How do you name an NPC - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

How do you name an NPC

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
BuddhaKai
Oct 27, 2011 23:56:45 Quick question that I can hopfully get a long answer for. How do you determine what NPCs get named? kings and Lords obviously get named, but do you name every fisherman or shop keep? Do your bartenders get names? Do you name your town guards? What warrants a NPC getting a name? you don't just name an NPC when a character askes do you?

I'm not looking for a list of names, I need knowledge on who I should name in any given town.
#2
ToeSama
Oct 28, 2011 1:28:42 I typically go with general (or when comically appropriate, ridiculous) names if I need to provide a faceless NPC with some sort of on the spot depth. Billy is a good example. He was a goblin. But then he wasn't. Taken to the great goblin raid in the sky by an untimely explosion from an unseen location. The rest of the goblins mourned him so, and feared it was wha they ate earlier that caused it. My players were rolling XD

As for your question on WHO you should give a name, only name characters that are going to be around for more than one scene. The fisherman at the docks, for example, who just happens to know about the secret entrance the PCs are looking for to get in the sewers, might not be showing back up so no need to name him. But the Inn keeper that put the PCs up out of the kindess of their heart and just suddenly gets kidnapped by the outlaws the PCs were tracking should at least get a named roll in the final credits.

Happy Gaming
#3
slobo777a
Oct 28, 2011 2:59:51 I name key NPCs that I intend for the players to meet or talk to - anyone who will be "on scene" for more than a few minutes, or anything the PCs are supposed to be searching for.

For everything else, I keep pre-made lists of NPC names handy and assign them, or make something up on the spot. If the PCs take some random mook prisoner, turn round a combat encounter into a talky one in some other way, or decide to involve the (up to that point) faceless barkeep, then I reach for my list.

In a bind, we've also used things around the table to name things - books, snack packaging, posters. If I'm not quick to name an NPC, one of the players will often suggest something and it usually sticks.

#4
ciaran
Oct 28, 2011 7:32:47 When we ask for an npcs name and there isn't one, our dm reads one from his paper with randomly generated names and writes a note next to it. That way we know its an unimportant character.

Seriously thought, as a dm I name anyone with a write-up, those associated with an important place, having information, etc.
#5
abk_calis
Oct 28, 2011 12:59:33 I generally try to come up with a basic outline of any village/town/city which includes an equivilant real world culture. I then mix and match parts of place names taken from a map of that area.

For example, a village with an Asian motif might have a tavernkeepr named Xu-shan or an Arabian setting may have a local lord named Sheik Zayd al-Hasib.

Maps and online random name generators are your friends.
#6
yronimosw
Oct 28, 2011 14:48:51 I usually only name people I expect the PCs to need to know by name - quest-givers, key villains, important allies, and that sort of thing.

The sorts of people that busy PCs wouldn't really know the names of just get descriptive titles... "The Shopkeeper", "The Fisherman", "The Politician Who Was Kissing Hands and Shaking Babies", "The Barmaid".

For more important folks, I used to do a lot of random fantasy names, but they get so difficult to remember, I've been just giving such NPCs generic Eastern European -sounding names... Boris, Vladimir, Mikhail, Pietre, Tatyana, Svetlana, and so on.
#7
yellowdingo
Oct 29, 2011 20:02:45 TSR and WOTC drew pretty much every name for every NPC from the INDOEUROPEAN Root Appendix you will likely find at the back of your Better Dictionary. Intentional or otherwise that is where they came from.

Here: Sokka: So-Ka (Nominative This + Desire) - the names are often a reflection of the dominant aspect of their personality or behavior or roll. In the case of Sokka he always expresses an opinion as to what he likes even when he isnt the one being asked.

Boris: Bhrei- (To Cut, Break) - So Boris breaks things? Sounds like a good name for a brutal and very large minion who breaks legs and arms when the boss says so.

Vladimir: Ul-ad-mer (To howl + at + Trouble) - This is a bit open but it sounds like Vladimir is the Warrior on watch who makes a wolf sound when it looks like there is going to be trouble.
#8
Pyrate_Jib
Nov 17, 2011 10:07:14 I bought a baby name book and keep it nearby when we game. I try and pick unique names when the players want to know the name of the priest at the local temple or the captain of the barge on the river. Cost about $2.00 USD.
#9
AnimeSniper
Nov 22, 2011 21:52:15 At first when I typed what I remembered of the site I thought it was taken down then I checked my Favorites tab and found the link to the actual page I thought of so here it or rather they are... and check out the other parts of the page

Main Page www.kismetrose.com/dnd/DandDIndex.html

Character Name Page www.kismetrose.com/dnd/MyCharacterNameLi...

