Mass Creating NPCs Help

[Raekai]

I've been GMing my first campaign for two good sessions now. Everything is going smoothly EXCEPT in the NPC department. Bill, George, and Larry. How can I whip them up instantly and yet make them all a little unique? Obviously, it's not just Bill, George, and Larry. I'm talking about people they run into. Most of the time, I won't be statting people up. However, if my players want to kill the NPC, how can I quickly turn around and create important battle stats? Other situations require being able to instantly draw up an NPC. Running around the streets. Going to the tavern. Going to the coliseum. What's the best way to go about this? I tend to over-think things a lot, but I'm willing to experiment and try out methods and ideas thrown at me.

[Langy]

When I don't have an established template to crib off of, I generally utilize Wildcard Skills for unimportant NPCs. These NPCs just aren't important enough to give detailed skill descriptions; so, instead, I give them something like 'Job!-12', where they have a base skill level of 12 for anything directly dealing with their job. I may also give them things like 'Background!-10' - this would be things like Driving, Computer Use, etc. Stuff that they're skilled at, but aren't super important to their job.

I typically give most characters an 11 or 12 in their most important job attribute, and 10s in everything else. More of a difference if it is warranted.

And, of course, toss on random disadvantages/advantages to taste.

I used to have a file full of generic NPC templates in this vein, but I have no idea where it went.

[Peter Knutsen]

Originally Posted by Langy

When I don't have an established template to crib off of, I generally utilize Wildcard Skills for unimportant NPCs. These NPCs just aren't important enough to give detailed skill descriptions; so, instead, I give them something like 'Job!-12', where they have a base skill level of 12 for anything directly dealing with their job. I may also give them things like 'Background!-10' - this would be things like Driving, Computer Use, etc. Stuff that they're skilled at, but aren't super important to their job.

One thing I've thought about allowing in Sagatafl for minor NPCs only, is stereotype psychological disadvantages. For instance, Teenage Girl or Dwarf or Felinoid.

That can be done in GURPS too, where you'd use the SCR mechanic, so that you might have Dwarf(12) or Teenage Boy(15) as disads, and using the SCR to determine whether the NPC responds to triggers. Dwarf might be triggered by gold or beer and the possibility of getting into a fight, Teenage Girl might be triggered by pretty jewelry and clothes and the possibility of romance with a hot male specimen, and so forth.

There's no point cost associated (in GURPS), and if such a minor NPC ends up becoming a major NPC, the stereotype trait needs to be dissected into its component parts, e.g. Greed and Compulsive Beer Consumption, and so forth.

In most cases the SCR will be the weakest possible, so e.g. Felinoid(15), with 12 reserved for the more strongly stereotyped cases, and 9 and especially 6 probably only being appropriate in the odd basket case or in a silly campaign.

And of course everybody shouldn't have it. Don't give all teenage girls Teenage Girl(15). If it becomes predictable, it will be far too easy for the player characters to manipulate minor NPCs.

Keep in mind, it's more of a shorthand than actual game mechanics. The reason for assigning a stereotype trait is that it's too much bother to assign individual specific mental disads.

[Fnugus]

My own approach to making a lot of NPC's quickly is to make use of occupational templates AND the GCA (GURPS Character Assistant, PC program). I just add a racial template if needed, and then add the occupational template. A few dialogs, and you have a ready to go NPC. Fill in name, a note or two on personality, and you're ready.

[Refplace]

Originally Posted by Peter Knutsen

One thing I've thought about allowing in Sagatafl for minor NPCs only, is stereotype psychological disadvantages. For instance, Teenage Girl or Dwarf or Felinoid.


Keep in mind, it's more of a shorthand than actual game mechanics. The reason for assigning a stereotype trait is that it's too much bother to assign individual specific mental disads.

I like that idea, I often start off a minor NPC by sterotyping them and then gradually if there used more flesh them out.

[Peter Knutsen]

Originally Posted by Refplace

I like that idea, I often start off a minor NPC by sterotyping them and then gradually if there used more flesh them out.

But do you make the stereotype into a mental disad, and with a SCR?

If you do, how has it worked?

[Stripe]

Let's not forget Historical Folks, either: http://www.mygurps.com/ghf.html

EDIT: And, to the topic starter, who is obviously new to GURPS, SCR stands for "self control roll," which was never established in the thread (never a good thing). It's also not in the stickied list of acronyms (submitted).

[Refplace]

Originally Posted by Peter Knutsen

But do you make the stereotype into a mental disad, and with a SCR?

If you do, how has it worked?

I never have before but I do like the idea.
What I have done before is just create an NPC and base it off a stereotype or some character from a book or other source. Sometimes its even an old PC.
I then ad lib and either play it serious or as a caricature depending on the game and my mood. If I think I may use it later I jot down some quick notes as I go along. Sometimes I may reuse them alter without the benefit of notes as I never planned on it being used again.
The idea is to make them more flesh and blood then just numbers even if I am not prepared for them as a full NPC. I also rarely ever stat up an NPC as a full character much as many others here advise.
Even with a disad like Bully or Lecherousness I am unlikely to use the SCR roll and tend to roleplay it. However sometimes I will roll, especially if the NPC would want to control themselves.

[Emerald Vagrant]

First off, pre-generate some random names appropriate to your setting. A quick internet search should give you plenty of options for that.

Second, keep some cards or a notepad handy - when the party interacts with somebody WRITE IT DOWN. All you need to know right off is 2-3 quick 'tags' (proud of his mustache, dislikes braggarts, afraid of people finding out he collects ceramic unicorns, etc.)

As far as stats, only assign numbers where you absolutely need them. You don't need to know what an average blacksmith's riding or sex appeal skills are. I'd likely assign ST, HT, and blacksmithing skills and that's it.

[Maz]

You don't need a full blown character sheet for random NPC's. In most cases you only need a single skill and sometimes some stats.

I tend to simply give an NPC 12 in his primary skills and then, if needed, stats from 9-11. And build out as needed. Keep it as simple as possible.

For instance.
The PC's meet a shady dealer and decide to bargain with him (opposite Merchant-skill rolls). [I assume he has 12 in merchant and note it]
The PC's don't get the result they want and try to intimidate him. This is against his Will. [I note his Will as 10].
The PC's roll a bad result and the dealer isn't intimidated and now the PC's draw weapons on him.
Once we go into Combat we usually need more stats than usually, but most can be derived by simply setting the 4 Attributes.
I quickly give him ST:10, DX:11, IQ:10, HT:10. From this I know his HP, Basic Speed, Dodge and Damage.
I then give him a knife-skill of 11 and the combat can begin. I would be able to note tall that down in the time it take me to describe the scene for my player and put down a small battlemap.

So to repeat: Keep it simple, only give the stats you need and then expand as needed.
to help you, you might have some basic write-ups prepared in advance. For instance "a thug", "a mugger" and "a guard".

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As an alternative I have begun going a bit more free-minded and "just say yes". This has REALLY helped me as a GM. Especially if running very open games where the PC's are going to run into many new NPC's and new situations.

What I mean by "just say yes" this is that whatever the PCs try to do, just let it happen with a little narrative and ignore the rules.

For instance, if the PC's meet the shady dealer and decide to get into combat with him, then just let them beat him up (or kill him). You don't have to fish out the dies for this because it's not going to be a proper fight anyway. (You know the PC's are going to win).