Central Casting (a.k.a NPC ideas)

[Wolf sword]

Hey guys I thought I would share some ideas for NPCs.

Up first is Dan the movie guy.
Dan is a film buff, either he worked at the local video rental store or in 2013 found the local Netflix mail center and now goes from town to town either selling the films that he has or showing them in the town. If the second option he needs to be well equipped with a generator and projector.
Twist to keep you PC on their toes.
1) He really is a spy for the local bandits, he can get in to the town easily and get the lay of the land.
2) He just as he is give the PC a night at the movies for some much needed R & R.
This idea came from an aunt who grew up during the great depression in South Dakota. A traveling movie theater came to town every so often.


Up next is Stacy the road house owner.
Stacy owns and runs the towns only "restaurant", bar and "Hotel" Granted it is not the Four Seasons and it may not have a Michelin star ranked chef but for a post war world it is dam great.
Twists
1) She dose have a Michelin ranked chef working in the kitchen.
2) the booze is pure rotgut, those who drink too much may not wake up.

[Cdnwolf]

Ryan was a cruise director on a cruise ship that was travelling the off the coast of France when the nukes hit. The mainly east European crew rebelled and dropped off the passengers at the nearest port and sailed the ship to Albania where the ship lays rusting in a port.

1) Ryan is still on board the ship and is running it like a hostel for refugees.
2) Ryan was a Russian agent and his job was to track the US fleet while cruising the waters of the Mediterranean.

[Wolf sword]

The mayor of crazy town.
The PC pull into what looks like a empty town, only to see a person dressed in a 3 piece suit come walking up to them. This person thanks them for stopping in and is glad to see the "the government has sent help".
Twists.
1) He hits them up for a food "donation" for his campaign.
2) They have to sit in on the court case that he is holding. He will pick one PC to be the prosecuting attorney and one to be the defense attorney. The court room is in session. The entire room is dresses with corpse, with the mayor is the judge. Now you can have your own reason for the "court case" but a good one is this town had a refuge camp near by and the old mayor and most of the other town people "ran them off" (killed them)
The new mayor was part of this but during the raid he snapped and then started in on then old mayor the others and now wants to see justice done.

[Adm.Lee]

A diplomat from another country (could be neutral, could be friendly, but definitely not from around here).

1. He's got a stash of intelligence information (mostly pre-war) around here.
2. He's got a collection of refugees from his nation, that he's been trying to get out. Option: they've given up on getting out, and have settled into an abandoned village. A quiet little corner of Mexico (or whatever) in Poland.
3. He's a KGB officer, in disguise, hoping to infiltrate the players' group.
4. He's a KGB officer, who was running a scheme to smuggle weapons from that country to this one.

[Wolf sword]

Richard the poser.
Meet Richard he is in charge of the village defense force, due his years with SEAL Team A or the SAS' 27th Ranger strike force. You never heard of that unit, well they were super black ops don't you know.
All of this guys training is from "camp x-box" or he washed out of the armed forces and now after the end of the world as we know it he reinvented himself.

Twists
1) He means well and the lie just got out of hand and is in the deep end of the pool. He could be the unit leader if you are running an all civilian PC campaign.
2) He just left the village after the crap it the fan and was show to be the liar he was. The PC now have to pick up the pieces.
3) He knows just enough to be a danger to is men, the PC have work with him and his men.

[Canadian Army]

Originally Posted by Wolf sword

Hey guys I thought I would share some ideas for NPCs.

Up first is Dan the movie guy.
Dan is a film buff, either he worked at the local video rental store or in 2013 found the local Netflix mail center and now goes from town to town either selling the films that he has or showing them in the town. If the second option he needs to be well equipped with a generator and projector.
Twist to keep you PC on their toes.
1) He really is a spy for the local bandits, he can get in to the town easily and get the lay of the land.
2) He just as he is give the PC a night at the movies for some much needed R & R.
This idea came from an aunt who grew up during the great depression in South Dakota. A traveling movie theater came to town every so often.

