What to ask an npc? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

What to ask an npc?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
k-ral
Feb 27, 2009 21:07:23 Hello there I am new here and am running my first campaign with my friends and I wanted to know if anyone had any sujections of what they should ask an npc.
#2
tequila_sunrise
Feb 27, 2009 23:42:18 That's an incredibly vague question. You'll get more replies if you specify who is asking whom about what.

TS
#3
braveboudica
Feb 28, 2009 8:37:17 It is pretty vague, but there are some general tips that work well in most situations.

First you should ask about the NPC itself. Who is it, where is it from, what class is it and what are it's general attitudes toward things that are important to the party. That is to say, if your party contains a Tiefling, make sure the Dragonborn NPC doesn't have a problem with it, or make sure the uptight cleric doesn't have a problem with your rogue or whatever. These are very general examples and your questions should be specific to your game.

Then you should ask it some things that you already know the answer to so that you can determine the NPC's propensity for telling the truth.

Once you have a general idea of how the NPC acts and reacts, ask it about things that are pertinent to it's appearance in the game. If it's designed to give you info about a magic item of some sort, question it about the item; if you wish to learn the location of the Crypt of Blahdiblah, query in that direction.

I hope this helps in a general way, if you have something specific in mind, write it out! I'd be glad to toss out a few ideas.
#4
Novacat
Feb 28, 2009 11:37:52 If your DM is one who can roleplay on the fly, ask the NPC about himself. Strike up a conversation about him... because everyone likes talking about themselves. Once you've made him the topic of interest, you can segue-way into whatever topic you actually care about, and the NPC should be more receptive to you and your questions, because you've display an interest in him.
#5
CCS
Feb 28, 2009 13:08:26 Depends.....

What questions do the players have?

What NPC are they talking to?
#6
DwarfFighter
Mar 01, 2009 13:48:23
Hello there I am new here and am running my first campaign with my friends and I wanted to know if anyone had any sujections of what they should ask an npc.

(I had a player in my group blurt out this reference when he met a halfling ghost. I was stunned.)

"Where's your Jew Gold?"

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1m6iq_southparkjewgold_fun

-DF
#7
k-ral
Mar 01, 2009 15:42:37 What I ment by an npc is an npc with a possable adventure.

For example I was running my campaig using a module Hollows last hope and they were talking to Luarel the towns herdest and they are about to leave the shop and to jot their memorizes I say the one of them is starting to develop this cough
#8
DwarfFighter
Mar 01, 2009 16:09:23 Player (Fighter): "I'm looking for a job that pays gold, and I don't mind taking risks."

GM (Innkeeper): "By Moradin, you are just what I need! My cellar is infested with Giant Rats. I'll pay you and your fellows 5 gold for each rat you kill down there."

-DF
#9
entropy_judge
Mar 01, 2009 18:09:20 Ask if anything interesting has happened recently, if there are any problems in town/the area. I mean, usually if you suspect an NPC to 'have an adventure' it'll be either fairly obvious (farmer sitting in front of a blasted house with his head in his hands) or the DM will push you toward it (shadowy guy in the bar wants to talk to you, church leaders summoning you, etc).
#10
crossblade
Mar 01, 2009 18:44:38 Ask it where baby NPCs come from. Now THAT'S an adventure!
#11
luzeke
Mar 02, 2009 3:38:37
What I ment by an npc is an npc with a possable adventure.

For example I was running my campaig using a module Hollows last hope and they were talking to Luarel the towns herdest and they are about to leave the shop and to jot their memorizes I say the one of them is starting to develop this cough

If an npc has a quest for the pc's, the pc's wouldn't know about it beforehand. So they can't remember it.

The average pc gives little attention to npc's that act as npc's (not having much to say, not reacting much and generally are just there to be there) so it depends on the dm, i.e. you, to give the pc's incentive to talk to the npc.

What the players ask is mostly up to them, just make sure your npc's answers are flavourful and consistent with the character while still giving enough information to the pc's.

If the npc has a quest, let's say the children have been kidnapped by the ogre, she wouldn't just keep it in mind "in case some adventurer's come along". Her mind would be centered on that at all times (of course, depending on the character) and this would affect her actions as well. It might cause her to have nervous ticks, biting her fingernails or something. Describing such things, as well as acting the part, will trigger the pc's attention and keep them talking to her. It might feel silly to act out the part of an npc in the beginning, but it's definitely worth it.

