Solo NPC Conversations

By Shane Freshwater
Introduction
This set of tables are probably totally superfluous to the experienced solo player, but I wanted to think through how
to run a complete conversation and this is what I came up with.

It is worth adding this is intended as a generator for detailed, realistic conversations for players who enjoy role
playing the social aspects of your adventures. If just you want an overview of a conversation without too much
detail, I suggest using UNE, Covetous Poets Adventure Generator, or a similar NPC generator to create an outline of
their character and motivations and you should be able to use an oracle to get roughly what you need.

So, the idea behind this is that real conversations are made up of three elements.

1. You asking open questions that require answers other than yes or no.
2. You asking closed questions that require a yes/no answer
3. The NPC starting a topic by making a statement or asking you a question

I have assumed that you already have a system of generating a random NPC which provides details like appearance,
personality, quirks, motivations etc. My system is designed to use these random rolls to gradually reveal the NPC
rather than rolling them all in advance.

Secondly, I have assumed you have some sort of yes/no oracle that give shaded replies. My preferred oracle gives six
outcomes: No And, No, No But, Yes But, Yes and Yes And. If yours doesn’t then I would say:

• No And is a very extreme No

• No is a normal no
• No But is no but not by much
• Etc. etc.

My Oracle has gradients of Highly Unlikely, Unlikely, Evens, Likely and Highly Likely.

Finally, I have assumed you have a creative source or random ideas generator like the Event Meaning Generator in
Mythic.

Version History
Version 4 clarifies the system around ‘Will they answer’ and explains that ‘Evens’ is equivalent to ‘50/50’ in Mythic.

Version 3 doesn’t change the system but expands on the explanation and examples.

When I reread version 2, I was disappointed at how poorly I had expressed myself.

Royalty Free Image Source

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Creating NPCs:
If you already know the NPC skip this section and jump to the conversation.

If this is a new NPC, then rather than creating the NPC entirely, you only really need to know just two things when
you start, what they look like, and what they are wearing/doing.

Conversation Begins
Once you start interacting you will immediately need to know what their reaction is and then after a few words their
obvious personality. E.g. Mocking, Kindly, Slow of speech, etc. So, roll those from your favourite NPC generator.

As the discussion progresses you may uncover their name, motivations, complications, and oddities rolled up using
your favoured system.

The Conversation in full

A conversation should be made up of three elements:
1. Open questions by the PC - "How did you know the missing person?"
2. Closed questions by the PC - "Did you see them last night?"
3. Topics of conversation they start - which is covered in my NPC Led Topics table.

After each segment you might want to modify the NPCs mood and disclose motivations as you feel it’s appropriate.

Resolving these three elements:

1. Open questions are the hardest to resolve and needs a combination of the Oracle, your creative sources and
imagination. Split it into three stages:
a. Ask the oracle Will they answer? - Use the table below to interpret the result.
b. Do they know the answer? – If you are not sure use the oracle.
c. If they give an answer then use your creative sources to answer the open question.
2. Closed questions are easier and again need to be split in three
a. Ask the oracle Will they answer? - Use the table below to interpret the result.
b. Do they know the answer? – If you are not sure use the oracle.
c. Then ask the Oracle the question – Start at Evens (or 50/50) and is moved by the GM in the normal
way
3. For topics they start, use my discussions table. Roll d100 and d20 and use the column that suits the NPCs
mood. Then interpret the results and try to create a topic from it.

Will They Answer?

The Oracle starts at Evens (or 50/50) and is moved by their relationship to the PC. E.g. If they hate you it is very
unlikely they will answer. As the conversation progresses you might feel an enemy is warming to your PC and shift a
column, conversely a friend might be upset by an insensitive comment and become less likely to respond to future
questions. You might also want to add in a modifier for how persuasive your PC is.

From experience I would only roll occasionally or if the question is personal, threatening, etc.

Oracle Result Conversation Result

No And Ends conversation
No Refuses to answer this question. Consider worsening NPC mood towards the PC
No But Distracts by starting a different topic
Yes But Requires something from the PC
Yes Answers and may raise reaction
Yes And Offers additional information. Consider improving the mood towards the PC
NPC Led Topics
Action 1d100 Angry Neutral Friendly Thing 1d20
Rage/Yell/Attack/Offended 01-10 01-05 - Event 1-2
Dominate/Subjugate 11-20 - - Personality Insight into NPC 3
Demand/Order/Tell 21-30 06-07 01 Attribute 4
Threaten 31-40 08-09 02 Allegiance 5
Lies 41-50 10-12 03 Resources/Allies/Status 6
Inconsequential 7
Mock 51-57 13-15 04
Clue or lead 8
Challenge 58-64 16-18 05-06
Gossip or rumour 9
Boast/Preen 65-71 19-21 07-08 Knowledge/Facts 10
Question 72-78 22-31 09-10 Relationships/Friends/Enemies 11-12
Misunderstand 79-85 32-36 11-14 Sins/Faults/Behaviours 13
Preach/Moralise 86-88 37-39 15 Occupation now or historical 14
Appease/Diffuse 89-91 40-42 16-17 Skill 15
Trade 92-94 43-52 18-24 Quest 16
Convince 95-97 53-56 25-28 Crime/Misbehaviour 17
Person/Pet/Livestock 18
Offer 98 57-60 29-34
Travel/Place 19
Cooperate 99 61-64 35-41
Possession 20
Thoughts 65-68 42-47
Dilemma 69 48-51
Ask Opinion 70-73 52-58
Share 74-77 59-65
Teach - 66-70
Joke/humour 78-85 71-76
Entertain 86-93 77-82
Aid 94 83-89
Flirt or Befriend 00 95-99 90-93
Ask favour 00 94-00
An example of answering open questions
My meeting with my new patron is going well.

