Making Better NPCs for Your TTRPGs | Podcast | Episode 3
Vložit
- čas přidán 13. 12. 2023
- Join myself and the amazing Steve Morrison of the Errant Adventures Podcast as we talk making better or more memorable NPCs for your TTRPGS.
Errant Adventures: www.errantadventurespod.com/
Come join my Patreon: patreon.com/thebadspotcast
Errant Adventures on Ko-Fi: ko-fi.com/errantadventures
Come find me on Twitter: @thebadspotcast - Hry
Key 🔑 takeaways:
• Record until 45 minutes = 1 episode
• Prepare / Generate only enough to move the story ( until the characters' next decision of consequence)
Sounds about right
The 45 mins = 1 episode thing is purely personal. I know that on average I'll cut about ten minutes of audio, so that gets me close to that thirty to thirty five minute episode I'm looking for.
I gotta say, I love all sorts of theorycrafting around NPCs, I could watch infinite videos on this subject. But ultimately, you guys hit on something that is unfortunately supreme as advice: The best you thing you prep for an NPC is some funny voice, personal quirk, habit of speaking, idiom, costume items, or tick that you can somehow telegraph or act out. If you can make that a part of your prep - Jason Cordova does it as part of his 7-3-1 rule - it will pay off enormously in terms of what players gravitate to.
Best get practicing my goofy voices. Thanks for watching and for sharing!
I agree with all this, and "Only Create What You Need" is the golden rule I try to follow, too. I barely prep anything anymore. Just this morning, I was talking with my partner in crime about doing a monthly one-shot RPG challenge thing next year. We spent like 20 minutes coming up with the 12 genres we'll want for the games, and that's probably the full extent of the prep we'll do. The rest will be done on the fly.
A monthly one shot challenge sounds very cool! Thanks for watching!
@@thebadspot Yeah, it will definitely be fun. The random prompts are from Caverna do Lekkis. That's my not-so-subtle way of hinting I hope you take up the challenge, and we get a bunch of wild one-shots here in addition to the regularly-scheduled programming!
@JSilas50 be careful what you wish for…
Really nice episode you two! I could listen to you guys talk about anything even comparing grocery lists.
I wanted to add my favorite rule of thumb from the cypher system that a character is "An adjective noun that verbs." Translated to starforged a character is "A (Descriptor) (Role) that (Action)s."
I also really enjoy the direction Wanderhome takes with adding contrast.
"Pick 2 adjectives that define you, and one you reject, deny, or refuse."
Thats all I got. You guys are great! Looking forward to the next one!
Thanks, bud! Those are great additions. Short and easy ways to define an interesting character!
Those are both pretty great! And we've got a grocery list episode coming in 2024...
Yes great topic from 2 of my favorites. Can't wait for the next show. Thanks for the inspiration....Merry Christmas
That’s awesome, thanks so much!
Oof, one of my campaigns has a gruff shopkeeper my players call Icebot Pervert, and a legendary elven blacksmith they call Silly Citrus. Folks, always say the names **out loud**, the Purvan Suul incident should have taught us something.
You see, this is why I play solo. The other players ruin it.
I think players do it intentionally, for the kicks. They want to see us squirm, the bastards.
Mr & Mrs Draw and their son Quick…Draw. Wasted on an American audience but I got a flash of Humph, Tim Brook-Taylor and Graeme Green.
Glad you enjoyed that one!