Monday, January 5, 2015

The Grand Tangent NPC Chart

Every so often a DM has a powerful need to go off on a tangent. Sometimes it is simply for a stress break, sometimes it’s to regroup and rethink, and sometimes it’s about a change of pace or to shake things up. Whatever the reason, the fastest way I know to send your PCs rolling down a new path or to distract them from their current quest is to throw an NPC at them.

But where are you going to find the time to create a new NPC with a distracting story? Never fear! What follows are thirty four examples of terrific NPCs ready to go with tangents built into their design. Feel free to choose whichever one best suits your wants or needs. Or, if you feel brave, have a roll on the accompanying chart. Please note that this chart is specifically geared towards 4th and 5th edition; however, it can easily be converted to all editions with a few minor adjustments. Good luck!


D100
NAME
ABOUT
BACKSTORY
01-03
Tonk Gabber
Female Gnome Wizard
On the hunt for lost magical item needed to save her family.
04-06
Geri Levandis
Female Elf Druid
Injured after goblin attack.
07-09
Tommis Pellarc
Male Human Cleric
Searching for nearby ruins.
10-12
Gabby Marc
Male Dwarf Fighter
Hunting for wanted bandits.
13-15
Jerric Belindo
Male Drow Wizard
On the run from Orcs.
16-18
Messa Farrow
Female Human Monk
Needs escort to local monastery.
19-21
Kendra Plunk
Female Halfling Rogue
Looking to sell cursed item.
22-24
Naus Ferderra
Male Dragonborn Barbarian
Asks for help to avenge dead tribe.
25-27
Soren Jullun
Male Elf Warlock
Thinks PCs are trying to arrest him.
28-30
Tamara Cobb
Female Half-Elf Ranger
Searching for missing children.
31-33
Dominic Deller
Male Human Paladin
Hunting for nearby demon.
34-36
Jannis Lamra
Female Tiefling Bard
Wants to steal money from PCs.
37-39
Ageron Ionic
Male Elf Sorcerer
Looking for abducted wife.
40-42
Meltia Copperboot
Female Dwarf Barbarian
On a quest to prove herself.
43-45
Helena Loom
Female Human Druid
Tracking  a pack of Gnolls.
46-48
Gobran Jonns
Male Gnome Rogue
Tied to a tree and left for dead.
49-51
Markus Ashenleaf
Male Elf Wizard
Searching for rare spell component.
52-54
Serra Markenfell
Female Half-Elf Fighter
Asks for help recovering lost gold.
55-57
Tibby Fozoni
Male Halfling Bard
Wants help following treasure map.
58-60
Candori Misk
Male Dragonborn Warlock
Accidentally opened random portal.
61-63
Dori Pewter
Female Dwarf Paladin
On quest to find mount.
64-66
Jenna Wellward
Female Human Ranger
Poisoned and looking for cure.
67-69
Ordon Grell
Male Half-Elf Cleric
Searching for stolen holy item.
70-72
Lissa Winn
Female Elf Monk
Was attacked and has amnesia.
73-75
Kellar Duan
Male Tiefling Rogue
Almost dead from sickness.
76-78
Fiona Tanger
Female Halfling Fighter
Is an old girlfriend of one PC.
79-81
Duggan Monty
Male Human Wizard
Is lost and has memory issues.
82-84
Kallico De’Juani
Male Drow Sorcerer
Being hunted by other Drow.
85-87
Cammie Aya
Female Half-Elf Bard
Is searching for her lost twin sister.
88-90
Smolts Brassblood
Male Dwarf Cleric
Tracking an evil necromancer.
91-93
Talon Quanto
Male Elf Paladin
Recently bitten by a Vampire.
94-96
Deanna Velna
Female Human Druid
Hunting nearby Kobold clan.
97-99
Tori Husk
Male Dragonborn Fighter
Mistakes PCs for old foes.
100
Damerjam Mookie
Male Gnome Wizard
Wants escort inside rival Wizard’s tower. Compensation TBD.

2 comments:

  1. And if you feel very brave, roll for each category; once for a name, then for a race and class, and finally for a mission :P I got Talon Quanto, Male Dwarf Fighter, Tracking a pack of Gnolls.

    ReplyDelete