I once had a foppish pirate npc that was a total Badass. He would fool the PCs, steal from them, and generally be a thorn in their side.....but he never wished them any harm...and in a sense liked the PCs...he was just a pirate! He would even sometimes help them (when their interests aligned), like giving them information and advice..even helped in a couple of battles. The players loved him! (Note: this was like 4 years before the 1st Pirates of the Caribbean. After one of my players saw the movie they called me and said they immediately thought of our NPC when they watched it:) )
LOL the tavern keeper's eyes. I can't quite put my finger on what his expression might mean. I just know I wouldn't want anyone looking at me like that. Great work on the miniatures.
Rhinox Rifter Thanks! May I ask what you like about it? The structure? Advice? The witch’s voice? I ask because I’m trying to put my finger on what made this particular video so popular.
@@DUNGEONCRAFT1 Three things come to mind. A: it is freaking great advice/ information. It isn't in the DMG. Seriously! B: structure. Each part is complete, and separately useful. Also structure, how to use and where to put each type of NPC. C: each NPC has a role and you show how to use these tools in a game and thier real world counterpart. (Yoda, Prof X, the femme fatal, the Bully.) The witches voice is just icing on the cake. Especially the polishing the boots bit. Really well done.
@@rhinoxrifter356 Yup, +1 here. The witch is a lot of fun and I'm totally stealing her. The advice is priceless and it's something a lot of us DM's do without thinking these roles through and why they are important. It's really useful that you assigned examples from various fictions most of us are familiar with and then you show a practical example from your campaign. It's very useful stuff.
@@DUNGEONCRAFT1I am here watching this again as well at least 4-5 times. To answer: -1st and foremost is the title or headline if you know anything about sales copy it is key. It immediately gets any DM, or aspiring DM, thinking--what are the 3 types if npcs? Do I have them in my campaign world? Creates an open loop in the brain. The logical way close it/answer the questions is watch the video. -2nd--(And this is rare) he content is ACTUALLY as good as the headline--solid content that every DM can and should and can use immediately.
Dear professor Dungeon Master, I have been starting to DM a game with my friends and we have have a short and very fun campaign that lasted only 6 or so sessions. I used this as a practice run to get a good grip on the game and to test things out. I often tried new things that you talked about such as combat and a simple intuitive way to use spells. Thanks to your videos, that I only discovered no that long ago, I am prepped and ready to DM a full and amazing campaign. I look forward to your future content and will support your channel anyway I can! Thank you, Zack
In my group's Curse of Strahd game the mentor role was filled by Van Richten; the contacts were the keepers of the feather and obviously the main villian was Strahd Von Zarovich. Additionally some of our party members and NPC's were rivals and foals including Kriv (a dragonborn fighter) Tomithia (NPC villian turned ally), and Alexander Von Roeyen-Zarovich (vampire and younger brother to Strahd and Sergei Von Zarovich).
Wow, The Executioners set of NPCs is brilliant. I just want to adopt it into my campaigns and see how the players handle them. Not having them is like denying Christmas to kids. Thanks for this concept, it's really something I'm excited for
I like the idea of triggers. What I've found helpful too, are evolving NPC's. Instead of the NPC with a preconceived background. I casually set up goals for NPC's -- desires and wants that each one will go to the end of the earth to obtain, but none have achieved. Wants and Desires can be as simple as having the best guild in town to as complex as becoming the mayor. Once the desire is found the NPC uses the PC's to achieve their goals. This sets up a goal based world, versus a complete evil and good based world. The NPC evolve in the world, along with the PCs. The PC's can influence the world, as much as the NPC's. The tug and pull take you in weird directions but will achieve balance in the world, while causing a lot of tension between characters and NPC's. The characters usually do not understand that the NPC's goal once achieved, changed the world so drastically that it might not Overall benefit the PC's, and only monetarily benefited them, treasure.
I've been a DM for almost twenty years, and even with that experience I'm learning a lot of good, solid game tips from your channel. Keep up the good work!
always worth rewatching DC vids. You and Runehammer are like GM Bread and Butter. Keep making the world better by spreading the power of storytelling!!!
"Contacts" should be placed on a D&D sheet. To help the players and to motivate the GM to make the world more "full." Now to redesign the Official D&D sheet :)
I don't think so... I mean, there is already a place for allies of characters on the chara sheet... I think a contact is more likely someone they knew during the adventure
Oh wow, totally using tha tSage idea. Excellent! Mine was an 85 year old woman (divination wizard) that knows she needs to go on one last adventure (at the extreme frustration of her husband who is a young looking elf ranger who leaves the room to cry every time she brings the future up).
This is exactly the kind of advice I've needed. Your witch fits in perfectly with an NPC I already have - she's in the tower because she's been imprisoned there for treason (think Eleanor of Aquitaine with spells). And the wizard whose work contains her there is another possible mentor. How interesting if two PCs should choose (or be chosen by) different mentors? Muuuahaha!
Awesome video! I've got a little market area in a little village that is kind of like a D&D suburb outside of the capital city. This is what my players use to reset themselves, get info, rest up, get supplies, trade rumors, etc. I've got a collection of folks there that are my world's mainstay NPCs. Many times when players take the time to interact, they find out there is more to these folks. I've gone through a few villans now as the party is just at the cusp of 7th level now and we've been playing for about a year now. What I have not done yet is to get them linked in with an NPC who has stabbed them in the back or will. Have to think about that one. Super job as always!
Yet another great video, with excellent advice. In my opinion, the information packed in every one of The Professor's videos is immense. I have watched most of them multiple times, and I usually get bits of knowledge that I missed in the previous views. Well written, well constructed, and absolutely one of the top content providers on TH-cam.
I had an elf bard named Velur Driassen that was a regular NPC in my campaign. He was sardonic and egotistical, and fond of making songs to mock the PCs. The party invited him to accompany them on adventures in hopes that he'd get killed, but he was like a cockroach, always surviving the fight, even contributing (although his dice rolls were miserable). He did once help an army of hobgoblins to capture the PCs (rather than killing them), then later snuck in and helped them to escape.
