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Message: <blockquote data-quote="GwydapLlew" data-source="post: 3254163" data-attributes="member: 40373">A cookie-cutter NPC doesn't interest the players. A cookie-cutter NPC doesn't interest me. My BBEG all have backstories and motivations because, without those, it's just another 9th level CE necromancer, yannow? <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />None of my NPCs are perfect, and they all have weaknesses built into their personalities. If the PCs are intuitive enough to notice them, or diligent enough to research them, I reward them by allowing them to take advantage of the weakness.As an example, in my latest game, there is a black dragon whose 'hook' is breeding half-dragons. Digging a little deeper, the reason for this is that there is a family of extremely powerful red dragons in the region, and the black has come to the conclusion that breeding a family of half-dragons loyal to himself will allow him to wipe out the reds. Dig a little bit deeper, and the reason the black uses these tactics is because he is afraid of direct confrontation. Voila! A cowardly black dragon with a small band of half-dragon children. When the PCs encounter the black, I have everything I need to know about his goals and personality. Since the black has been around for a while, PCs can research his tendencies and plan accordingly. This gives them an edge when they want to kill the beastie.</blockquote>

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