Keeping a List of NPC Names Handy
One of the joys, and most common challenges, of being a Game Master is never knowing exactly what your players will do next - doubly so for town adventures with lots of options. You can never be prepared for every player’s whim, and you might spend a good amount of time winging encounters with unplanned Non-Player Characters and interactions. And that’s ok. Lean into it; enjoy the ride.
One trick to making town adventures much easier for yourself is to always keep a short list of NPC names. Feel free to plug these into any encounter to spice things up a bit.
One-Eyed Wally
A slender Elf with an eyepatch who swears he can see better with one eye than most do with two.
Cutlass Kate
A tough-as-nails Halfling known for her quick temper and even quicker swordplay.
Sharktooth Shamus
A young Dwarf with a necklace of shark teeth is said to have wrestled a shark barehanded.
Rumblin’ Rosie
Loud, boisterous, and always laughing, she’s a human brawler who never backs down from a fight.
Fishhook Freddy
A slippery little Gnome with a fishhook for a hand and a reputation for swindling even the slyest Pirates.
Mad Maggie
An eccentric Goblin Pirate known for talking to her parrot as though it could give her advice. Rumor has it, the parrot knows where treasure is buried.
Blackjacket Smitty
A tall Human with a scraggly, black beard and a collection of stolen goods from every corner of the Serpent Sea, all stuffed in his tattered coat.
Eryndor “Flint-Eyes” Vasralyn
An Elven Ranger Obsessed with finding and cataloging rare flora, often stops mid-conversation to sketch a plant or sniff a flower.
Thrak Bonegrinder
An Ogre Barbarian who, despite his fearsome appearance, loves baking and often offers pastries to strangers before battle.
Miryssa Thistlewhip
A Halfling Brad who speaks entirely in rhyme when casting spells. She frustratingly pauses mid-battle to find the perfect word.
Dryn Duskwind
A Moon Elf Rogue who loves shiny objects, to the point of absentmindedly pocketing anything that glitters.
Kaeric Embermaul
A Human Paladin. He strictly adheres to ancient codes of etiquette, bowing even to enemies before attacking.
Roknar Stonebrew
A dwarven Cleric, she carries a small cask of holy oil and insists on blessing her allies with a drink before combat.
Tyllia Starshade
A Tiefling Sorcerer who sees omens in everything, from the way smoke curls to the pattern of spilled ink.
Olgra Mossfang
A Lizardfolk Monk who anxiously collects teeth from fallen foes, believing they hold the essence of life and wisdom.