A Video Projector which would make more sense that a movie projector; which would are big and bulky to transport; and because they can be connected to VCR (or DVD in 2013) getting movies for them would be easier also.

[Wolf sword]

Originally Posted by Canadian Army

A Video Projector which would make more sense that a movie projector; which would are big and bulky to transport; and because they can be connected to VCR (or DVD in 2013) getting movies for them would be easier also.

Yeah the idea was a video projector, but I suppose he could be using an old projector found in an abandon school. And If he is a big enough film geek he could have a bunch films for it.

[mikeo80]

Originally Posted by Canadian Army

A Video Projector which would make more sense that a movie projector; which would are big and bulky to transport; and because they can be connected to VCR (or DVD in 2013) getting movies for them would be easier also.

Another thought concerning VCR/DVD. Yes the VCR was well developed if you start the War with V1 or V2.2. So that can work. But with the war starting in the 90's, I wonder if DVD would even exist?

I have never read 2013, so I can not comment on that, I do not know the timeline of start...

My $0.02

Mike

[Wolf sword]

The Twilight 2013 has a personal DVD player in the equipment list. When I first posted this list of NPC it was for T2013 but feel free to adjust the ideas for your game and if any of you other guys have ideas for NPC why not post them.

[mikeo80]

Hanna the Whore: She was orphaned at 16 during TDM. SHe drifted into prostitution shortly there after to help keep a younger sibling alive during the food shortages.

Twists:
1) Hanna is a "swallow" for the KGB. Her parents were 1960's radicals who were subverted by the KGB after they were involved in the bombing of a ROTC at a local collage campus.
2) Hanna is a "swallow" for the CIA/FBI/NSA. Or some other Alphabet organization. For the same reasons as above.
3) Hanna is a "Typhoid Mary". She contracted HIV/AIDS. She knows about it, and as long as she can, she is determined to kill as many men as she can.

My $0.02

Mike

[M-Type]

Here's a character I created as my own personal PC, changed for NPC use:

Dutch the DJ. used to run his own personal 'radio station' back in his Vermont hometown. He got drafted, and was the personal radioman for some REMF. Now he's still carrying his manpack, hoping from a 'call from on-high'.

Twists:
1. His radio hasn't worked for months, and he lies about orders received
2. His radio does work, but he's gotten a bit unhinged from all the Russian chatter.
3. His radio does work, but he thinks any orders given are from 'Commie Saboteurs'.

I designed him with the 5th ID in focus, but I'm sure he could be anyone, even a Civvie DJ in some town inside CONUS somewhere.

[Olefin]

NPC I created

Duke is a blacksmith who runs a small shop, doing repairs on farm equipment, tools and shoeing horses. He dresses in very old fashioned clothes and walks around with a Colt Dragoon strapped to his side at all times. He is a very good blacksmith and people come from miles around to make use of his talents.

Twists
1) Duke is not his real name. During the TDM he was injured by flying debris and now believes he is the Duke - i.e. John Wayne. His blacksmith skills are very much for real and were not impaired by his injury.
2) The Colt Dragoon is an authentic Civil War pistol and he is dead accurate with it, with a PST of 90.
3) If he feels himself offended he will challenge them to "meet him in the street at noon!", a challenge that so far has resulted in him killing over a dozen men foolish enough to take him on.

[rcaf_777]

You meet a man from Brussels, He is six-foot-four and full of muscles

You say, "Do you speak-a my language?

He justs smiled and gives you vegemite sandwich

Ring Any Bells

Can you finish this off

[simonmark6]

Does he come from a land down under?

[Targan]

Originally Posted by rcaf_777

Can you finish this off

No, I don't want to "finish off" a 6'4" muscular dude from Brussells. Not unless there's a a lot of beer involved, and hopefully some cash

[bobcat]

Originally Posted by Targan

No, I don't want to "finish off" a 6'4" muscular dude from Brussells. Not unless there's a a lot of beer involved, and hopefully some cash

if there's a lot of beer and some cash involved you'll likely get a bit butthurt in the process.

here's one i like to use.
theres a woman going around the local villages who always has something to trade that is in critically low supply wherever at whatever village she stops at.

a) she's sitting on a large supply cache left built and forgotten about during the cold war
b) she's been stealing supplies from the villages at night and then openly comeing in the next day with supplies.