Greetings Prof Dungeon Master. I used to play D&D as a young lad. Played and DMed for many many hours and years of fun with my pals. That was 40 years ago. A few weeks back , my nephew asked me to DM an online Campaign for him and a few friends. Since my playing days , I have given away all my D&D stuff years since to younger potential enjoyers - various rulebooks ( including an Original First Edition D&D , Greyhawk , Blackmoor and one other the name of which I forget) Chivalry and Sorcery , and In the Labyrith , all my homemade maps , dungeons , hand-drawn characters and NPC portraits( Art College) and dice. Rather than re-aquire all the stuff , I have started a new unique map of the "New Kingdoms of the Midworld" , and some small submaps , but I am looking for a very simple streamlined set of rules. Bottom line , I am making my own. Currently I am trying to come up with a Classless System where the characters are about their abilities , NOT their stats ( I have chosen human only for Characters). I know from watching several of your vids that you share some of these sentiments , and I was wondering whether you might disclose how you came to this philosophy , and what mechanism(s) you use to distribute player character skills and skillsets. NOTE I will have magic in my world , but its effects will be (at least at the start ) subtle and of low drama - bending the players minds to want (to search for ) more. Any thoughts appreciated. Kopf in Nova Scotia.
The Sage, the Contact and the Villain. Now that you mention it, I can relate every of those Hommlet NPC's for each group. Very nice tips, I think I need to reinforce more of some NPCs participation in my games!
Your concept of "start small and work outward" is probably the best advice one can give. I started doing this after growing frustrated with the complexity of the "outward -in" approach and I actually find it creates a more diverse and colorful campaign as you can design as your group goes out and you are inspired to fulfill these quirks. Great video all around!
Every video is a gem. Everytime you upload, the next session with my players is better than the previous one. This is really the result of years of experience and making mistakes as a GM and I thoroughly respect that. Not only me, but my players are improving as well, making decisions about their characters I never thought they would. That said, I am eagerly waiting for the video on how to handle druids and their powers.
A group of Rival adventurers to compete with the players for smaller miscellaneous quests and magic items. (Equal in level of the players, with 1d6+1 total members in their group. Party composition can be determined by the Class table in X's GtE, pg 72.) If the players find a notice board with quests, the Rivals makes a competitive group initiative check with the players. The winning team gets first pick of which quest to perform. (If the Rivals win, their quest is already in progress at the time of discovery of the notice board, otherwise they pick an unchosen quest by the players after they leave the board.) The Rivals make a DC 15 save to see if they complete the quest without complications. (The Rivals have a +X modifier to their save equal to the number of members in their group.) On a failure, the Rivals make DC 10 "Death" Saving Rolls until they have 3 successes or failures, using the same modifier as above. (Natural 20s counts as auto success for the entire check, and Natural 1s cause 2 saving throw failures.) On a success for the save, the Rivals fail the quest but loses no members. On a failure, the Rivals lose 1d4 members and still fails the quest. If the Rivals fail the initial Quest DC check by 5 or more, their entire party is wiped out. Any spoils from previous quests will be on their dead (or undead) bodies or even spread out in the area of their failed quest. Their failed quest will be replaced back onto the notice board, with a message that the previous group hasn't claimed completion for the quest yet.
Another excellent video, Professor! I like your description of the 3 types of characters. When you point it out, it’s so obvious...but I never thought of it till now. Thank you and have a great time at Gen Con. Cheers.
My sage is Laurentino ("call me Larry") Mung, a wizard/sorcerer of noble birth. He's been convicted of illegal magic use three times and has been physically maimed by the Kingdom (branded, eyes gouged out, hands and feet crushed and left to heal poorly). His footmen is Dumb Dumb, is based upon Lenny from Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men."
A good NPC as well is a friendly and competent warrior, like Solaire from Dark Souls. A goodwilled, funny and likable character that can help the players in tough situations. It works specially well in smaller groups where no one want to be the cleric :)
I love running paralel npc adventuring groups in my campaigns. They can be used as competitors, rivals, allies or when a pc dies they provide a nifty source of replacement pc's.
Glad you enjoy the monthly prep session. I hope to keep posting them on the first Thursday, but it may change. They are are the hardest episodes to make. Thanks for watching and sharing!
Before I watch I'm going to guess 1. antagonist. - npcs to fight the heroes. 2. Informative. those they get the quests from, those they get clues from, etc. 3. support. - store keeps, npc allies that help in various fashion. torch holders,
Professor! Your stuff is simply fabulous! Super entertaining and very inspiring for me and my game! Thanks for such great information and such colorful ideas! I continue to love your channel. Hope you are having/had a great time at Gencon.
The too strong NPC Ramne in Cult of the Reptile God I have played as very old (as the module suggests) and blind, seeng only through the eyes of his weasel familiar. This makes him even less able to take over from the party though in extremis he can still help. Like the continuing villain idea. Father Sunshine was my continuing cleric villain in the Caves of Chaos and he was pretty successful betraying the party.Despite his creepy unspeaking assistnats. I'm not sure that father trator would have worked. Brotherhood of the Wolf is a canadian/French movie based on the legend of hunting the Beast of Gevauden in France in the late 1700's just before the revolution. There is a Brothel in the movie where one of the whores is a spy , I think for the vatican.Lot of neutral information to be gathered at the brothel about the adventure and the nature of the province they are in and it's people. I have reskinned this as a werewolf hunting D&D expedition mostly cause no one has ever seen this movie.
@@DUNGEONCRAFT1 Okay except you And my buddy who made me watch this on VHS just after it came out in 2000? Oh man she's had a huge career. She was in all the bad Matrix movies, so I guess that is why I didn't know her name. But this one and Big Trouble in Little China ,when I'm trying to go a little more epic, have a lot of the elements I try , hope , pray I can squeeze into my D&D session.
My goodness your channel is good! I cannot stop watching your videos and your experiences and ideas blow my mind 🤯 You have the perfect Game Masters voice and look too lol Not sure if you gave up on your channel but if you have not, run your campaign online or just relate the adventure like an audiobook. You sir have seriously made me want to run that old Keep on the borderline campaign with my own group of players. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. 😉👍
A suggestion for people to use for a sage especially in a West Marches style game. The Sage could be the power source for the magical defenses in the city they need to stay within their keep or in the city limits to maintain the magic. Thus explaining why there's no adventure in the city as is suggested for a West Marches style of play.
