full image - Repost: Creating Non-Player Characters (from Reddit.com, Creating Non-Player Characters)
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IntroI keep seeing new GM's show up with questions that are kind of basic, so I figured I'd start writing some answers up and maybe it'll help some folks out. This post is on creating non-player characters. Most of us can come up with the basics of an NPC even on the fly, but there are a few points to help get some extra mileage out of them without spending more than a few minutes. So our goals here are to come up with a character from scratch with less than 5 minutes time spent. This character is an antagonist (but not necessarily an enemy!) in an upcoming job. The job in question is to rob the Consolidated Diamond Exchange in the Glen. The PCs aren't grabbing the diamonds, but the client data - their fixer wants that data kept out of BioTechnica's hands. Concept / PhysicalityStart with a concept - what is this character? This can be short, or it can be long and detailed. You might have a concept that's "Riches-to-rags punk princess who turned her back on the corpo lifestyle to smash the machine!" Or, "Retired detective who's become a weary PI." In this instance, I'm going with "Graham the netrunner who likes cats." Doesn't have to be complicated; you want something simple and evocative at this step, and Graham checks one of those two boxes.For physicality, pick someone you have seen a few times. This is because you want someone you can embody at the table. Having an image of how they move and talk and react is useful for that. Could be someone you know well, could be a stranger you run into occasionally. I've used my mom as the basis for so many characters. For me, there's one gangly dude at my gym who always smells vaguely like patchouli. I'm using him as my mental model for Graham, the netrunner who likes cats.Putting Them In MotionPC's should never encounter a static NPC - someone who's just kinda there and not actively pursuing an agenda. NPCs should always be in motion, they should have things they want to accomplish. This reminds the PCs that this world is alive and moving, and to other people, the PCs aren't necessarily the center of anyone else's story. Moreover, if the NPC can conceive it, they can start to look at the PCs as a way to accomplish their goals, which can open up a bunch of social-play avenues.To do this, our NPC needs a goal, preferably one that can compel action. In the case of Graham the netrunner who likes cats, it's simple: he wants a cat! Unfortunately, it's not that easy in the Dark Future. Graham can't afford a cat of his own, but he's done some work for BioTechnica, and they gave him one! His name was Mr. Mittens and he was an adorable little tabby. Sadly, BioTechnica had to "repossess" Mr. Mittens after a month, and Graham is desperate to get his little buddy back. Agent Donovan, the guy who had to repossess Mr. Mittens, did mention a way to do that. If Graham could hack the Consolidated Diamond Exchange and get their client data, Graham would own Mr. Mittens free and clear! Hell, Agent Donovan even threw in a year's supply of fancy cat food! What a chum!Now, Graham the Netrunner who likes cats has something he wants, has a reason to come into conflict with the PCs, and that conflict arises naturally out of his own goals and character. Bring Them To LifeNow you add in the details. This can be a funny voice, but it doesn't need to be. It needs to be something the PCs can identify as a sign of the character's presence without you having to tell them that the NPC is there. They get to feel smart, make connections, and feel like they're putting things together. These can be:Physical: stroking their beard, finger guns, can't stop drumming on thingsVerbal: funny voice, constantly humming, certain noises they makeOlfactory: A given smell associated with themSocial: People react a certain way around this person, even if they haven't met them beforePick one you think makes the character, and run with it. In this case, drawing on my inspiration for the character, Graham the netrunner who likes cats smells vaguely of patchouli. MechanicsYou can build a custom, bespoke character sheet for someone, but it's usually not a good use of your time. In this instance, we're going to use the netrunner statblock from the Core Rules and call it a day. If they need something specific for a certain scenario, handle that in the scenario planning. ConclusionStart with an idea, and then shove that idea into a person. You can make this way more complicated if you go all "theatre major" on it, but remember - your players haven't even met this person yet. If you spend two hours fleshing them out and then they completely ignore him, you're going to feel kind of dumb. This way, you give yourself some bones to work with, and flesh the rest out in play. Much easier. Hope this was helpful, and see you all later!
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