Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 DontEatRawHagis Dec 01, 2014 6:54:42	One of my players has a pretty interesting background for their character that I want to explore more of.    She he was a student at an academy of magic until one of her friends died and another was charged with the murder. As such she left the Academy and avoids it like the plague. In fact when the party's journey would have them traveling by it she convinced them to avoid it. Adding about 1 week of travel time.   currently an NPC who was a Teacher at the academy is evacuating towards the PCs. How do I do justice to this NPC? How do I Roleplay a teacher whose student abandoned their studies and whose friend is a convicted murderer?
#2 iserith Dec 01, 2014 7:07:36	Honestly, until you're sure the player will actually interact with the NPC rather than avoid it completely, I wouldn't put too much thought into it. This sounds like a player who isn't interested in conflict related to her backstory. For now, I'd just consider the NPC's motivations, needs, and what opportunities for adventure it can offer the PCs.Throw a distinguishing trait or mannerism on there and you're golden.
#3 shpelley Dec 01, 2014 7:45:28	DontEatRawHagis wrote:
#4 Chaosmancer Dec 02, 2014 7:06:35	I have trouble with this too, if the NPC was in their head it makes it difficult to play them.   My best advice? Talk it out with the player, if possible. Get them to help craft the NPC so that it feels true to their backstory, but remember that people never know everything about those around them, so you can still surprise them wuth a sudden twist.
#5 BRJN Dec 02, 2014 8:57:36	Disguise the Academician as something else (think Aragorn / Strider).  Why is he heading in the same direction as the PCs?  Is he looking for them on purpose, or is this just a coincidence?  Does he want to discuss the past or the future?  Does he want to take action of some sort? When this mysterious stranger sits down at the tavern with the PCs to eat dinner, have him show the Academy Insignia - maybe on the inside of a necklace? - to the PC.  Ask if they may talk about things both comfortable and uncomfortable.  See how the player reacts.
#6 Lashan Dec 02, 2014 9:27:52	So, the NPC isn't someone specifically mentioned in the PC's back story, right?  So, you have free realm to make up the character.   How would they act?  Well, if I was a professor with a small class...then one died...murdered by another student....and a third quit the whole school?  I'd be questioning myself as a teacher.  I'd be down on everything.  They are evacuating towards the players?  Seems like there is something nasty that is outside of their control.  I'd probably play the teacher overall that has had their world turned upside down.   I mean, first have the NPC react favorably towards the player ("Oh, Suzy, you are alright!  So glad to see you").  Then, I would mumble about how topsy turvey things have been and how things aren't the same ("It's been a long way since I caught you and Frederick sneaking food out of the kitchen after hours....What's happened to the world today?").  At that point, if the converstation is still on-going, there are a few ways you can handle it.   1) NPC is really shaken and needs reassuring.  Maybe even protection.  They see themselves as past their prime and the player as the new future....the passing of the torch. 2) Get upset about how things have gotten out of sorts and the player leaving their studies is just another example of things being out of whack when they didn't have to be. 3) NPC is reassuring and fatherly towards the pc.  NPC provides wise advice and sage council.  "It's not your fault...."