I involve my player into this by have a rule I call the 3x3 rule. After they know what kind of world it is we play in, in Session 0, they get the task to write some short paragraph about a person who is enemy with them, a person who is good friends with them, and a person who they know but is more some kind of neutral towards them but connected in some way. I also write an enemy, an friend and a neutral NPC for them to know. A third set is open to fill in later, when the game is already running. So at the end at some point you have 3 enemies, 3 friends and 3 other/neutral NPC's connected to them in some way. They create NPC's in the world they play in, which makes them more involved. Also, you could usetheir NPC's then to have an important rule in their quest - or if you need to get them more emotionally involved, maybe a good friend is kidnapped, or the villain of one of them is also the BBEG, who maybe killed his family so he is especially invested in find this guy (could be the one from the player that tends to be a bit in the background while playing, to get him more into the frontlight) and so on. TL;DR: Let your players create NPC's they are friends or foes with or are otherwise connected to them. Use their NPC's in your campaign.
Love all your stuff!!!! Every time it gives me newer and cooler ideas for the world and makes me think of any that already apply. Keep up the awesome work! Wish there was a discord for this channel 😂
You know I just had a solid Idea for a sage. A Grizzled old warrior who has spent his life fighting monsters and is now to frail and old to keep it up, he can still wreck face with the best of them but only in short bursts before his body starts getting in the way. He's got lots of helpful advice for fighting all kinds of monsters, and can be found conveniently in almost every tavern the party goes to and always seems to have a quest for them if their interested. Maybe he's keeping an eye on these plucky whippersnappers and is grooming them for some big quest. Might even help them out of a spot of trouble from time to time, but not too often, he's not their nanna. I just need a name, something that hit's both the Crotchety Old Man, & Mighty Barbarian note. I'd go with Alfred if not for the whole Batman association... Maybe Gunther?
I fell in love with the Executioners "anti-group", but I am afraid so would my players...if I was to adopt the "opposite" criteria with my dudes (and dudette) the Executioners should be open minded, tolerant and gentle, generally helpful, with no bias towards non-humans and inclined towards good. Hard to pull this one out :(
If your party is evil, they would be good and self-righteous paladins and clerics that seek to give the treasure away to the poor. I actually think I'll put that in the next update!
Make them too nice and good. Make them appear genuine and a bit naive (This last bit is a front to lure evil villains into attacking them, as evil men are want to think themselves more clever than men of principle.) Maybe make them seem a bit judgmental (as far as evil characters go this should not be hard, people tend to take umbrage whenever they don't measure up to another's moral standerds even if those standards are a bit low to begin with.) If your players are in character this should be easy, if they are just a bit thick ham it up and it will make them both hatable and hilarious. Signed a GM who typically plays Paladin.
Just have the "good" executioner group correct all of the wrongs left by the evil PCs. If they manage to bring a witness back to town, thru can flip an entire town on them.
You could do a little bit of both. A lot of times the “anti-group” are so likable BECAUSE they are kind of bullies. gives them an edge. and makes you want to get at them. Maybe he calls the dwarf stunty, but in a particular instant the party dwarf saves his life and he maybe grumbles a thank you and has a bit of a change if heart. not all at once, but a notable slightly more endearing demeanor. changing from purely antagonistic to more of a rivalry. a grudging respect is flavorful.
LOL. I tried to read from a teleprompter at a children's museum exhibit once and was terrible at it. It's a real talent. Thanks for the compliment, though!
This way of making NPC's remind me a little of how "NPC's" in cartoons are usually made. I will definitely be using these tips in my next game which is coming up very soon. I feel like if I get in there with a good rounded cast of NPC's with these qualities, I will be off to a great start.
I wanted to get some advice for a campaign idea I've been working on, the setting and premise for this world is that all the races in the players handbook have been wiped out, the drow and dwarves got conquered by mindflayers ; the humans were destroyed after first a tarasque nomed their capitol, then they were unable to organize an adequate defense against a group I'm calling the horde for now(until I think of a better name) which is basically an organized faction of monstrous races (orcs, Minotaurs, and other mosterous races), the elfs halflings and gnomes died off in similar ways, the tieflings half elfs and half orcs died off due to their simply not being enough of them to continue the species (since they were all the results of humans mating with another species). at this point the world has five main factions, a draconic empire mainly inhabited by lizardfolk and kobolds and ruled over by dragons, these guys are the ones who wiped out the dragonborn after they refused to serve the dragons; a giant kingdom ruled by the storm giants and with goliaths, ogres, and trolls as part of their lower class, these guys are the primary enemies of the dragon kingdom. a previously mentioned group which is a massive band of monstrous races united together, these guys are bassicallly just raiders who attack whatever they can get away with and sometimes work as mercenaries. a yuan-ti empire which has currently not been well fleshed out as I need to research them more. and a united goblinoid empire (this was to hilarious of an idea for me to not do it) this faction is made up of all forms of goblins, hobgoblins and bugbears, and is the primary reason the mind flayers haven't made it out of the underdark yet. so do you guys have any thoughts or recommendations for this setting?
You always need a NPC like the shoe-shine guy in Police Squad? "Hey Johnny, what's the word on the street?" Your tavern keeper is him. th-cam.com/video/b8hTAr7Nw4I/w-d-xo.html
For an extra delicious meal, spice up your trusted contact with a dash of betrayer. An NPC that the players have long relied upon turns out to be in cahoots with the villains or is even at the center of it all as the mastermind. Obviously, this will require some foreshadowing so as not to feel like you pulled it out of thin air, but spring this surprise after many sessions and watch jaws drop. Alternatively, have the NPC betray the players because of circumstances beyond their control (blackmailed, mind control, politics, etc.). The players won't know the exact reasons for the heel turn at first but the NPC can later redeem herself and earn back their trust (hopefully before the PCs kill her).
The friar is that person. I always drop a hint warning them though, which is why Genevieve is suspicious. Thanks for commenting! (P.S. Your terrain is on the way--again!)
My friends and I have just started playing Dungeons and Dragons and it’s just the three of us at the moment. I’m playing DM but to add some party composition I’m playing an elven Cleric too. Kinda like a story support role
Have one or both of the players play 2 characters and make sure any NPC that you play is not the party leader and does not stay with the party for some reason or another...let the players control the party as much as possible.
Aaron Davis yeah, I may have them control two, but the way it’s set up at the moment, my Cleric is very very supportive and makes no choices, he’s just kind of a well if knowledge for things I don’t have other npcs for. And any choices I want to make with him, like social or exploration (or other improvised actions) are considered by the other players in which they establish DC and if it’s even gonna be doable.
