Each time your players encounter a new personality, you add a fresh layer to your world. I've only ever met one GM who created a full character sheet for every conceivable non-player character. Their effort was admirable, but the hidden depths of the lad who worked in the forge were never fully tapped in what was the briefest of player encounters.
You will quickly burn out your creativity if you over invest in encounters which are not part of your plot—but even brief encounters can leave a lasting mark on your world.
The key is not depth in isolation, but connection.
A short interaction becomes memorable when it ties into something the players already know—or something they will discover later.
- Make one (or two) connections between the NPC and your world.
If they rescued a damsel in distress, perhaps the NPC is a friend or relative. Or perhaps the NPC was born in a town one of the PCs is also from. Even the briefest encounter gains weight when it links to something familiar. You can use Scabard's connection feature to surface these ideas. - A speech impediment or lisp can raise the most humble character into one which the party chooses to engage with more fully. There are occasionally opportunities for miscommunication too—but it’s the connection that gives the moment lasting meaning.
- Over familiarity. We've all experienced that nice but slightly over-familiar stranger who, once engaged in conversation, will claim close friendship at every opportunity. The locals will be only too happy to steer your party in the right direction—and that familiarity can hint at deeper ties within your world.
- Pomposity. Most suited to low to mid level status in society; the pompous NPC will insist on titles, deference, and flattery. They can be hard work for players—particularly if they have something the players need—but their role in the wider world can matter far more than their attitude.
- Eccentricity. Best used for a character the players revisit, eccentric behavior can lift any encounter above the ordinary—especially when that character becomes part of a larger thread running through your campaign.
Want to tie seemingly small NPCs to tie your world together? This article talks briefly about minor NPCs and extras.
Happy Gaming!
-Stolph (Ed)
