D&D General NPC Descriptions: DM Formatting Preferences

[oriaxx77]

Hey there,

I'm writing a homebrew module and I'm wondering what your preferences are for NPC descriptions during play.
I'm currently torn between two options (see below). Which one do you prefer and why? I'm also interested in your overall style.


Option1:

Kaelen “The Prophet”: Gaunt, sharp, and clad in scavenged black armor, Kaelen's six-fingered hands and penetrating, emotionless eyes speak of absolute, ruthless obedience to Chötgör. He grants spells and demands all.

Morga “The Mutterer”: A hunched, bloated figure with one milky eye, Morga's face is a canvas for a shifting raven tattoo. Cowardly but cruel, she mutters incessant gibberish, yet commands with magic.


Option2:

Kaelen “The Prophet” (Middle Aged Human Male)

• Cult Leader
• Appearance:
  • Tall, gaunt, sharp features, all penetrating eyes
  • No visible emotions, like a puppet
  • Wears a black leather armor scavenged from a fallen knight
  • 6 digits on hands and feet
• Personality:
  • Utterly ruthless and paranoid
  • Speaks in the name of Chötgör
  • Demands absolute obedienc

Morga “The Mutterer” (Venerable Human Female)

• Spirit Chaser
• Appearance:
  • Bloated body, hunched
  • One milky eye
  • Moving raven tattoo on face
• Personality:
  • Cowardly, but cruel
  • Mutters gibberish all the time

 

[Charlaquin]

I prefer option 2

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

I prefer option 1, for three reasons.

First, I ran so many modules (so ... many) during the TSR era, and I have a great facility with descriptions of NPCs as opposed to bullet points to allow me to use them.

Second, while bullet points (and similar techniques) may have advantages for scanning quickly during play, they also mean that I am less likely to read it fully before play. I prefer something that is inviting to read and think about- not just something to use as a tool.

Third, and building on the second point- characters are best served, for me, as stories. I read the story, and I think about the character. Bullet points don't give me a story.


But that's my preference.

 

[Shiroiken]

Both have their advantages. Option 1 is concise, taking up a lot less space, which is important for printed products. Option 2 provides clarity, but taking up so much space, may push important information onto different pages. Personally I prefer Option 2 for clarity, so long as the information stays all on the same page.

 

[aco175]

I tend to use a paragraph myself, more of the "7 sentence NPC" from an old Dragon article. Some reason I like the option 2 above though. I can see this under the statblock of the NPC taking half a page for each main bad guy. I feel it would make it easier to run.

 

[LordEntrails]

Option 1.
Though I like 2 for situations and possible rooms. I really like the descriptions you wrote in 1 and they are probably better than what I would come up with based off the bullet points if I had to describe one of those NPCs.

 

[Lakesidefantasy]

I concur with The Lord of Entrails. I prefer bullet points, but I find myself more attracted to option #1 in this case.

 

[fluffybunbunkittens]

Option 2 if you feel you have a lot of information you need to give.

Option 1 with less written stuff than here would be my go-to, takes up less space.

 

[Benjamin Olson]

Option 2, because I'm only going to take the parts I like, and that's easier with bullet points.