[Schone23666]

Originally Posted by bobcat

if there's a lot of beer and some cash involved you'll likely get a bit butthurt in the process.

here's one i like to use.
theres a woman going around the local villages who always has something to trade that is in critically low supply wherever at whatever village she stops at.

a) she's sitting on a large supply cache left built and forgotten about during the cold war
b) she's been stealing supplies from the villages at night and then openly comeing in the next day with supplies.

Perhaps that "large supply cache" could in fact be similar to the one found in the module Allegheny Uprising?

[Brother in Arms]

Rafael Mondragon

Rafael is a fair skinned,physically fit Hispanic man age 40-45. He will be found wearing a black beret and sporting gold rimmed aviator glasses with green lenses. He may or may not be wearing a neatly trimmed mustache. But he will definitely have long black hair that may or may not be pullet back. depending on what appearance he wants to affect. He will be found wearing a mixture of military and civilian clothes. Such as a camouflage field jacket, black turtle neck shirt, blue denim jeans and cowboy boots. He has a assertive military demeanor with swagger of a gangster.

He speaks English carefully but with an easy going demeanor. He is a Mexican citizen though his mother was a Spaniard from the old country and from the county of Castille. As a result he speak perfect Spanish. His father was a prominent cattle rancher in Mexico and he is a proficient with a Lasso and on horseback. He always carries a browning high power pistol in tooled leather holster,and a large Bowie knife. Quite often he will also be carrying a large hand forged Machete. Or He may also be sporting a walking stick.

He may be encountered alone perhaps on horseback. But more commonly encountered on foot with his "Technical staff" or as he proudly calls them "Bandolero's". They may number as few as 4 or at times as many as 60 young men and boys. These are his obedient force of child soldiers. While none are much older than age 18 they are a formidable fighting force. They will all be found carrying a mixture of weapons and equipment but usually wearing chicom chest pouches holding spare magazines. When possible they will be found with AKM,SKS ,AR-15/M16, MINI-14, G3A3/G3A4 rifles. Occasionally they will be found with SMG type firearms such as the UZI, MAC-11 and possibly civilian shotguns of various types possibly cut down or sawed off. Some hunting rifles may also be in use. Side arms (hand guns) will only be found in the hands of "Teniente" but all bandelero's will carry a secondary weapons such as bayonets if available and more commonly machetes. Hand grenades and home made bombs will be issued when available. They commonly wear flannel shirt, sweaters,t shirts. Woven cowboy style hats are common, as well as military caps. Bandannas are ubiquitous. Camouflage of various patterns will also be found in use and anything for footwear. The young men are paid in the form of food and captured booty. They are often seen puffing large rustic cigarettes rolled from corn husks.
These boy soldiers are viciously loyal to Mondragon., they will give no quarter and will fight to the death. Most of these boys are ex-migrant workers or children of illegal aliens. Many only speak Spanish but some speak a mix or both English and Spanish (spanglish) though Rafael frowns upon it's use.

Rafael will offer his services as a general and his paramilitary security force to the PC's for protection or as advance scouts. He will fervently deny any ties with marauders, brigands, bandits or road agents. He will take umbridge to his chico's being called "Banditos" and act as if he is offended if compared to Pancho Villa. He will continue to assert that he his bandolero's are mercenaries for hire nothing more nothing less. Rafael will often have luxury items in possession (beer,wine,cigarettes,chocolate,toilet paper, wet wipes or hand sanitizer) and may offer them to the PC as gift of good faith.

Rafael is believed by some to be an ex CIA operative. Others claim he was trained by the SAS and used to infiltrate Basque separatist in Spain. Still some claim his involvement with Mexican cartels is in his past. He is a hard man to pin down but if hired he and his chico's will prove to be reliable guerrilla fighting force, irregula they are irregulars and they cannot perform all the duties of a professional soldier. And while their morale is excellent they cannot withstand heavy bombardments from artillery or tanks and retreat. Terrifying weapons like flame throwers, white phosphorus, poison gas and other weapons with serious shock value, may cause them to take to there heels. But when it comes to conventional fighting they are highly mobile and will push forward even if fighting in dense forest, or house to house fighting.

