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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Nightcloak" data-source="post: 2110524" data-attributes="member: 23862">GM Notebook Essentials #1: NPC NamesThis is quite the life saver. It may not be the most important to running a game as other essentials might be, but this one covers a subject that is the most annoying. Creating names puts you on the spot and the name you do come up with might end up sounding weird, funny, or the worse of all – invoke a bad pun. Then the verisimilitude of your game is shot, and the players will never let you live it down. And may the gods of roleplaying have mercy on you if the characters find a reason to keep visiting the NPC. Do yourself a favor; don’t consider this essential an “option”. You’ll be happy you did it, trust me.Remember when 3E came out and you were so geeked over the rules that you bought everything 3E. Including the first release after the Players Handbook, the now infamous Hero’s Builders Guide. You know that book; it’s the one with all the dust on it from sitting on your shelf unused. Go get it, flip to the back, and you’ll find a treasure trove of names. And even better, they are listed by gender and race! Just copy down the names you like onto your list and add it directly to your notebook. It will make the purchase almost worth it (almost). If you have access to a copy machine, just copy the pages, punch it, and add it directly to your notebook.If you were one of the players out there who didn’t by the book, well that’s OK. You can just do the same thing on your own. Start a list of cool names, say them out load to make sure there is nothing wrong with them (make them PC proof) and write them down. If you can, make a separate list for male and female names, and then a list for the different races your characters are likely to interact with. Don’t forget a few monsters with a language in case a crafty mage decides to start negotiating with that Mind Flayer. If you are stuck for names, do a web search for names and languages. Scroll through a few fantasy novels you liked for more inspiration. Even go through all those RPG books on the shelf and pick out some cool names. You can even “tweak” the spelling to “file off the numbers” if it may be something your players may know. The important thing is, just start looking at names and let the creative juices roll.Don’t forget, if you use a name, check it off so you don’t use it again. Make a note in your campaign notes about the NPC and the new name so you’ll remember his name once the players try to go back. Consistency is the other reason to have the notebook in the first place.Now, the next time your players decide to start random conversations with the city guard or visit a merchant or even question that drow bandit they were suppose to kill, you’ll be prepared.Great Links of Names:<a href="http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/" target="_blank">Medieval Names Archive</a>: Real names from medieval times!</blockquote>

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