All these NPC types are strong archetypal figures. I believe that is another important aspect of story-telling because it provides a sense of deeper meaning and significance. Some of the most satisfying fiction contains these types of timeless characterizations. Just look at Game of Thrones, or Conan the Barbarian.
8:43 "If you're a Seinfeld fan, they're the Bizarro World version of the characters" - I'm not a Seinfeld fan, but I am a Superman fan, so I know that reference!
The sage in my game is Orcus. one of my players sold his soul to him, and now he is undead. He can contact him through any reflective surface since my player lost his reflection when he lost his soul. He has loved it and is slowly turning into a villain.
OMD, I am totes doing that right now in my campaign. I have this Litch Bunny lady ( My world has its own races) and she has been seen scaffling and showing up multiple times in the partys adventure in different outfits and locations and playing roles to toy with the heros. They hate her guts and want her dead. This last event she possed as the Conducter for the train ride to a Camp ground where Shadow Knight Vincrux is looking for soilders, and she had them solve where to find the bomb. The Train blew up, never cut the red wire...
On topic of reoccurring villains: don't just design them. Players can make villains where there shouldn't have been any and they can befriend NPCs you wanted to make villains. While in my world there is no BBEG per se, 3 of the 4 have befriended an arm of my "world villain"s side henchmen and the last one has made friends with their antithesis. Out of context they'd provide good generic villains but since I run a politics tied in game things are never black and white. Will the PCs serve these two separate organisations who vaguely work together but are on completely opposit sides when it comes to war and loyalty? No. Will they support these NPCs? Unless forced to do otherwise (hehe) yes. Will the heroes dotdotdot? Having informants all around yeah good idea but the players do that on their own you don't need to plan them unless it's plot/mission/quest critical. The NPCs you need in your world? Depends on the type of game you're running and on your PCs.
I find the sage in our game amusing. Background: Storm Giants are solitary creatures that only endure the presence of others to collect knowledge or TO PROCREATE! Long story short one Giant gets MULTIPLE other giants pregnant. Now he is stuck taking care of his hundreds of children until they are all adults. He is still a powerful wizard, and is still very active in local politics. But he needs the party to go out and about the world for him.
Dungeon Craft I was thinking of adding something similar to the executioners into my game, what would make it most interesting is there’s a party member who would stop at nothing to make allies of their doubles.
Thanks for commenting, V def! I think that's just a writer (albeit a great one) making an excuse, like "the reason we can't go back in time AGAIN to save Tony is because Dr. Strange has seen all the possible endings and this is the only one that works." when the truth is Robert Downey Jr's contract was up.
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I once had a foppish pirate npc that was a total Badass. He would fool the PCs, steal from them, and generally be a thorn in their side.....but he never wished them any harm...and in a sense liked the PCs...he was just a pirate! He would even sometimes help them (when their interests aligned), like giving them information and advice..even helped in a couple of battles.
The players loved him!
(Note: this was like 4 years before the 1st Pirates of the Caribbean. After one of my players saw the movie they called me and said they immediately thought of our NPC when they watched it:) )
Your players sound super cool! Thanks for watching the channel and taking the time to comment!
Sounds a bit like Jarlaxle. One of my fav NPCs of the Salvatore books.
You have to love it when you create NPC's who are memorable for your players.
"If you cast Light, don't walk around with a glowing staff like an idiot." lol
"Give it to a fighter make them the target" Pure gold
Best part was the Witch overlay with her series of commands, loved it.
Thank you! That took a lot of time to do. Glad it paid off!
LOL the tavern keeper's eyes. I can't quite put my finger on what his expression might mean. I just know I wouldn't want anyone looking at me like that. Great work on the miniatures.
''Shine these boots!'' - to that, one would probably say ''Well fellow companions, looks like my adventure ends here.'' lol
Another great one. I really like the use of minis to help illustrate your explanations. Have a great time at GenCon
So this episode is the one I return to. Probably my favorite. I have listened to it half a dozen times by now.
Rhinox Rifter Thanks! May I ask what you like about it? The structure? Advice? The witch’s voice? I ask because I’m trying to put my finger on what made this particular video so popular.
@@DUNGEONCRAFT1
Three things come to mind.
A: it is freaking great advice/ information. It isn't in the DMG. Seriously!
B: structure. Each part is complete, and separately useful. Also structure, how to use and where to put each type of NPC.
C: each NPC has a role and you show how to use these tools in a game and thier real world counterpart. (Yoda, Prof X, the femme fatal, the Bully.)
The witches voice is just icing on the cake. Especially the polishing the boots bit. Really well done.
@@rhinoxrifter356 Yup, +1 here. The witch is a lot of fun and I'm totally stealing her. The advice is priceless and it's something a lot of us DM's do without thinking these roles through and why they are important. It's really useful that you assigned examples from various fictions most of us are familiar with and then you show a practical example from your campaign. It's very useful stuff.
@@DUNGEONCRAFT1I am here watching this again as well at least 4-5 times. To answer:
-1st and foremost is the title or headline if you know anything about sales copy it is key. It immediately gets any DM, or aspiring DM, thinking--what are the 3 types if npcs?
Do I have them in my campaign world?
Creates an open loop in the brain. The logical way close it/answer the questions is watch the video.
-2nd--(And this is rare) he content is ACTUALLY as good as the headline--solid content that every DM can and should and can use immediately.
Same. I know this video like the back of my hand and I still come back to it again and again. It's just a fun video.
Excellent video. Taking notes
Dear professor Dungeon Master,
I have been starting to DM a game with my friends and we have have a short and very fun campaign that lasted only 6 or so sessions. I used this as a practice run to get a good grip on the game and to test things out. I often tried new things that you talked about such as combat and a simple intuitive way to use spells. Thanks to your videos, that I only discovered no that long ago, I am prepped and ready to DM a full and amazing campaign. I look forward to your future content and will support your channel anyway I can!
Thank you,
Zack
That's great to hear, Zack. I really want to give people the confidence to DM. The world needs you!
In my group's Curse of Strahd game the mentor role was filled by Van Richten; the contacts were the keepers of the feather and obviously the main villian was Strahd Von Zarovich. Additionally some of our party members and NPC's were rivals and foals including Kriv (a dragonborn fighter) Tomithia (NPC villian turned ally), and Alexander Von Roeyen-Zarovich (vampire and younger brother to Strahd and Sergei Von Zarovich).
