This question is more for those who have given NPCs in official D&D campaign moduel.
An example being: in Lost Mines of Phindelver, (spoilers by the way), my player had to chase off a Young Green dragon, Named VenomFang, who was in the wizard's tower. Now the module only stated that he doesnt give a flip about the cultists who were worshipping him.
So instead, I gave him a bit of a smarmy attitude, but also being a teenager, I had him fall head over heels for the only female NPC in the group. And would only gave up the tower, if said NPC goes on a date with her, and if they help him find a new place.
I also gave him a sort of short temper, especially to the PC Human noble Fighter.
Do voices! Even if you aren't great at them (lord knows I am not) your characters will remember the inns-keeper with a nasally voice, the bookkeep with a slight hiccup between sentences, or the mercenary who can't keep eye contact. Even if it isn't a vocal specific thing, maybe a guard has a slight stutter, or winces whenever he has to say the name of his boss. Small little things can add up to make a bland NPC a party favorite.
Ex: My players just ran into a library looking for information of the Ordening (SKT). The librarian they assumed to be rude, since their initial requests she did not respond to. Turns out, she is a sweet old woman who is deaf, but fantastic at reading lips. She isn't rude, she just needs to be looking directly at who is talking. The party has adopted her as their communal grandmother and now they have an NPC they care about in the port city.
Do voices! Even if you aren't great at them (lord knows I am not) your characters will remember the inns-keeper with a nasally voice, the bookkeep with a slight hiccup between sentences, or the mercenary who can't keep eye contact. Even if it isn't a vocal specific thing, maybe a guard has a slight stutter, or winces whenever he has to say the name of his boss. Small little things can add up to make a bland NPC a party favorite.
Ex: My players just ran into a library looking for information of the Ordening (SKT). The librarian they assumed to be rude, since their initial requests she did not respond to. Turns out, she is a sweet old woman who is deaf, but fantastic at reading lips. She isn't rude, she just needs to be looking directly at who is talking. The party has adopted her as their communal grandmother and now they have an NPC they care about in the port city.
I do a lot of vocal flavor, because I'm bad at accents. I have one British accent I can do, so Halia Thornton got that one. But otherwise, I change the way I speak, rather than the accent or tone. I just did the Gnomengarde Gnomes in Icespire Peak, and rather than doing anything silly, I just had them speak very excitedly, repeating themselves, that sort of thing, because I was too embarrassed to do "proper" gnome voices. My characters loved it.
I can't agree with this enough. I am horrific at accents but playing with friends of a decade, so I don't mind being silly. Leaning on vocal patterns like the overly excited Gnomes is memorable and honestly hilarious.
Well, depends really how important the NPC is. For less important NPCs you can give random race, sex, profession and a small feature that describes the NPC. With detailed world or town you can quite easily add more layers of personality. For more important characters some random name.
Example1: Dwarf, male, miner, long brown beard, He is working in local mine to find gems, Admund.
Example2: Elf, female, commoner, beautiful smile, She is going to local temple for a prayer, Lyndis.
Well, depends really how important the NPC is. For less important NPCs you can give random race, sex, profession and a small feature that describes the NPC. For more important characters some random name. For a very detailed world or town you can quit easily add more layers of personality.
Example1: Dwarf, male, miner, long brown beard, Admund, He is working in local mine to find gems
Example2: Elf, female, commoner, beautiful smile, Lyndis, She is going to local temple for a prayer
This question is more for those who have given NPCs in official D&D campaign moduel.
An example being: in Lost Mines of Phindelver, (spoilers by the way), my player had to chase off a Young Green dragon, Named VenomFang, who was in the wizard's tower. Now the module only stated that he doesnt give a flip about the cultists who were worshipping him.
So instead, I gave him a bit of a smarmy attitude, but also being a teenager, I had him fall head over heels for the only female NPC in the group. And would only gave up the tower, if said NPC goes on a date with her, and if they help him find a new place.
I also gave him a sort of short temper, especially to the PC Human noble Fighter.
Pick a famous actor /famous scene in a movie. Have the NPC do that.
You talking to me? Cause I don't see no one else.
Say Hello to my little friend!
This watch was carried out of a prison in my father's rectum.
What? You had until the last part.
Do voices! Even if you aren't great at them (lord knows I am not) your characters will remember the inns-keeper with a nasally voice, the bookkeep with a slight hiccup between sentences, or the mercenary who can't keep eye contact. Even if it isn't a vocal specific thing, maybe a guard has a slight stutter, or winces whenever he has to say the name of his boss. Small little things can add up to make a bland NPC a party favorite.
Ex: My players just ran into a library looking for information of the Ordening (SKT). The librarian they assumed to be rude, since their initial requests she did not respond to. Turns out, she is a sweet old woman who is deaf, but fantastic at reading lips. She isn't rude, she just needs to be looking directly at who is talking. The party has adopted her as their communal grandmother and now they have an NPC they care about in the port city.
Sounds like a hilarious time.
I do a lot of vocal flavor, because I'm bad at accents. I have one British accent I can do, so Halia Thornton got that one. But otherwise, I change the way I speak, rather than the accent or tone. I just did the Gnomengarde Gnomes in Icespire Peak, and rather than doing anything silly, I just had them speak very excitedly, repeating themselves, that sort of thing, because I was too embarrassed to do "proper" gnome voices. My characters loved it.
I can't agree with this enough. I am horrific at accents but playing with friends of a decade, so I don't mind being silly. Leaning on vocal patterns like the overly excited Gnomes is memorable and honestly hilarious.
Well, depends really how important the NPC is. For less important NPCs you can give random race, sex, profession and a small feature that describes the NPC. With detailed world or town you can quite easily add more layers of personality. For more important characters some random name.
Example1: Dwarf, male, miner, long brown beard, He is working in local mine to find gems, Admund.
Example2: Elf, female, commoner, beautiful smile, She is going to local temple for a prayer, Lyndis.
That's pretty good examples
Im was just editing the post when you quoted :)
Still doesn't change my post . XD
same
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