HurinSmite
2016-09-24, 04:33 PM
In the last session the players came to the village council hall to talk with the council. They had met two of the five characters before (there was also three guards but I didn't focus on them besides noting their presence) and I made sure to describe the people with a short first impression. At some point one of the players voiced concern that it was hard to keep track of characters and was wondering if I could put up NPC information on our internet group (we play RL and I use Facebook to remind people of rules and next session etc).
I'm not looking forward to making NPC cards for them. I don't want to write: Name, occupation, home, visual and mannerism for the players. I definetely don't want to find portraits for each npc but I am sure that's not what the player was focusing on.
A quick count tells me there are currently in the campaign and the area:
tier 1: 8 reccuring NPCs and/or important NPCs. This is Patrons (quest giving kind), Leaders of factions (red wizard enclave, local priest, Dwarven captain). All of which they've met several times.
tier 2: 11 once or twice seen NPCs. These can be family, apprentices or allies to tier 1 characters
tier 3: 14+ not yet met or talked to NPCs. The players haven't been given their names. I just have them in my notes.
Why don't I want to make NPC cards for the players? I fear it would become a game of "Guess Who?" if I present it to the players. The Guess Who-part is finding out if some NPC is a hidden enemy (which some are ofcoure). They will not have personal interpretations of the characters based on how I Roleplay them. Instead I fear they will only rely on what information I've written on their NPC cards.
--- So what do You suggest and how do you handle NPC tracking?
Personally I think it's the players job to keep track of NPCs if they want to have a good overlook of who is who. I'm not looking forward to adding "update NPCs on Facebook" to the things I do as GM.
Here's some FAQ I've answered. They're not frequent obviously but more questions I guess some of you might ask me here:
Do you tell them who a person is if they ask? I tell them if I can figure out who they're talking about sure. I try to give them a short version. EX: "who is Hana?" "Well, Haniah Dales is the village elder and the common folk representative. She's also an older lady.
Are the names difficult to pronounce? I try to use fantasy names instead of common Danish names (where I'm from). Fantasy names would be Faghran, Haniah, Tuketu, Himiko, Gromthosthrum, Szaren, Kizzaf, Minarv and Hangrock
Have you tried asking them to make a party journal? I think I did a long time ago. There wasn't much enthusiasm from their side for that. I could try to suggest that to them.
Points to whoever can guess where my campaign is taking place.
I'm not looking forward to making NPC cards for them. I don't want to write: Name, occupation, home, visual and mannerism for the players. I definetely don't want to find portraits for each npc but I am sure that's not what the player was focusing on.
A quick count tells me there are currently in the campaign and the area:
tier 1: 8 reccuring NPCs and/or important NPCs. This is Patrons (quest giving kind), Leaders of factions (red wizard enclave, local priest, Dwarven captain). All of which they've met several times.
tier 2: 11 once or twice seen NPCs. These can be family, apprentices or allies to tier 1 characters
tier 3: 14+ not yet met or talked to NPCs. The players haven't been given their names. I just have them in my notes.
Why don't I want to make NPC cards for the players? I fear it would become a game of "Guess Who?" if I present it to the players. The Guess Who-part is finding out if some NPC is a hidden enemy (which some are ofcoure). They will not have personal interpretations of the characters based on how I Roleplay them. Instead I fear they will only rely on what information I've written on their NPC cards.
--- So what do You suggest and how do you handle NPC tracking?
Personally I think it's the players job to keep track of NPCs if they want to have a good overlook of who is who. I'm not looking forward to adding "update NPCs on Facebook" to the things I do as GM.
Here's some FAQ I've answered. They're not frequent obviously but more questions I guess some of you might ask me here:
Do you tell them who a person is if they ask? I tell them if I can figure out who they're talking about sure. I try to give them a short version. EX: "who is Hana?" "Well, Haniah Dales is the village elder and the common folk representative. She's also an older lady.
Are the names difficult to pronounce? I try to use fantasy names instead of common Danish names (where I'm from). Fantasy names would be Faghran, Haniah, Tuketu, Himiko, Gromthosthrum, Szaren, Kizzaf, Minarv and Hangrock
Have you tried asking them to make a party journal? I think I did a long time ago. There wasn't much enthusiasm from their side for that. I could try to suggest that to them.
Points to whoever can guess where my campaign is taking place.