NPC Essentials-Quick Reference Cards NPC Essentials-Quick Reference Cards is a distilled adaptation of Johnn Four’s NPC Essentials, a great roleplaying aid for Game Masters. The purpose of these cards is to provide Game Masters a quick reference for dealing with the likely event of having to create/define an NPC, or Non-Playing Character, during a game session. These cards are intended for use in accompaniment with the NPC Essentials book, not to supersede it. It is highly recommended that NPC Essentials continue to be referenced for the creation of anticipated or planned NPC’s. Each NPCE-QRC card provides a variety of information useful for defining and describing NPC’s. The information of a single card is not meant to be taken as a whole, but rather as a collection of suggestions to be used as the GM sees fit. Some aspects - such as appearance, mood, and traits - are merely a collection of words to be used individually, while other categories, such as Quirks, Secrets and Events, may be used as they are presented. To use the cards, the GM should randomly select at least three cards, then select the information desired to apply to the NPC needing definition. Each deck of NPC Essentials-Quick Reference Cards includes 100 cards, which provide information on the following NPC-creation topics: Name, Race, Gender, Power Base, Alignment, Archetype, Appearance, Mood, Quirks, Secrets, Traits, and Events. In-depth information on these aspects of NPC creation (and more!) can be found in Johnn Four’s NPC Essentials. Designed by Michael Downey November 23, 2007 1 2 3 4 Abudric (m) - Acendra (f) Adilan (m) - Adalind (f) Adirak (m) - Adryn (f) Agreri (m) - Agatha (f) Aasimar Bugbear Doppleganger Drow Female Female Female Male Charisma Constitution Defense Dexterity Chaotic Evil Chaotic Good Chaotic Good Chaotic Good Artist/Entertainer Beggar Clergy Craftsman Aggressive - Aquamarine eyes - Ash Blonde hair - Beige Aggressive - Yellow Green eyes - Ash Blonde hair - Pink Aggressive - Yellow Green eyes - Ash Blonde hair - Pink Aloof - Black eyes - Ash Brown hair - Beige skin - skin - Athletic clothing skin - Athletic clothing skin - Athletic clothing Business clothing Depressed - Angry - Adventurous - Animated Disgusted - Annoyed - Carefree - Blissful Fuming - Anxious - Casual - Elated Hateful - Unlucky - Sincere - Whimsical Absent minded Always agrees with everything Always sits with back to a wall; refuses to sit down otherwise Always snorts when laughing or chuckling Accidentally killed a sibling as a child Acts as if they are physically challenged (blind - one - Admires a criminal for his gusto Deserted from the military legged - etc.) but really are not Absorbed - Enthusiastic - Nervous - Thrilled Accepting - Envious - Neurotic - Timid Affectionate - Evasive - Nihilist - Torn Aggressive - Excited - Nonconformist - Trusting A feud (family or otherwise) began A feud (family or otherwise) ended Acquaintance died Acquaintance had a life threatening illness 5 6 7 8 Agrin (m) - Aideen (f) Argi (m) - Alwyn (f) Athelstan (m) - Alyvia (f) Attor (m) - Arabeth (f) Dwarf Dwarf Dwarf Dwarf Male Male Male Male Equipment Feats Followers Intelligence Chaotic Good Lawful Evil Lawful Good Lawful Good Guild Leader Merchant Politico/Minor Noble Servant Aloof - Warm Brown eyes - Ash Brown hair - Pink skin - Aloof - Warm Brown eyes - Ash Brown hair - Pink skin - Cheerful - Blue eyes - Black Brown hair - Black skin - Cheerful - Violet eyes - Black Brown hair - Peach skin - Business clothing Business clothing Fashionable clothing Fashionable clothing Hostile - Sad - Playful - Triumphant Incensed - Belligerant - Cheerful - Euphoric Malicious - Pessimistic - Mischevious - Exultant Mean - Vexed - Suprised - Thrilled Avoids making eye contact Bets on anything Blinks constantly Buck teeth Enjoys a great reputation for some martial deed in the Fantasizes about being an adventurer Fought for both sides in a war Has a double life as both the villain and the hero helping the past - but it is a fabrication and they are actually cowardly PCs defeat him Agitator - Fascinated - Obsessive - Truthful Alarmed - Fearful - Obstructive - Uncertain Aloof - Fearless - Offended - Uncomfortable Altruist - Festive - Opinionated - Understanding Acquaintance had a major accident Acquaintance had a minor accident Acquaintance had a minor illness Acquaintance was kidnapped 9 10 11 12 Avenal (m) - Ardra (f) Baymas (m) - Arella (f) Bellinus (m) - Astalella (f) Bersi (m) - Belindra (f) Dwarf Dwarf Dwarf Elf Male Male Unknown Female Laws - Authority - Consent Reputation Skills Social Class Lawful Good Lawful Good Neutral Neutral Evil Soldier Upper Nobility Artist/Entertainer Beggar Cheerful - Violet eyes - Black Brown hair - Peach skin - Cocky - Cocoa eyes - Cinnamon hair - Black