How do you come up with NPC names?

obiwanjacoby · Rookie Joined: Dec 31, 1969 Posts: 37

I've browsed a bit and haven't seen anyone doing what I do. I got an old Drake and Drake Saunders Pharmaceutical Word Book. Cool

Best resource there is, especially for fantasy genres.

Do you realize how many prescription drugs sound like fantasy characters or space aliens? And each one comes with a possible clue to character development.

Elavil - an antidepressant. I could have say, an Elf bard that lifts everyone's spirits. Smile

Elspar - A treatment for leukemia. . .possibly a cleric specializing in blood disorders such as. . .vampirism!!! Cool

Zofran - An antiemetic (treatment for vomiting). This sounds like a dwarf to me. Maybe a dwarf with digestive problems.

It also works real well when throwing in titles such as "Sir" or "Lord".

- Sir Robitussin.
- Duke Lasix.
- Lady Meritine.

I never have to think about another NPC name on the fly again! BTW, I got this idea from a friend who names all his PCs after old inkjet printers (Xerox, Epson, Lexmark, etc.). Wink

Let's hear some of your ideas!

-PJ

imperialdeadite

I take the names of the inspiration of the npc and reverse the names. EG: Okura = Aruko