NPC Template

[nhadfield]

Hey all,

Thought I'd share this template I created for important NPCs. Love to hear/see how you guys are doing it.

Neil

@".Important NPC Template" - Alignment/Profession/Stat block
|| {b|Appearance} ||
|| {b|Voice} ||
|| {b|Personality} ||
|| {b|Paradox} ||
|| {b|Peculiarity} ||
|| {b|Representative Archetype } ||
--
|| {b|Motivation Instincts} ||
|| {b|Obligation Type} ||
|| {b|Obligation To...} ||
|| {b|Objectives} ||
--
|| {b|Backstory} ||
|| {b|Hook} ||
|| {b|Secrets} ||
--
|| {b|Dreams/Desires} ||
|| {b|Fears/Flaws} ||
|| {b|Boundaries} ||
--

 

[JohnnFour]

Very nice.

What kind of stuff do you put in paradox?

 

[nhadfield]

Hey I usually have a main personality trait and then something that is counter to that. Got the idea when reading the Blade itself and thinking about Logen Ninefingers - Savage barbarian but thoughtful and wise...
I've found a few other generators that have similar - d30 Quick NPC personality Generator table at save vs dragon has a similar concept
Finally, I found this on reddit () and made a pdf table for myself (attached). It gives similar complexity by having a basic motivation instinct and the twisting it with an obligation - sometimes the obligations line up, sometimes they don't and makes for some cool characters.

 

[ELF]

The table format is a great fit for templates, and looks good!

I too am a fan of paradox type traits, as they are a simple way to produce personalities that have more depth than just the surface. World of Darkness handled it well with the characters' nature and demeanor, but this freeform approach is even more flexible.

 

[ELF]

In my template experiments I have used the text fields enabled by the still-in-beta form codes. They enable nice tricks like check boxes that remember their state across sessions, as well as directly editable text fields:

?FC
[ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]
[[Appearance]]
[[Behavior]]
[[Personality]]

(Note that for the time being, you need to include the first line starting with the question mark to indicate that the entry contains form codes.)

Although the form codes already give the template some degree of a uniform look, maybe it would be a good idea to combine them with table formatting. That could make especially longer templates easier to grasp:

?FC
|| [ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]
|| [[Appearance]]
|| [[Behavior]]
|| [[Personality]]

Edit: Here's how the form fields look in a table:

 

[ELF]

Also have a look at Cryptocartographer's exquisite D&D monster stat block template:
https://campaign-community.com/index.php?threads/examples-of-logger-usage.18/post-190

The 'source code' of the Campaign Logger log entry is available in a Github repository:
https://github.com/Cryptocartographer/CL-Generators/blob/master/formatting/monster_manual.txt

 

[nhadfield]

Thanks! I like the form field. Will have to play with that

 

[nhadfield]

That stat block is really impressive. I'll have to play with that too and get some ideas!

 

[Bawyn]

I want to look more into form codes but I'll be damned if google won't let me search for ?FC. ( It ignores question marks ).
I've also started googling Form Codes, but find there are a variety of different sources for it too.

I would love a list of features / options ( like the [[Editable field]] and the [x] ). Is there an API or reference list?
Thanks!

 

[ELF]

I've also started googling Form Codes, but find there are a variety of different sources for it too.

I believe the syntax is something that @JochenL made up for Campaign Logger, and there are not many additional resources available about it.

I would love a list of features / options ( like the [[Editable field]] and the [x] ). Is there an API or reference list?

Your best information source is Jochen's original announcement:
https://campaign-community.com/index.php?threads/beta-markdown-and-form-code.91/

Even though the feature is still in beta, I have now added it also the the Campaign Logger cheat sheet for easier reference:
https://www.cheatography.com/johnnfour/cheat-sheets/campaign-logger/