[starslayer]

This has been a great thread about how to (try to at least since people are hard to predict) establish fun, memorable, and looked npcs.

I have had some good success with memorable npcs, some so memorable that they were later spooled up into full pcs (we share gming duties). The hardest one is making a memorable villain that the pcs want to keep around.

For a memorable npc the things I have worked with;
1. Make them immediately affable, but not overeager.
2. Make them useful - they don't have to exceed the pcs in any category to be useful, an alchemist who does not compare to the party healer in any way can still be a great ally if they just sell them a few potions at a discount. One of Kals favoured npcs that he turned into an ally was an undead gnome lawyer named nomo who was good at reading and writing contracts as well as managing investments and properties.
3. Make them interact with pc advantages and disadvantages; sentient spider in the party with an arachnophobe, pretty member of the lech's preferred gender, loyal steadfast individual who wants to learn from the person with charisma.
4. Give them a story (this can come after they start getting some repeat face time) they should have their own take, there own desires, and their own stuff going on, it should not intrude on the pcs, but it should give them the opportunity to butt in if they so desire. (Is make it an optional sidequest hook rather than a main quest hook).

For villains the party will want to encounter again;
1. Have them play to party disadvantages (sentient spider again).
2. Have them offer (and continue to offer) reasonable outs when fought (ie don't have them demand everything the party has, have them demand an enchanted weapon and 5 healing potions- it's still a robbery out ransom, but it's far more reasonable).
3. Have then still to main and disable instead of kill, out if like us cheap have them identify where they would like their body brought if they fail and ask the pcs the same question.
4. Have them talk and be affable, even if their ultimate goal is to get something from the pcs against their will or delay them.
5. If things are going bad have them surrender with conditions
6. Give them a story that does not make them 'evil', but also does not make them misguided. They know what they are doing and they don't care- their ways or needs are greater than the damage they cause.
7. No elaborate schemes; a villain might have plans, they may even be elaborate, but they should be more of a grocery list then a step by step program.

Finally for both groups- make them smart (within their iq limits). They should never do anything obviously dumb, if a secondary character/villian in a TV show or movie did it, ever, your should probably avoid having an npc/villian you want to be memorable and liked do it.