TWIST:
1. If PC's don't hire Mondragon and his bandoleros they make attack the party. But only if they are numerically superior.

2. PC's may encounter the Mondragon and his Bandoleros fighting for another entity (NPC)and have moral dilemma about child soldiers.

3. Mondragon and bandeleros may be caught committing atrocities either on enemy soldier, or civilians. Maybe something such as torture, rape, infanticide or even cannibalism.

4. Typically these child soldier give no quarter. Perhaps they will be required by the PC's for a prisoner grab. Or to help them redeem one of there party members who has been captured by the enemy. Or maybe Mondragon and his bandolero's have one of the PC's in there possession which is highly unusual and they have to negotiate with them for the PC's return.

[Schone23666]

Originally Posted by rcaf_777

You meet a man from Brussels, He is six-foot-four and full of muscles

You say, "Do you speak-a my language?

He justs smiled and gives you vegemite sandwich

Ring Any Bells

Can you finish this off

From where the beer does flow and the men chunder?

Uh oh, can you hear the thunder (from the mushroom clouds on the horizon)? You better take cover!!


On a side note....vegemite, gah!

[Targan]

Originally Posted by Schone23666

On a side note....vegemite, gah!

Vegemite's good for you. A potent source of iron. Don't you want to grow up big and strong? I understand if you can't stomach it though, it really is a food only for the hardiest of people (such as Australians).

[Schone23666]

Originally Posted by Targan

Vegemite's good for you. A potent source of iron. Don't you want to grow up big and strong? I understand if you can't stomach it though, it really is a food only for the hardiest of people (such as Australians).

A source of iron, maybe. But aren't there better sources of iron than yeast that's been scooped out of beer vats and marketed as a spread? Ugh! Waste not, want not I suppose...

Ahem, back to topic. Here's an idea for a character....Bloody Mary.

"Bloody Mary" may sound like a boogeyman (boogeywoman?) or ghost, but Bloody Mary in this case happens to be a very buxom and desirable NPC who runs her own brothel full of surprisingly high class, well paid "escort girls".

Possibilities:

A) Bloody Mary is in fact just a tad crazy, she just doesn't let it on. And her brothel is in on it, apparently finding her craziness rather infectious (think of Manson's "children"). For any number of reasons from war-related trauma, hidden insanity, PTSD, etc. she may promise to give the NPC's both entertainment and shelter for a "reasonable price" which unfortunately includes their deaths, or, perhaps even worse, they become the main course for dinner! Hence the name Bloody Mary.

B) Bloody Mary is in fact a KGB agent, and her "girls" are in fact part of a spy apparatus either still working for the Soviets (and may or may not have a rather nasty encounter with the PC's), or just trying to survive or even try to acquire enough resources to make their way back to what's left of the Soviet Union.

C) Bloody Mary is in fact an intel operative for CivGov/Milgov, or any number of NATO/WEstern intel agencies along with her girls, and they happen to have a mission they need the PC's to perform...they may even tag along to provide some interesting....er, support. After completion of the mission, the girls may promise the PC's an interesting evening, feeling they've been a bit freewheeling as of late and may require "discipline"...

Bloody Mary appears to said PC's in a dominatrix outfit with a riding crop. "Have YOU been a naughty boy?"

I think I need brain bleach now.

[.45cultist]

"Bubba": Bubba and his crew of trash loved 4X4's and firearms before the war. Now they are the 21ST century version of bravos, getting into trouble and testing to see if the thin blue line is broken under the collapse of society.
These young men and women are from powerful families and are tolerated.
Bubba's crew are convinced they could be better than any "soldier boys".

There was a Challenge adventure with a similiar group in it. Bubba may be smarter than he appears. And ca be a horrible PITA.