The more important a character, the moreback story they should have. Is this a friend or someone who is normally a foe? Are they looking to barter or for payment? Are they trustworthy or will they double-cross the players at some point? Have the players met this character before? And if so, what did they discuss? How did the encounter go?Īnswering some of these questions before a game/campaign can help you plan an arc or storyline involving this NPC. Think about including how the messenger got there, were they followed, are they in danger. Meeting a casual messenger in a tavern will limit the backstory needed and help you handle some unexpected situations. Think about the important things that an encounter with an NPC will bring to the game.

Not every character needs a backstory, and even when they do it doesn’t have to be their entire life history. There is nothing wrong with player characters meeting their demise as long as it fits, is fair, and everyone had a good time and believe it to be a fair fight. DMs need to think about the target audience for their characters, and they should present a challenge, but not too much so. Their skills need to be something that the players can overcome, but won't result in a steamroll should they fail. If you create something too unrealistic, or too powerful, your players may become disgruntled and shatter the immersion. The most important factor to consider is that your NPCs should add to the fun. RELATED: New D&D Unearthed Arcana Lets Everyone Use Shields But how? Where do you begin? Join us now as we look at how to create believable NPCs for your Dungeons & Dragons games. As a DM, it is your job to provide your players with challenging antagonists that have depth, not just a two-dimensional cookie-cutter NPC. You owe your players nothing less than the same. A rich and diverse backstory will explain the origins of their character, as well as the wants, needs, and motivations. The default skills and abilities will have been accompanied by those that fit the persona they look to play. Hours will have been spent choosing the class and race, before a single die is rolled. This will be a work of art their pride and joy. When our intrepid heroes come to the table, they bring with them a carefully crafted character.

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