We are meeting in a private room in The Silver Helm, a clean

and serviceable establishment which provides simple but
good food and beer for an upmarket type of customers. It's
nothing too fancy but it suits my requirements. The furniture
is sturdy and made of wood stained dark by years of use.

Across from me sits my patron, Jane. She is a middle-aged

woman with a round face and dark complexion. She is
nibbling daintily on a slice of cake and sipping tea politely.
Everything about her is tidy and elegant, without being
ostentatious. She is dressed in clothing appropriate for a
woman in the better off merchant classes.

Jane has explained that Sally has gone missing. She was last
seen at the North Gate eight days ago.

She explained that Sally is the co-owner of a warehouse in the

merchants’ quarters.

She has described Sally as 58 years old, with ash blond hair,
hazel eyes, and bronze skin. Her acquaintances are Richard
her husband, Jim her business partner and Jane.

Jane has approached you as she hasn’t heard from her in over
a week and neither her husband, nor work know where she is

Me, "So Jane, what do you think has happened to her?" We know she is positive to us as she has initiated
the contact

She is extremely likely to answer: = Yes

What does she think?

Break down into “Does she know?” I think it

unlikely: No
Jane, "I have no idea. She didn't give me any indication, and
this is very unlike her."

Me, "How does she get on with her husband?"

Does she answer? (Extremely likely) – “Yes And”
she volunteers information

I used my creative sources to give “suspicious”,

and "strange amounts of money".

Jane, "Their relationship is normal, really. They seem very

sensible and calm. Although she did say she couldn't
understand where Richard had got the money for his latest
project."
Another Example in more detail
Narrative Mechanics

You approach the bar and find yourself standing next to an The PC meets a new NPC in a bar.
elderly man wearing clothing that is covered in paint stains
Using my random tables, they look (12) Artistic,
of various colours. He is ordering a drink from the barman.
(even) male, (90%) old

The PC is going to try and talk to him so what is his

reaction – UNE conversation mood table for neutral
relationship (64) neutral.

I don’t bother to roll on the table for every

PC, “Evening. What do you recommend drinking?”
sentence. Just when I need a nudge or response.
Artist, “The beers vile so I’d stick to spirits. Don’t let him put
I allow myself to improvise where appropriate.
any water in it though, not if you want to wake up healthy.”
Quick trip to a random name generator for the
PC, “Thanks, I’m Petr by the way.”
NPC.
Artist, “Joshy, pleased to meet you Petr.”

Petr orders a glass of spirits and turns back to the Artist.

Now I think we might be seeing his obvious
personality by now, so I roll that up. (39) Cranky

I’m going to interpret that as irritable in style of

communicating but not truly unfriendly.

This is an open question, so we split this into two

Petr, “Joshy, I’m new to town. Can you tell me what the stages:
latest news is?”
1) Will he answer? I think it a sure thing he
will answer as it’s a chance to voice his
Joshy, “I suppose the main news is that the prince has sent a opinions (45) Yes
detachment of his troops out to deal with a band of raiders 2) Now to answer this I roll from my creative
who have been harrying the villages to the north. Bloody random tables and get 048 – someone has
waste of time if you ask me. Those northerners aren’t worth mounted an expedition and 57 pirates or
the effort.” local ruler

Now I could let Joshy ask the obvious question

about what Petr is doing in town, but this is a
demo, so I am going to use the topic generator.

I get 79 & 20 – Joke/humour and possession.

Joshy laughing, “My that’s a mighty big sword you’re carrying (Just in case there is any doubt, I will not be
there. I’m sure it gets all the girls swooning.” winning any prizes for humour or acting.)

Petr smiling, “In my line of business a sword is essential. On a This is a closed question so will he answer extreme
more serious note, have you seen a half orc with a nasty scar yes (or Yes And) so he is going to volunteer info.
on his left cheek?”
Has he seen him (I think it likely) 68 so Yes
Joshy excited, “Yes! I saw him breaking into the docks last
night.” What extra does he volunteer – creative sources
for a location and action: 790 docks & 981 violate