Wow, The Executioners set of NPCs is brilliant. I just want to adopt it into my campaigns and see how the players handle them. Not having them is like denying Christmas to kids.
Thanks for this concept, it's really something I'm excited for
No problem. They will return in a follow-up video.
I like the idea of triggers. What I've found helpful too, are evolving NPC's. Instead of the NPC with a preconceived background. I casually set up goals for NPC's -- desires and wants that each one will go to the end of the earth to obtain, but none have achieved. Wants and Desires can be as simple as having the best guild in town to as complex as becoming the mayor. Once the desire is found the NPC uses the PC's to achieve their goals. This sets up a goal based world, versus a complete evil and good based world. The NPC evolve in the world, along with the PCs. The PC's can influence the world, as much as the NPC's. The tug and pull take you in weird directions but will achieve balance in the world, while causing a lot of tension between characters and NPC's. The characters usually do not understand that the NPC's goal once achieved, changed the world so drastically that it might not Overall benefit the PC's, and only monetarily benefited them, treasure.
Great ideas! I hope people take the time to read your thoughtful post.
I've been a DM for almost twenty years, and even with that experience I'm learning a lot of good, solid game tips from your channel. Keep up the good work!
I am saving this for future reference, this is amazing and helpful.
always worth rewatching DC vids. You and Runehammer are like GM Bread and Butter. Keep making the world better by spreading the power of storytelling!!!
I love the minis you use in your videos
Thanks, Heath! Some people want be to do a runway model episode where I discuss the brands, etc. What do you think?
I think it would be an awsome idea!
"Contacts" should be placed on a D&D sheet. To help the players and to motivate the GM to make the world more "full." Now to redesign the Official D&D sheet :)
A great idea!
@@DUNGEONCRAFT1 I simply made trading cards of important npc's and the 9 card sleeves for their character folders to hold them in.
@@alostsol Cool idea!
No need, there's already an area for allies.
I don't think so... I mean, there is already a place for allies of characters on the chara sheet... I think a contact is more likely someone they knew during the adventure
Oh wow, totally using tha tSage idea. Excellent! Mine was an 85 year old woman (divination wizard) that knows she needs to go on one last adventure (at the extreme frustration of her husband who is a young looking elf ranger who leaves the room to cry every time she brings the future up).
I really liked the production values for this video. The miniatures, lighting effect, music ques and camera work added a really fun element.
Thanks, Dan! Keep sharing these videos and we'll make more!
This is exactly the kind of advice I've needed. Your witch fits in perfectly with an NPC I already have - she's in the tower because she's been imprisoned there for treason (think Eleanor of Aquitaine with spells). And the wizard whose work contains her there is another possible mentor.
How interesting if two PCs should choose (or be chosen by) different mentors? Muuuahaha!
Awesome video! I've got a little market area in a little village that is kind of like a D&D suburb outside of the capital city. This is what my players use to reset themselves, get info, rest up, get supplies, trade rumors, etc. I've got a collection of folks there that are my world's mainstay NPCs. Many times when players take the time to interact, they find out there is more to these folks. I've gone through a few villans now as the party is just at the cusp of 7th level now and we've been playing for about a year now. What I have not done yet is to get them linked in with an NPC who has stabbed them in the back or will. Have to think about that one. Super job as always!
Thanks for taking the time to share and comment!
Yet another great video, with excellent advice.
In my opinion, the information packed in every one of The Professor's videos is immense. I have watched most of them multiple times, and I usually get bits of knowledge that I missed in the previous views. Well written, well constructed, and absolutely one of the top content providers on TH-cam.
Thanks! That video was one of my favorites. Please share it!
I had an elf bard named Velur Driassen that was a regular NPC in my campaign. He was sardonic and egotistical, and fond of making songs to mock the PCs. The party invited him to accompany them on adventures in hopes that he'd get killed, but he was like a cockroach, always surviving the fight, even contributing (although his dice rolls were miserable). He did once help an army of hobgoblins to capture the PCs (rather than killing them), then later snuck in and helped them to escape.
Greetings Prof Dungeon Master. I used to play D&D as a young lad. Played and DMed for many many hours and years of fun with my pals. That was 40 years ago. A few weeks back , my nephew asked me to DM an online Campaign for him and a few friends. Since my playing days , I have given away all my D&D stuff years since to younger potential enjoyers - various rulebooks ( including an Original First Edition D&D , Greyhawk , Blackmoor and one other the name of which I forget) Chivalry and Sorcery , and In the Labyrith , all my homemade maps , dungeons , hand-drawn characters and NPC portraits( Art College) and dice. Rather than re-aquire all the stuff , I have started a new unique map of the "New Kingdoms of the Midworld" , and some small submaps , but I am looking for a very simple streamlined set of rules. Bottom line , I am making my own. Currently I am trying to come up with a Classless System where the characters are about their abilities , NOT their stats ( I have chosen human only for Characters). I know from watching several of your vids that you share some of these sentiments , and I was wondering whether you might disclose how you came to this philosophy , and what mechanism(s) you use to distribute player character skills and skillsets. NOTE I will have magic in my world , but its effects will be (at least at the start ) subtle and of low drama - bending the players minds to want (to search for ) more. Any thoughts appreciated. Kopf in Nova Scotia.
Yo, Max Manheim's theme music is a legit bop. Made me like him the best among your rogue's gallery :)
That's "Blue Scorpion" by Kevin Macleod. Cheers!
@@DUNGEONCRAFT1 Thanks Prof, I'll be using it when introducing the lunatics at the asylum in Curse of Strahd.
My favorite sage: Fizban the human (?) wizard of Krynn!
I love the use of your miniatures. I've returned to this video a few times over the last few years, and i'm always impressed.
love when you make videos about gameplay advice like this. so helpful. and I get so many ideas for running my session while watching! thank you!
You're welcome! These take a looooong time to film so I appreciate the kind words.
The Sage, the Contact and the Villain. Now that you mention it, I can relate every of those Hommlet NPC's for each group.
Very nice tips, I think I need to reinforce more of some NPCs participation in my games!
Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment!
Your concept of "start small and work outward" is probably the best advice one can give. I started doing this after growing frustrated with the complexity of the "outward -in" approach and I actually find it creates a more diverse and colorful campaign as you can design as your group goes out and you are inspired to fulfill these quirks. Great video all around!
