• Create NPCs that are usable in your current session
• Create NPCs that you would need as a player
• Create NPC that draw in ‘lazy’ players

I’ve seen a lot of articles that talk about players helping the game master. Typically, give suggestions like, “Create a detailed background with lots of plot hooks for your GM.” Okay, that’s not bad advice. But there are other ways to assist the GM and really help take control of the game world. This will require a little trust on the GM’s part and a little creativity on the player’s part.

Create NPCs That Are Usable In Your Current Session

I remember recently when we were looking for information regarding a quest we were on. We were at a complete stumbling block. Each player character was going their own direction in trying to find out what they could to help our situation. Then I sparked up a bright idea. I was near both a University and a Library. While the GM was busy dealing with the other players, I enacted my plan. When it came to my turn, he asked me what I was going to do.

Me – “Ghesh (my character) goes and talks to Hairal Warpsworn.”

GM – “Uh, who is Hairal Warpsworn?”

Me – “Hairal Warpsworn is an NPC I just created for this game. He is a librarian in the Cornerstone. Although he isn’t the head librarian, Hairal has been in Cornerstone and worked there longer than most. He is extremely helpful to those seeking knowledge within the library, but also guarded about what he considers to be one of his precious possessions. Hairal is very protective of the library and although he wouldn’t be a direct threat to most people, he will use his knowledge and connections within Cornerstone to keep the knowledge within the library safe.”

GM – “Whoa. Uh… okay.”

During my dead time, where the GM was dealing with other players I could have sat on my butt, ate snacks, and drank some soda. But I didn’t. I created a fleshed out PC in a couple of minutes that would be totally pertinent and useful in the situation.

Create NPCs That Draw In More Quiet or Subdued Characters

One of our players created a new character recently. He doesn’t have as much background as the others due to the fact that it is a brand new character. On top of that, he’s kind of a ‘go with the flow’ player that just lets the game take him wherever. He comes along for the ride and has fun, but isn’t exactly a driving force to get things done sometimes. So how can you, as a player, help pull him more into the story? By creating an arch-villain for him of course!
Recently, I created an arch-villain for one of the player characters in our campaign. He’ll learned an entirely new part of his character’s background that relates to this NPC I’ve created.

Alaron Bazgor – Human Necromancer of Vecna

Background & Personality: A Chaotic Evil follower of Vecna, Alaron Bazgor claims to hail from the Northern Range. Alaron despises the Common tongue and prefers to speak in Abyssal or Deep Speech. He will only speak Common when absolutely necessary to those who fail to understand either of these “superior languages”.

Alaron freely admits that he has no family or friends that he can speak of, only associates to the dark arts he practices. He is more guarded about what first lead him into the path of Necromancy and why he follows Vecna.

Alaron’s fatal flaw is that he has no fear of death. This has allowed him to amass the current power and status that he has gained. Due to his practice of Necromancy, he does not view death as “the end”. He has made provisions for his followers and familiars to convert him into a lich should he meet an untimely demise before his goals are complete. He has made special arrangements to make sure that he retains all of his memories, personality, and abilities in case he does have to undergo this process.

Goals & Motivations: Alaron is an evil Necromancer in every sense of the phrase. His power has grown to the point where he is beyond the initial concerns of a neophyte or journeyman Necromancer. He has advanced to where there are few who can teach him, now he must explore and find the next level of power for himself.

Alaron’s daily goals are guided by his quest for knowledge and power. These two features are a means to an end to him and the cornerstone for his further goals.

His short term goal is to find and kill Joaquin, his mortal enemy. Early in his training in the dark arts of Necromancy, Joaquin was dispatched by priests from the Delucian Lands to find and kill Alaron’s mentor, Konilor Manthangur. Joaquin succeeded in his in duties. He found and killed Konilor and in the process gravely injured Alaron. Mistaking Alaron for dead, Joaquin left and returned to the Delucian Lands. Alaron’s demonic familiar was near him though, and after Joaquin left the familiar fetched a necrotic talisman that infused enough power into Alaron to revive him. Since then, Alaron has sworn vengeance upon Joaquin, as the death of his master set him back many years in his studies and training.

Alaron’s long-term goal is to find both the Eye of Vecna and the Hand of Vecna, artifacts of great power. Once the left eye of the arch-lich, Vecna, the Eye, and its sister artifact, the Hand of Vecna, were all that remained of the lich-king after his battle with his renegade lieutenant, Kas the Bloody-Handed. Acquiring these artifacts is simply Alaron’s next step in his motivation for power, greed, and renown.

Unique Powers: Muahahaha… wouldn’t you like to know?

Familiar: Deathstench the Decayed is a demonic familiar that has worked for Alaron for many years. He was responsible for saving Alaron when Joaquin mortally wounded him in his battle against Konilor.

Mortal Enemies: Joaquin

I created this enemy in about thirty minutes of goofing around. The group hasn’t encountered the NPC as of yet, but I introduced him to the player of Joaquin and he loved it. This helps the GM by adding background to a character that didn’t have one, even if it isn’t your own. Maybe the GM will use Alaron, or maybe he won’t OR, maybe the player will choose to go after Alaron. Now you’ve ended up creating an entire adventure for the GM with your work.

The moral of the story is this, by doing simple things like creating NPCs in a campaign; you can help your GM build a more realistic world. It will help you to productively avoid downtime at the game table. And it will help you pull other gamers more into the story that may be having trouble getting into certain things. Maybe they need that extra umpf that you can provide. Like I said, if done correctly, backing up your GM with these tips will make them happy, the other players happy, and you happy.