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Heroes, Villains, and Supporting Cast: Difference between revisions
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Heroes, Villains, and Supporting Cast (view source)
Revision as of 09:55, 31 July 2024
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NPCs might be on their own quests - again, remember that they are not the center of the story - and this quest might bring them into repeated contact with the adventurers throughout the story. | NPCs might be on their own quests - again, remember that they are not the center of the story - and this quest might bring them into repeated contact with the adventurers throughout the story. | ||
Like villains, the best NPCs are particularly memorable. They might have a tragic backstory that tugs on the heartstrings of the heroes, or they could be a flamboyant and comedic character that lightens the mood. NPCs might also have mysterious backstories that prompt the heroes to dig more and see what they uncover, and of course some NPCs will be instigators or | Like villains, the best NPCs are particularly memorable. They might have a tragic backstory that tugs on the heartstrings of the heroes, or they could be a flamboyant and comedic character that lightens the mood. NPCs might also have mysterious backstories that prompt the heroes to dig more and see what they uncover, and of course some NPCs will be instigators or questgivers that approach the adventurers with specific jobs that need done. | ||
At bare minimum, an NPC will need a name, a description, and a goal or motive that they are trying to | At bare minimum, an NPC will need a name, a description, and a goal or motive that they are trying to fulfill. NPCs should also have a basic personality, including virtues and flaws. If you want, you can base an NPC’s personality on any number of characters from novels or TV to quickly come up with how an NPC might act in a given scenario. This bare-bones information will allow you to play an NPC authentically, even if you do not know their whole backstory or long-term desires. | ||
fulfill. NPCs should also have a basic personality, including virtues and flaws. If you want, you can base an NPC’s personality on any number of characters from novels or TV to quickly come up with how an NPC might act in a given scenario. This bare-bones information will allow you to play an NPC authentically, even if you do not know their whole backstory or long-term desires. | |||
You can also consider how the NPC fits into the world around them, especially if they are in a settled area. Are they prominent among the other folk of their town or city? Are they part of a guild, and if so are they loyal to their guild or more indifferent about it? How might their alliance help or hurt the heroes’ reputations? | You can also consider how the NPC fits into the world around them, especially if they are in a settled area. Are they prominent among the other folk of their town or city? Are they part of a guild, and if so are they loyal to their guild or more indifferent about it? How might their alliance help or hurt the heroes’ reputations? | ||
Finally, does the NPC’s goals line up more with the goals of the heroes or villains? How will the NPC act accordingly? | Finally, does the NPC’s goals line up more with the goals of the heroes or villains? How will the NPC act accordingly? | ||