Great advice. Best RPG channel out there!
Also NPCs dept is a good way to encourage your players to add dept yo their characters. I loved the Witch comments hahaha
Sages are so regular in our games we have a name for them. We call them Vogs... its short for Venerable Old Geezer! 😆
Every video is a gem. Everytime you upload, the next session with my players is better than the previous one. This is really the result of years of experience and making mistakes as a GM and I thoroughly respect that. Not only me, but my players are improving as well, making decisions about their characters I never thought they would.
That said, I am eagerly waiting for the video on how to handle druids and their powers.
How have I never seen this video of yours professor? I been watching your videos for years, especially campaign videos.
A group of Rival adventurers to compete with the players for smaller miscellaneous quests and magic items. (Equal in level of the players, with 1d6+1 total members in their group. Party composition can be determined by the Class table in X's GtE, pg 72.)
If the players find a notice board with quests, the Rivals makes a competitive group initiative check with the players. The winning team gets first pick of which quest to perform. (If the Rivals win, their quest is already in progress at the time of discovery of the notice board, otherwise they pick an unchosen quest by the players after they leave the board.)
The Rivals make a DC 15 save to see if they complete the quest without complications. (The Rivals have a +X modifier to their save equal to the number of members in their group.)
On a failure, the Rivals make DC 10 "Death" Saving Rolls until they have 3 successes or failures, using the same modifier as above. (Natural 20s counts as auto success for the entire check, and Natural 1s cause 2 saving throw failures.) On a success for the save, the Rivals fail the quest but loses no members. On a failure, the Rivals lose 1d4 members and still fails the quest.
If the Rivals fail the initial Quest DC check by 5 or more, their entire party is wiped out. Any spoils from previous quests will be on their dead (or undead) bodies or even spread out in the area of their failed quest. Their failed quest will be replaced back onto the notice board, with a message that the previous group hasn't claimed completion for the quest yet.
Great game design! Thanks for taking the time to comment!
Bizarro World is Superman. Seinfield famously has a Superman reference in every episode though, so clever lol
definitely love the idea of pulling in the villains for a few lighter, social skirmishes before the full-fledged battle. Thx Professor!
You're welcome!
Another excellent video, Professor! I like your description of the 3 types of characters. When you point it out, it’s so obvious...but I never thought of it till now. Thank you and have a great time at Gen Con. Cheers.
Kingdom Death miniature
My sage is Laurentino ("call me Larry") Mung, a wizard/sorcerer of noble birth. He's been convicted of illegal magic use three times and has been physically maimed by the Kingdom (branded, eyes gouged out, hands and feet crushed and left to heal poorly). His footmen is Dumb Dumb, is based upon Lenny from Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men."
What a magical realm.
Love this idea. Professor Dungeon Master is full of great advice!
When did Raven become a drugged out dominatrix? O.o
She's not a dominatrix. She's a vegetarian who likes lots of boots.
Yeah. I really want that "Raven" mini. My D&D really needs a Teen Titan boost
@@bonefactory1393 Hassle Free Miniatures, UK.
When she turned legal.
She always was one....
Good information
I like using NPCs to get the party to let down their guard, sounds like you do too.
Nice video
A good NPC as well is a friendly and competent warrior, like Solaire from Dark Souls. A goodwilled, funny and likable character that can help the players in tough situations. It works specially well in smaller groups where no one want to be the cleric :)
My sage is the Professor Dungeon Master! ;) Great video, sir - very insightful!
So you think but the reality is that he is the recurring villain.
Saying bizzaro world is from Seinfeld is like saying Jesus is from South Park. :)
Benjamin von Sück yeah agreed but I think he was trying to reach the broadest group. Not many remember it’s original introduction I’d think.
Isn't it from DC, the home from Bizarro, counter to Superman? Or am I mixing things again?
menno graafmans originally appeared in 60s comics.
There was a doppelganger episode of Seinfeld
Everyone knows it's from SeaLab 2021.
After this video I am confident that Professor Dungeon Master has hired the local enchanter to upgrade his magical Tweed Jacket of Insight to +2!
Thanks, Shark!
Just wanna say thanks Dr Oublietteboss, you're my favourite.
Great video. Thanks, Professor.
Thanks. This is the first of my videos to get widespread attention. Now it’s at nearly 100k views. Please share it so it can cross that line!
I love running paralel npc adventuring groups in my campaigns.
They can be used as competitors, rivals, allies or when a pc dies they provide a nifty source of replacement pc's.
Right on time. I was in need of this. Thanks
Glad you enjoy the monthly prep session. I hope to keep posting them on the first Thursday, but it may change. They are are the hardest episodes to make. Thanks for watching and sharing!
Love this video, great input for my prep!
Before I watch I'm going to guess
1. antagonist. - npcs to fight the heroes.
2. Informative. those they get the quests from, those they get clues from, etc.
3. support. - store keeps, npc allies that help in various fashion. torch holders,
Pretty close but different enough to make it worth watching!
Professor! Your stuff is simply fabulous! Super entertaining and very inspiring for me and my game! Thanks for such great information and such colorful ideas! I continue to love your channel. Hope you are having/had a great time at Gencon.
Thanks for taking the time to comment! Please share the video if you can!
Going to DM in 6 days.
This video is so helpful. Thanks! 🙏
Let me know how it goes!
A DM I know used that very same picture you have as your profile picture for an NPC
The too strong NPC Ramne in Cult of the Reptile God I have played as very old (as the module suggests) and blind, seeng only through the eyes of his weasel familiar. This makes him even less able to take over from the party though in extremis he can still help.
Like the continuing villain idea.
Father Sunshine was my continuing cleric villain in the Caves of Chaos and he was pretty successful betraying the party.Despite his creepy unspeaking assistnats. I'm not sure that father trator would have worked.
Brotherhood of the Wolf is a canadian/French movie based on the legend of hunting the Beast of Gevauden in France in the late 1700's just before the revolution. There is a Brothel in the movie where one of the whores is a spy , I think for the vatican.Lot of neutral information to be gathered at the brothel about the adventure and the nature of the province they are in and it's people. I have reskinned this as a werewolf hunting D&D expedition mostly cause no one has ever seen this movie.
Monica Bellucci...that film is one of my all-time favorites.
@@DUNGEONCRAFT1 Okay except you And my buddy who made me watch this on VHS just after it came out in 2000?