skin - Cocky - Sky Blue eyes - Cinnamon hair - Peach skin - Cocky - Sky Blue eyes - Cinnamon hair - Peach skin - Fashionable clothing Formal clothing Formal clothing Formal clothing Miserable - Bitter - Content - Exuberant Pissed - Bored - Delighted - Generous Resentful - Uncaring - Romantic - Effervescent Sadistic - Remote - Optimistic - Exhilarated Chews fingernails (or toenails...) Chews lips Clammy hands Confuses information and facts easily Has a hatred of other subtypes of his race (i.e. a shield dwarf Has a position of authority but all their work - plans - and Has a treasure map tattooed on their scalp concealed by Has an illegitimate child who hates gold dwarves) ideas come from an unacknowledged underling their hair Amiable - Fidgety - Optimistic - Unforgiving Amoral - Fiendish - Organized - Uninformed Anarchist - Filthy - Overbearing - Unscrupulous Angry - Flippant - Paranoid - Unsettled Acquired a new class Acquired a new enemy Acquired a new level Acquired a new skill 13 14 15 16 Bieven (m) - Brenna (f) Bordat (m) - Bress (f) Brogan (m) - Brielle (f) Cadedri (m) - Brithael (f) Elf Elf Elf Elf Female Female Male Male Special Ability Spells Strength Travel & Communication Neutral Good Neutral Good Neutral Good Neutral Good Clergy Craftsman Guild Leader Merchant Demeanor - Eyes eyes - Hair Color hair - Skin Tone Easy Going - Copper eyes - Copper hair - Café au Lait Easy Going - Sapphire Blue eyes - Copper hair - Pale Easy Going - Sapphire Blue eyes - Copper hair - Pale skin - Clothing Style clothing skin - Labor - Clean clothing Ivory skin - Labor - Clean clothing Ivory skin - Labor - Clean clothing Scornful - Weary - Thankful - Energized Spiteful - Peeved - Lucky - Rapturous Stinging - Irritable - Jubilant - Ecstatic Suicidal - Downhearted - Devilish - Gleeful Constantly changes their gaze, making eye contact with Constantly hums or whistles to self Constantly refers to themselves in the third person Constantly toys with a piece of jewelry everyone around them again and again, in rapid succession Has an intelligent magic item that communicates through Has been slowly poisoning the food and drink of the sick Has committed a crime and the evidence is buried in the Has killed someone close to PC and has befriended the PC telepathy relative they are looking after backyard as penance Annoyed - Flirtatious - Passionate - Unsophisticated Antagonistic - Foolhardy - Patient - Unthinking Antisocial - Forgiving - Peaceful - Untidy Anxious - Formal - Peacemaker - Upset Acquired a sum of money Adopted a child Attended a festival, fair, market, or sporting event Best friend died 17 18 19 20 Cadmon (m) - Bruswen (f) Cavia (m) - Cadaewen (f) Cendarwen (m) - Cambree (f) Cethien (m) - Caryne (f) Elf Elf Elf Gnoll Male Male Male Male Wealth Wisdom Charisma Constitution Chaotic Evil Chaotic Good Chaotic Good Chaotic Good Politico/Minor Noble Servant Soldier Upper Nobility Emotionless - Dark Brown eyes - Dark Ash Brown hair - Emotionless - Olive Green eyes - Dark Ash Brown hair - Emotionless - Olive Green eyes - Dark Ash Brown hair - Friendly - Emerald eyes - Dark Golden Blonde hair - Café au Lait skin - Labor - Dirty clothing Pale Ivory skin - Labor - Dirty clothing Pale Ivory skin - Labor - Dirty clothing Chocolate skin - Leather - Fashionable clothing Upset - Fearful - Flirtatious - Joyous Venomous - Galled - Grateful - Merry Vicious - Touchy - Rascally - Blithe Wrathful - Indignant - Happy - Mirthful Cracks knuckles when stressed Curses habitually Delays and procrastinates in crucial moments Each eye is of a different color Has no true wealth but makes it appear that they do Hasn't paid taxes in years Is a dealer of an illicit substance or commodity Is a disguised enemy who is sending the PCs on a quest to defeat him - confident of victory Apologetic - Fresh - Peevish - Uptight Apprehensive - Friendly - Peppy - Vehement Avaricious - Frightened - Perceptive - Vengeful BadTempered - Frustrated - Pervert - Vindictive Best friend had a life, threatening illness Best friend had a major accident Best friend had a minor accident Best friend had a minor illness 21 22 23 24 Darius (m) - Caylin (f) Deogol (m) - Chanti (f) Eder (m) - Chevonne (f) Edlin (m) - Dagda (f) Gnome Gnome Gnome Gnome Male Unknown Female Female Defense Dexterity Equipment Feats Chaotic Good Lawful Evil Lawful Good Lawful Good Artist/Entertainer Beggar Clergy Craftsman Friendly - Jade eyes - Dark Golden Blonde hair - Olive Friendly - Jade eyes - Dark Golden Blonde hair - Olive Furtive - Forest Green eyes - Deep Warm Brown hair - Furtive - Hazel eyes - Deep Warm Brown hair - Olive skin - Leather - Fashionable clothing skin - Leather - Fashionable clothing Chocolate skin - Leather - Tough clothing skin - Leather - Tough clothing Depressed - Angry - Adventurous