How to use the NPC generator
- Press New NPC. You get a full character: name, race, age, job, looks, voice, habit, personality, what they want and fear, a secret, a plot hook and an attitude to the party.
- Narrow it down if you like: pick a race, gender, age, where the party meets them (a tavern, a court, the wilderness…) and how friendly they are.
- Lock and reroll. Press 🔓 to lock any part you like. It stays when you make the next NPC. Press ↻ to change only that part.
- Keep them. Save NPCs in this browser, copy them into your notes, print a card for the table, or share a link with your co-DM.
What makes a memorable NPC?
Players forget names. They remember how someone talked, what they wanted and the moment they found out a secret. That's why every NPC here has those three things at the top of the card:
- A voice you can perform. Not "speaks with an accent", but something you can do right away: whisper everything, answer every question with a question, or hum between sentences.
- A want. An NPC who wants something (to pay a debt, to find a missing brother, to win the harvest fair) will act on their own, and that gives your players something to help or stop.
- A secret. Hidden under a fold, so players reading over your shoulder don't see it. A secret turns a shopkeeper into a story.
The habit, the looks and the attitude add colour, and the plot hook gives the party a reason to come back. Example NPCs made by the generator:
- Aedog Grassstrider, male centaur town crier · young (about 19). Speaks in a hoarse, scratchy voice, and wants to marry for love, not for money.
- Iveniriys Loravel, non-binary elf knight · young (about 109). Puts on a posh accent that keeps slipping, and wants to find a cure for a sick friend.
- Tibo, male goblin hunter · very old (about 45). Has a booming voice, far too loud for small rooms, and wants to make the best pie in the kingdom.
How to run an NPC at the table
- Start with the voice. Say the first line in the NPC's voice before anything else. Your players will know it's someone new.
- Show the attitude. A wary NPC crosses their arms and asks questions; a friendly one offers food. The card gives a ready first line for each.
- Let them want something. If the conversation stalls, have the NPC ask for help with what they want.
- Hold the secret back. Drop a hint (a nervous glance, a slip of the tongue) and let the players dig.
- Write down what happened. Save the NPC, so next session they remember the party, and so do you.
NPC stat blocks from the free rules
Most NPCs never fight, but when they do, every card names a stat block from the free D&D rules (SRD 5.1) that fits the job. This is how we match them:
| SRD stat block | Challenge | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Commoner | 0 | barkeep, cook, server, travelling bard, regular at the bar, stable hand, blacksmith, baker, merchant, tailor, scribe, apothecary, carpenter, town crier, farmer, miller, cobbler, steward, herald, jester, pilgrim, gravedigger, hermit, woodcutter, shepherd, herbalist, forger, ferry keeper, peddler, roadside innkeeper, mapmaker, wizard’s apprentice |
| Guard | 1/8 | town guard, bridge toll keeper |
| Bandit | 1/8 | smuggler, pickpocket |
| Noble | 1/8 | mayor, noble, diplomat |
| Acolyte | 1/4 | acolyte, healer |
| Scout | 1/2 | hunter, trapper, forest warden, mountain guide, courier, treasure hunter |
| Thug | 1/2 | bouncer, enforcer |
| Spy | 1 | card player, spymaster, fence, informant |
| Priest | 2 | priest, keeper of relics |
| Veteran | 3 | gang boss, caravan master, sellsword, retired adventurer, monster hunter |
| Knight | 3 | knight |
| Mage | 6 | court wizard |
Need a creature instead? The Random Monster Generator makes a monster with a full 5e stat block.
Fill a place, and practise your voices
Fill a place creates everyone the party meets in one location: a tavern with a barkeep, cook, server, bard, regular and card player; a village; a royal court; a market; a thieves' den; or a road trip. Each person gets a voice and a want, and Open shows their full card. Improv practice gives you a situation, such as "the party tries to haggle", to answer in the NPC's voice. A minute of practice makes the real session much easier.
Tips for great NPCs
- Give important NPCs a name your players can say. Use the respelling on the card, or reroll the name until it's easy.
- Reuse NPCs. The barkeep from session one becomes a friend, a quest giver, then a victim the party wants to avenge.
- Lock the job, reroll the person. Need three different guards? Lock the job and press New NPC three times.
- Mix in a surprise. A friendly NPC with an evil alignment, or a grumpy one with a kind secret, keeps players guessing.
- Print the cards. A stack of printed NPCs next to your screen is the fastest way to improvise.
Frequently asked questions
What does the NPC generator make?
A full non-player character: name and pronunciation, race, gender, age, job, looks, voice, habit, personality, wants, fears, a secret, a plot hook, an attitude and alignment, and a matching stat block from the free rules.
Is it free, and does it use AI?
It's free with no login, and it doesn't use AI. Every NPC is put together in your browser from tables written for this site.
Can I keep part of an NPC and change the rest?
Yes. Press 🔓 on any part to lock it, then New NPC. Locked parts stay, and everything else changes. Press ↻ to change one part only.
Can I make NPCs for a specific place?
Yes. Set Where to a tavern, town, court, temple, wilderness, thieves' haunt, road or adventurers, or use Fill a place for everyone in one location.
Which races can NPCs be?
Any of 24: the core D&D races plus goblins, fairies, centaurs, giants, lizardfolk, merfolk, minotaurs, catfolk, demons, vampires, werewolves, ogres and trolls. Pick one, or leave it on Any (humans come up most often, as in most towns).
Can I share an NPC with my players or co-DM?
Yes. Share NPC copies a link that opens exactly this NPC. Print card makes a clean card, and Save NPC keeps it in this browser.
Is the content safe for younger players?
Yes. Secrets and hooks are dramatic but never gory or adult, so the generator works for family games and school clubs.
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