Oh man she's had a huge career. She was in all the bad Matrix movies, so I guess that is why I didn't know her name.
But this one and Big Trouble in Little China ,when I'm trying to go a little more epic, have a lot of the elements I try , hope , pray I can squeeze into my D&D session.
My goodness your channel is good!
I cannot stop watching your videos and your experiences and ideas blow my mind 🤯
You have the perfect Game Masters voice and look too lol
Not sure if you gave up on your channel but if you have not, run your campaign online or just relate the adventure like an audiobook.
You sir have seriously made me want to run that old Keep on the borderline campaign with my own group of players.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge. 😉👍
Excellent. This is just excellent.
Thanks, Geoffrey! I'm glad you found it helpful and thanks for taking the time to leave a comment.
A suggestion for people to use for a sage especially in a West Marches style game. The Sage could be the power source for the magical defenses in the city they need to stay within their keep or in the city limits to maintain the magic. Thus explaining why there's no adventure in the city as is suggested for a West Marches style of play.
Very good thinking!
Love the idea of a group of "bizarro" npcs that are similar to the heroes but are their rivals. I just may try that!
I involve my player into this by have a rule I call the 3x3 rule.
After they know what kind of world it is we play in, in Session 0, they get the task to write some short paragraph about a person who is enemy with them, a person who is good friends with them, and a person who they know but is more some kind of neutral towards them but connected in some way. I also write an enemy, an friend and a neutral NPC for them to know. A third set is open to fill in later, when the game is already running. So at the end at some point you have 3 enemies, 3 friends and 3 other/neutral NPC's connected to them in some way.
They create NPC's in the world they play in, which makes them more involved.
Also, you could usetheir NPC's then to have an important rule in their quest - or if you need to get them more emotionally involved, maybe a good friend is kidnapped, or the villain of one of them is also the BBEG, who maybe killed his family so he is especially invested in find this guy (could be the one from the player that tends to be a bit in the background while playing, to get him more into the frontlight) and so on.
TL;DR: Let your players create NPC's they are friends or foes with or are otherwise connected to them. Use their NPC's in your campaign.
Great ideas here. Thanks for sharing!
Stealing this.
Great advice again!!! Thank you professor!
Fantastic video. One of your best!
Great information. Thank you.
Love all your stuff!!!! Every time it gives me newer and cooler ideas for the world and makes me think of any that already apply. Keep up the awesome work! Wish there was a discord for this channel 😂
Thank you! I'll consider a discord. You now we have a Facebook group that is growing rapidly.
your terrain collection is yuuuge! Still so much stuff to show us :)
You know I just had a solid Idea for a sage. A Grizzled old warrior who has spent his life fighting monsters and is now to frail and old to keep it up, he can still wreck face with the best of them but only in short bursts before his body starts getting in the way. He's got lots of helpful advice for fighting all kinds of monsters, and can be found conveniently in almost every tavern the party goes to and always seems to have a quest for them if their interested. Maybe he's keeping an eye on these plucky whippersnappers and is grooming them for some big quest. Might even help them out of a spot of trouble from time to time, but not too often, he's not their nanna.
I just need a name, something that hit's both the Crotchety Old Man, & Mighty Barbarian note. I'd go with Alfred if not for the whole Batman association... Maybe Gunther?
You just described all might from my my hero anime
Wildcat in DC comics is like this
With theese great npcs I turned my Session into a single player adventure I really enjoy it.
Great advice,,,, I've only used a couple of these characters before, but will look to use more or all together in future. :)
I fell in love with the Executioners "anti-group", but I am afraid so would my players...if I was to adopt the "opposite" criteria with my dudes (and dudette) the Executioners should be open minded, tolerant and gentle, generally helpful, with no bias towards non-humans and inclined towards good. Hard to pull this one out :(
If your party is evil, they would be good and self-righteous paladins and clerics that seek to give the treasure away to the poor. I actually think I'll put that in the next update!
Make them too nice and good. Make them appear genuine and a bit naive (This last bit is a front to lure evil villains into attacking them, as evil men are want to think themselves more clever than men of principle.) Maybe make them seem a bit judgmental (as far as evil characters go this should not be hard, people tend to take umbrage whenever they don't measure up to another's moral standerds even if those standards are a bit low to begin with.) If your players are in character this should be easy, if they are just a bit thick ham it up and it will make them both hatable and hilarious.
Signed a GM who typically plays Paladin.
@@patrickbuckley7259 I could not have conceived a better response. Well said!
Just have the "good" executioner group correct all of the wrongs left by the evil PCs. If they manage to bring a witness back to town, thru can flip an entire town on them.
You could do a little bit of both. A lot of times the “anti-group” are so likable BECAUSE they are kind of bullies. gives them an edge. and makes you want to get at them.
Maybe he calls the dwarf stunty, but in a particular instant the party dwarf saves his life and he maybe grumbles a thank you and has a bit of a change if heart. not all at once, but a notable slightly more endearing demeanor. changing from purely antagonistic to more of a rivalry. a grudging respect is flavorful.
You sound like a news anchor and I love it
LOL. I tried to read from a teleprompter at a children's museum exhibit once and was terrible at it. It's a real talent. Thanks for the compliment, though!
You ought to make an adventure out of this. Really digging your remastered Caves of Chaos!
This way of making NPC's remind me a little of how "NPC's" in cartoons are usually made. I will definitely be using these tips in my next game which is coming up very soon. I feel like if I get in there with a good rounded cast of NPC's with these qualities, I will be off to a great start.
I wanted to get some advice for a campaign idea I've been working on, the setting and premise for this world is that all the races in the players handbook have been wiped out, the drow and dwarves got conquered by mindflayers ; the humans were destroyed after first a tarasque nomed their capitol, then they were unable to organize an adequate defense against a group I'm calling the horde for now(until I think of a better name) which is basically an organized faction of monstrous races (orcs, Minotaurs, and other mosterous races), the elfs halflings and gnomes died off in similar ways, the tieflings half elfs and half orcs died off due to their simply not being enough of them to continue the species (since they were all the results of humans mating with another species). at this point the world has five main factions, a draconic empire mainly inhabited by lizardfolk and kobolds and ruled over by dragons, these guys are the ones who wiped out the dragonborn after they refused to serve the dragons; a giant kingdom ruled by the storm giants and with goliaths, ogres, and trolls as part of their lower class, these guys are the primary enemies of the dragon kingdom. a previously mentioned group which is a massive band of monstrous races united together, these guys are bassicallly just raiders who attack whatever they can get away with and sometimes work as mercenaries. a yuan-ti empire which has currently not been well fleshed out as I need to research them more. and a united goblinoid empire (this was to hilarious of an idea for me to not do it) this faction is made up of all forms of goblins, hobgoblins and bugbears, and is the primary reason the mind flayers haven't made it out of the underdark yet. so do you guys have any thoughts or recommendations for this setting?
