A couple of weeks ago I wrote an article on managing the information characters acquire.  I talked about various ways to give out, control, manipulate, and use both information and misinformation to produce misconception and uncertainty.  I mentioned ways to keep players from thinking that everything they assume is automatically “true”.  The article touched upon some ideas to keep characters from acquiring more information then the DM is ready to hand out but without making certain skills, feats, or rituals seem useless.

This week I’m going to revisit the concept of information management, but from a very different perspective.  Since the previous article focused on information in the characters’ hands, this time we’re going to take a look at it in the hands of NPC’s, monsters, allies, and enemies.  What does everyone else in the world know about the heroes?  What do they do with that information?  And most importantly, will that information help or hinder the characters?

When considering information possessed by characters and creatures other than the PC’s, two different things have to be examined.  First, how did the NPC acquire the information?  And secondly, what can the NPC do with the information?  Both are important, but before we discuss the many ways in which NPC’s (and the DM) can take advantage of what they know, let’s take a look at how NPC’s may gain that knowledge in the first place.

Information Acquisition

In my experience players are usually pretty good at gathering intelligence about the things that are important to them.  The group I DM for loves uncovering lost bits of history, juicy rumors, and important clues, as well as tactical intelligence about their enemies’ strengths and weaknesses.  They sometimes fail to put that intel to good use, but that’s a whole different article.  As a DM it is important to remember that intelligent NPC’s should also be able to gather intelligence and put it to good use. 

There are several different ways in which NPC’s can gather information about the PC’s.  Of course different individuals and different groups may employ varying methods, but the following are among the more common.

Experience

Direct contact is perhaps the easiest way an NPC gathers information about the characters.  Whether interacting with the PC’s in a combat or non-combat encounter, the NPC is going to learn a few basics, such as the PC’s names, races, and classes.  A relatively observant NPC might even pick up on a few other details such as religious affiliations, which PC is the “leader”, even what type of gear the party uses.  If encountered in combat anyone who escapes or is captured, or otherwise survives the encounter, is surely going to come away with information regarding the heroes and their capabilities.  That information will certainly be shared with allies and superiors.

Even if the survivor of a PC encounter doesn’t have someone to report to or any living allies, clever NPC’s might still look for the survivor and question him about what he knows.  Even a prisoner can usually be approached and questioned.  Someone who was nearly killed by the PC’s will most likely be only too happy to share information with the PC’s enemies.  Remember, if the NPC was questioned by the characters he probably has some insight into what the PC’s want or need. 

Rumors & Reputation

The common man talks about the setting’s famous people a lot.  Look at our world, you can’t turn on a TV, read a paper, or browse the internet without being inundated with celebrity news, information, and gossip.  A fantasy world is no different.  Think for a minute about who the celebrities are in the campaign.  They are entertainers (bards, actors, poets, gladiators), the wealthy (nobles, rich merchants), political figures (the king, duke, town councilmen), and adventurers. 

Whether they are heroes, scoundrels, mercenaries, or misfits, the PC’s are celebrities.  They perform daring deeds, live exciting action-filled lives, and have tons of money and treasure; at least that how the public sees it.  Whether the performing some heroic deed for the local community, exploring some exotic location, or simply spending loads of gold pieces in town, people are going to talk about it, to anyone and everyone, whether they ask or not.

An NPC shouldn’t even need a “spy” to gather this kind of information about the PC’s.  Just sit down with a pint in a local tavern and listen to gossip.  People will share all sorts of information with anyone who seems interested (even with those who don’t seem that interested), especially if the characters are considered “heroes” by the locals.  Townsfolk love to brag about their celebrities. 

Just from listening to the locals, NPC’s can learn important things about the PC’s reputation, abilities, names, relationships, history, when they come and go from town, even things like where they are going next and what they are doing.  Besides even if the “facts” are exaggerated or not completely true they can still be of use to an NPC.  Rumors and gossip could also prove invaluable to an NPC.  Knowing about a character’s sick mother, the scandal involving the Baron’s daughter, or the embarrassing disease removed from the party’s fighter could all be invaluable information in the right hands.

Remember all of this can be uncovered by an NPC by just listening, showing a little interest, and asking casual questions.  If the NPC has any ability to truly interrogate, bribe, or blackmail locals even more information may be revealed.

Information in Action

Once an NPC has acquired information it’s up to the DM to put it to good use.  Knowing the NPC’s goals and motivations is the key to effective utilization of information.  There are numerous ways for an NPC to take advantage of things they have learned.  Below are just a few examples of what type of information an NPC could acquire and how they might put it to use:

NPC knows about a character’s physical vulnerability or mental/emotional weakness.

Take advantage of the weakness. 

• Manipulate a character’s fears and phobias.  Hates spiders, heights, chupacabras?  Use them, a lot of them. 
• Use a material in combat that the hero is “Vulnerable” to.
• Take advantage of a character flaw or vice such as greed, anger issues, or a love of drink and easy women.

NPC knows about the party’s combat capabilities.

Prepare allies or minions for facing the party in combat.

• Use archers and ranged combatants against the melee heavy party.
• Employ someone with “dispel magic” to counter PC spells.
• Use tactics that minimize or negate the PC’s preferred tactics.  Have a PC who teleports? Or many ranged combatants?  Reduce their visibility.  Have defenders who like to charge?  Difficult, hazardous, and challenging terrain. 

NPC knows about a character’s personal life or history.

Exploit the things a character keeps private, or separate from adventuring.

• Kidnap a family member or loved one.
• Manipulate someone from the hero’s past.  Maybe a mentor, lover, friend, or ally.
• Make a “secret”, public.  Did the PC once commit a horrible crime?  Did the party fail to prevent something that they should have?  Did they betray someone?  Let the cat out of the bag and see where their allies are now. 

The Final Call

Oftentimes when running a game it is all too easy to forget that many of the NPC’s are intelligent, thinking creatures capable of learning.  It’s also sometimes easy to overlook the fact that creatures that learn will most likely modify their behaviors and their approached to problem solving.  As a DM use this knowledge to your advantage to help you provide cunning, crafty villains that your players will remember for years to come.  And one last thing, never be afraid to have your antagonists make things personal.  Great villains know how to hit the heroes where it hurts.