Also, it needn't always be that the pc's ask to get a quest. If the characters look strong (in 4e that's lv 1 and upwards) an npc with a dilemma (quest) would likely be the first one to talk, asking the pc's for help. Varying between having the pc's ask around to get new quests and having them get quests from people actively looking for help make your world seem more believable.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 k-ral Feb 27, 2009 21:07:23	Hello there I am new here and am running my first campaign with my friends and I wanted to know if anyone had any sujections of what they should ask an npc.
#2 tequila_sunrise Feb 27, 2009 23:42:18	That's an incredibly vague question. You'll get more replies if you specify who is asking whom about what. TS
#3 braveboudica Feb 28, 2009 8:37:17	It is pretty vague, but there are some general tips that work well in most situations. First you should ask about the NPC itself. Who is it, where is it from, what class is it and what are it's general attitudes toward things that are important to the party. That is to say, if your party contains a Tiefling, make sure the Dragonborn NPC doesn't have a problem with it, or make sure the uptight cleric doesn't have a problem with your rogue or whatever. These are very general examples and your questions should be specific to your game. Then you should ask it some things that you already know the answer to so that you can determine the NPC's propensity for telling the truth. Once you have a general idea of how the NPC acts and reacts, ask it about things that are pertinent to it's appearance in the game. If it's designed to give you info about a magic item of some sort, question it about the item; if you wish to learn the location of the Crypt of Blahdiblah, query in that direction. I hope this helps in a general way, if you have something specific in mind, write it out! I'd be glad to toss out a few ideas.
#4 Novacat Feb 28, 2009 11:37:52	If your DM is one who can roleplay on the fly, ask the NPC about himself. Strike up a conversation about him... because everyone likes talking about themselves. Once you've made him the topic of interest, you can segue-way into whatever topic you actually care about, and the NPC should be more receptive to you and your questions, because you've display an interest in him.
#5 CCS Feb 28, 2009 13:08:26	Depends..... What questions do the players have? What NPC are they talking to?
#6 DwarfFighter Mar 01, 2009 13:48:23	Hello there I am new here and am running my first campaign with my friends and I wanted to know if anyone had any sujections of what they should ask an npc. (I had a player in my group blurt out this reference when he met a halfling ghost. I was stunned.) "Where's your Jew Gold?" http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1m6iq_southparkjewgold_fun -DF
#7 k-ral Mar 01, 2009 15:42:37	What I ment by an npc is an npc with a possable adventure. For example I was running my campaig using a module Hollows last hope and they were talking to Luarel the towns herdest and they are about to leave the shop and to jot their memorizes I say the one of them is starting to develop this cough
#8 DwarfFighter Mar 01, 2009 16:09:23	Player (Fighter): "I'm looking for a job that pays gold, and I don't mind taking risks." GM (Innkeeper): "By Moradin, you are just what I need! My cellar is infested with Giant Rats. I'll pay you and your fellows 5 gold for each rat you kill down there." -DF
#9 entropy_judge Mar 01, 2009 18:09:20	Ask if anything interesting has happened recently, if there are any problems in town/the area. I mean, usually if you suspect an NPC to 'have an adventure' it'll be either fairly obvious (farmer sitting in front of a blasted house with his head in his hands) or the DM will push you toward it (shadowy guy in the bar wants to talk to you, church leaders summoning you, etc).
#10 crossblade Mar 01, 2009 18:44:38	Ask it where baby NPCs come from. Now THAT'S an adventure!
#11 luzeke Mar 02, 2009 3:38:37	What I ment by an npc is an npc with a possable adventure. For example I was running my campaig using a module Hollows last hope and they were talking to Luarel the towns herdest and they are about to leave the shop and to jot their memorizes I say the one of them is starting to develop this cough If an npc has a quest for the pc's, the pc's wouldn't know about it beforehand. So they can't remember it. The average pc gives little attention to npc's that act as npc's (not having much to say, not reacting much and generally are just there to be there) so it depends on the dm, i.e. you, to give the pc's incentive to talk to the npc. What the players ask is mostly up to them, just make sure your npc's answers are flavourful and consistent with the character while still giving enough information to the pc's. If the npc has a quest, let's say the children have been kidnapped by the ogre, she wouldn't just keep it in mind "in case some adventurer's come along". Her mind would be centered on that at all times (of course, depending on the character) and this would affect her actions as well. It might cause her to have nervous ticks, biting her fingernails or something. Describing such things, as well as acting the part, will trigger the pc's attention and keep them talking to her. It might feel silly to act out the part of an npc in the beginning, but it's definitely worth it. Also, it needn't always be that the pc's ask to get a quest. If the characters look strong (in 4e that's lv 1 and upwards) an npc with a dilemma (quest) would likely be the first one to talk, asking the pc's for help. Varying between having the pc's ask around to get new quests and having them get quests from people actively looking for help make your world seem more believable.