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 BuddhaKai Oct 27, 2011 23:56:45	Quick question that I can hopfully get a long answer for. How do you determine what NPCs get named? kings and Lords obviously get named, but do you name every fisherman or shop keep? Do your bartenders get names? Do you name your town guards? What warrants a NPC getting a name? you don't just name an NPC when a character askes do you? I'm not looking for a list of names, I need knowledge on who I should name in any given town.
#2 ToeSama Oct 28, 2011 1:28:42	I typically go with general (or when comically appropriate, ridiculous) names if I need to provide a faceless NPC with some sort of on the spot depth. Billy is a good example. He was a goblin. But then he wasn't. Taken to the great goblin raid in the sky by an untimely explosion from an unseen location. The rest of the goblins mourned him so, and feared it was wha they ate earlier that caused it. My players were rolling XD As for your question on WHO you should give a name, only name characters that are going to be around for more than one scene. The fisherman at the docks, for example, who just happens to know about the secret entrance the PCs are looking for to get in the sewers, might not be showing back up so no need to name him. But the Inn keeper that put the PCs up out of the kindess of their heart and just suddenly gets kidnapped by the outlaws the PCs were tracking should at least get a named roll in the final credits. Happy Gaming
#3 slobo777a Oct 28, 2011 2:59:51	I name key NPCs that I intend for the players to meet or talk to - anyone who will be "on scene" for more than a few minutes, or anything the PCs are supposed to be searching for. For everything else, I keep pre-made lists of NPC names handy and assign them, or make something up on the spot. If the PCs take some random mook prisoner, turn round a combat encounter into a talky one in some other way, or decide to involve the (up to that point) faceless barkeep, then I reach for my list. In a bind, we've also used things around the table to name things - books, snack packaging, posters. If I'm not quick to name an NPC, one of the players will often suggest something and it usually sticks.
#4 ciaran Oct 28, 2011 7:32:47	When we ask for an npcs name and there isn't one, our dm reads one from his paper with randomly generated names and writes a note next to it. That way we know its an unimportant character. Seriously thought, as a dm I name anyone with a write-up, those associated with an important place, having information, etc.
#5 abk_calis Oct 28, 2011 12:59:33	I generally try to come up with a basic outline of any village/town/city which includes an equivilant real world culture. I then mix and match parts of place names taken from a map of that area. For example, a village with an Asian motif might have a tavernkeepr named Xu-shan or an Arabian setting may have a local lord named Sheik Zayd al-Hasib. Maps and online random name generators are your friends.
#6 yronimosw Oct 28, 2011 14:48:51	I usually only name people I expect the PCs to need to know by name - quest-givers, key villains, important allies, and that sort of thing. The sorts of people that busy PCs wouldn't really know the names of just get descriptive titles... "The Shopkeeper", "The Fisherman", "The Politician Who Was Kissing Hands and Shaking Babies", "The Barmaid". For more important folks, I used to do a lot of random fantasy names, but they get so difficult to remember, I've been just giving such NPCs generic Eastern European -sounding names... Boris, Vladimir, Mikhail, Pietre, Tatyana, Svetlana, and so on.
#7 yellowdingo Oct 29, 2011 20:02:45	TSR and WOTC drew pretty much every name for every NPC from the INDOEUROPEAN Root Appendix you will likely find at the back of your Better Dictionary. Intentional or otherwise that is where they came from. Here: Sokka: So-Ka (Nominative This + Desire) - the names are often a reflection of the dominant aspect of their personality or behavior or roll. In the case of Sokka he always expresses an opinion as to what he likes even when he isnt the one being asked. Boris: Bhrei- (To Cut, Break) - So Boris breaks things? Sounds like a good name for a brutal and very large minion who breaks legs and arms when the boss says so. Vladimir: Ul-ad-mer (To howl + at + Trouble) - This is a bit open but it sounds like Vladimir is the Warrior on watch who makes a wolf sound when it looks like there is going to be trouble.
#8 Pyrate_Jib Nov 17, 2011 10:07:14	I bought a baby name book and keep it nearby when we game. I try and pick unique names when the players want to know the name of the priest at the local temple or the captain of the barge on the river. Cost about $2.00 USD.
#9 AnimeSniper Nov 22, 2011 21:52:15	At first when I typed what I remembered of the site I thought it was taken down then I checked my Favorites tab and found the link to the actual page I thought of so here it or rather they are... and check out the other parts of the page Main Page www.kismetrose.com/dnd/DandDIndex.html Character Name Page www.kismetrose.com/dnd/MyCharacterNameLi...