Me and that witch have some things in common. Especially the hallucinogenic herbs and probing the cosmos part lol
Remember--do not spell cast and drive!
You always need a NPC like the shoe-shine guy in Police Squad?
"Hey Johnny, what's the word on the street?"
Your tavern keeper is him.
th-cam.com/video/b8hTAr7Nw4I/w-d-xo.html
Hahahahahahahahaha, you sir are a true Fan if good comedy.
@@kevynhansyn2902 Cheers, mate. Thanks for replying.
For an extra delicious meal, spice up your trusted contact with a dash of betrayer. An NPC that the players have long relied upon turns out to be in cahoots with the villains or is even at the center of it all as the mastermind. Obviously, this will require some foreshadowing so as not to feel like you pulled it out of thin air, but spring this surprise after many sessions and watch jaws drop. Alternatively, have the NPC betray the players because of circumstances beyond their control (blackmailed, mind control, politics, etc.). The players won't know the exact reasons for the heel turn at first but the NPC can later redeem herself and earn back their trust (hopefully before the PCs kill her).
The friar is that person. I always drop a hint warning them though, which is why Genevieve is suspicious. Thanks for commenting! (P.S. Your terrain is on the way--again!)
@@DUNGEONCRAFT1 Thanks, Prof! I'm eagerly awaiting its arrival.
Some great ideas here, thanks!
You are welcome!
My friends and I have just started playing Dungeons and Dragons and it’s just the three of us at the moment. I’m playing DM but to add some party composition I’m playing an elven Cleric too. Kinda like a story support role
Have one or both of the players play 2 characters and make sure any NPC that you play is not the party leader and does not stay with the party for some reason or another...let the players control the party as much as possible.
Aaron Davis yeah, I may have them control two, but the way it’s set up at the moment, my Cleric is very very supportive and makes no choices, he’s just kind of a well if knowledge for things I don’t have other npcs for. And any choices I want to make with him, like social or exploration (or other improvised actions) are considered by the other players in which they establish DC and if it’s even gonna be doable.
Saw you at Gencon, didn't want to interrupt. Hope you had a good one!
You can always interrupt. I always have free swag to give away. You're never bothering me.
Fantastic! Always inspiring. Ty.
All these NPC types are strong archetypal figures. I believe that is another important aspect of story-telling because it provides a sense of deeper meaning and significance. Some of the most satisfying fiction contains these types of timeless characterizations. Just look at Game of Thrones, or Conan the Barbarian.
Absolutely! Thanks for commenting!
Excellent ideas!
Thanks, Tom! Share it!
"Max Manheim"
*Music changes *
*Headbanging intensifies *
8:43 "If you're a Seinfeld fan, they're the Bizarro World version of the characters" - I'm not a Seinfeld fan, but I am a Superman fan, so I know that reference!
Do NOT, I repeat, DO NOT mess with the screaming antelope. Ever.
The sage in my game is Orcus. one of my players sold his soul to him, and now he is undead. He can contact him through any reflective surface since my player lost his reflection when he lost his soul. He has loved it and is slowly turning into a villain.
OMD, I am totes doing that right now in my campaign. I have this Litch Bunny lady ( My world has its own races) and she has been seen scaffling and showing up multiple times in the partys adventure in different outfits and locations and playing roles to toy with the heros. They hate her guts and want her dead. This last event she possed as the Conducter for the train ride to a Camp ground where Shadow Knight Vincrux is looking for soilders, and she had them solve where to find the bomb. The Train blew up, never cut the red wire...
Thanks for sharing!
Like the Executioners, might transform them into horrific chaos spawn like monsters for a nice boss fight.
Very nice info.
i need a feme fatalle in my life...cof cof i mean in my game
I married mine.
I don't trust Gustav Gobblegut... Those are the eyes of a man who has sent many on adventures, and never saw them again.
Lol. Thanks for commenting.!
Look at those pupils of the Baarkeep. He's high as F! Wouldn't trust one word of his xD
I REALLY need to repaint those eyes.
On topic of reoccurring villains: don't just design them. Players can make villains where there shouldn't have been any and they can befriend NPCs you wanted to make villains.
While in my world there is no BBEG per se, 3 of the 4 have befriended an arm of my "world villain"s side henchmen and the last one has made friends with their antithesis. Out of context they'd provide good generic villains but since I run a politics tied in game things are never black and white.
Will the PCs serve these two separate organisations who vaguely work together but are on completely opposit sides when it comes to war and loyalty? No. Will they support these NPCs? Unless forced to do otherwise (hehe) yes. Will the heroes dotdotdot?
Having informants all around yeah good idea but the players do that on their own you don't need to plan them unless it's plot/mission/quest critical.
The NPCs you need in your world? Depends on the type of game you're running and on your PCs.
I find the sage in our game amusing. Background: Storm Giants are solitary creatures that only endure the presence of others to collect knowledge or TO PROCREATE! Long story short one Giant gets MULTIPLE other giants pregnant. Now he is stuck taking care of his hundreds of children until they are all adults. He is still a powerful wizard, and is still very active in local politics. But he needs the party to go out and about the world for him.
That's a cool idea! Thanks for sharing and watching DungeonCraft!
Dungeon Craft Thanks!
Dungeon Craft I was thinking of adding something similar to the executioners into my game, what would make it most interesting is there’s a party member who would stop at nothing to make allies of their doubles.
@@Jack-te8om You're welcome!
I definitely need Raven in my campaign
To be fair, Gandalf was forbidden by Eru to interfere in mortals' issues, hence why he very rarely used magic at all.
Thanks for commenting, V def! I think that's just a writer (albeit a great one) making an excuse, like "the reason we can't go back in time AGAIN to save Tony is because Dr. Strange has seen all the possible endings and this is the only one that works." when the truth is Robert Downey Jr's contract was up.
that barkeeps eyes tho