineages (Gash son of Dar son of Mog is Mogdargash, for example), so I've tried to structure the words around what I'm looking for. If I use something directly, then I take it off the list and replace it for the next campaign.


DM Aid – Names and Words

Staunwark Humans:
Male: Dronach, Dennel, Deckle, Odger, Osgood, Wershaw, Tavis, Garsen, Porwell, Gershen, Eberk, Rorrick,
Female: Liza, Croonles, Brynna, Diesa, Ilde,
Upper Class Surnames: Hantsvurth, Drachensmaut, Archendas, Kinsfoil, Raren
Lower Class Surnames: Duggin, Fidge, Baum, Stenker, Begly, Rumbough, Duvik
Villages and other Surnames: Ungewick, Harwon’s Pass, Aigun, Dannerbee, Dunagen, Whisky Falls, Habenmike, Imperham, Halthen, Dayshop, Twelvetrees, Murky Pond, Greening Rock, Lostwalk, Cassen, Darkseshel, Winterdrought, Angewood, Oakenturn, Oldoak, Braunford, Redmarch, Cordwrought, Sinexer, Sandy Road, Inventure, Brasswright, Stonewall, Gantwark, Ironwark, Sicklemark, Deepcopper, Gravestone Well, Drawwater, Earthenbalck, Drydam, Sleeping Trout.

Staunwark Halflings:
Male: Tinker, Rumbough, Delvo, Tribbin, Boddy, Glim, Gerbo, Jebeddo, Zook, Roonder, Fonk, Ningel, Ander, Mender.
Female: Levina, Amyrella, Caramip, Mardna, Merla, Lidda, Vernia, Sneggy.
Surnames: Fourtoes, Ambermead, Packlewright, Fidgewick, Waywocket, Oneshoe, Brushgather, Goodbarrel, Greenbottle, Highhill, Hilltopple, Leagallow, Tealeaf, Thorngage, Tosscobble, Underbough
Villages: Riffenfil Din, Napnimen, Chearmick, Bissipee, Doewip, Mimpledack, Shilmick, Trealaes, Firelit Whills, Nibbenan, Fennenel, Lamplemick, Pergenip, Gervensip, Palcersop.

Other Languages:
Corodani: Mekavi, Tellikarn, Jeminar, Helenoin, Zusenia, Covani, Morem, Elianope.
Elvish: Alithia, Beshevali, Denellitha, Aramil, Enialis, Ivellios, Laucian, Galadonel, Silocienth.
Dwarven: Dorunn, Gatchruvak, Vartgehnheimd, Meszhankrakt, Ohlganzarcht, Zanvelkroft.
Draconic: Gaxenkar, Sheboriak, Tharivohn, Katinuash, Kerevos,
Giantish: Gamahset, Nebetarhenop, Tenanheb, Kelebam, Koma, Seva, Shethem, Hetop.
Goblin: Turbizz, Gokk, Ugazzanizzi, Elzarzz, Korokko, Dench, Thokk, Brogo, Imsh, Ront, Engeng, Neega, Shauthagi, Gotzzi.
Orcish: BakMorGathNoVishNakKaRoMoKoBashTarNoPrakKaVekTanNoMarGoshNiFelHosh NarMronKavNatShogRathOhnSelPathNorBekShonVasThagShogNomThelQuanBarGosh