Playing a character is like putting on a mask: Slip on a mask, and you become someone else.

This book presents 1,000 “masks” — non-player characters that are fun to play, and that your players will never forget. Featuring a foreword by gaming industry legend Wolfgang Baur, Masks is the ultimate NPC resource.

Think of your favorite character from a game, book, or movie. What makes them memorable? It’s not their Strength score, or how many hit points they have — it’s who they are as a person: what they look like, how they act, their personality, and what drives them.

Using a simple but powerful template that features Appearance, Roleplaying, Personality, Motivation, Background, and Traits, Masks provides the core elements of a thousand great characters. Masks NPCs are designed to be used on the fly, no prep required — but with enough depth to be used when planning adventures, as well.

Within this massive collection you’ll find the resources you need to portray vivid NPCs in your games:

• Fantasy, science fiction, and modern NPCs: 333 of each (334 in fantasy), all easily adaptable to any genre and any RPG
• Roles and traits: Every NPC has a role — villain, ally, or neutral — and is categorized by traits like famous, criminal, and warrior
• Clear, useful game mastering advice: Masks covers re-skinning NPCs to fit other genres, making your portrayals memorable, and more
• Handy tools: NPCs are indexed by trait, name, and author; an appendix lists groups like Tavern Patrons and Spaceport Denizens; and Masks provides over 1,900 names in an easy-to-use format

No game mechanics: These system-neutral NPCs can be used in any RPG

Original Concept and Design: Martin Ralya
Project Manager: Phil Vecchione
Design: John Arcadian, Patrick Benson, Walt Ciechanowski, Don Mappin, Scott Martin, Matthew Neagley, Kurt “Telas” Schneider, Troy Taylor, Phil Vecchione
Trait Design: Matthew Neagley
Authors: John Arcadian, Patrick Benson, Walt Ciechanowski, Don Mappin, Scott Martin, Matthew Neagley, Martin Ralya, Kurt “Telas” Schneider, Troy Taylor, Phil Vecchione
Lead Editor: Dan Von Holten
Editors: Sara DeNunzio, Brian Nowak
Assistant Editor: Martin Ralya
Developer: Martin Ralya
Art Director: John Arcadian
Graphic Designer: Darren Hardy
Layout: Darren Hardy
Cover Artist: Christopher Reach
Cover Designer: Darren Hardy
Interior Artists: Avery Liell-Kok, Andrew McIntosh, Matt Morrow, Christopher Reach
Border Artwork: Peter Szmer
Indexer: Matthew Neagley
NPC Groups: Robert M. Everson
Proofreaders: Robert M. Everson, Daniel Milne, Samuel Mustain
Capitalist Tool: Kurt “Telas” Schneider

Masks: 1,000 Memorable NPCs for Any Roleplaying Game, Engine Publishing, the Engine Publishing logo, and the truncated gear device are trademarks of Engine Publishing, LLC.

Masks: 1,000 Memorable NPCs for Any Roleplaying Game is copyright © 2011 as a whole, including all artwork, by Engine Publishing, LLC; all rights reserved. Each author’s contribution (listed in the author index) is copyright © 2011 by that individual author, and is used with permission; all rights reserved.

Gnome Stew, The Game Mastering Blog, and the Gnome Stew logo are trademarks of Martin Ralya.

The Engine Publishing logo was designed by Darren Hardy.

Published by Engine Publishing, LLC in July 2011.

ENGINE PUBLISHING
enginepublishing.com
PO Box 571992
Murray, UT 84157

With special thanks to C.M. Cline for writing “The 7-Sentence NPC” in Dragon® Magazine #184 (August 1992), which inspired this book

In memory of Jack Vasel and Amber Blackburn

DEDICATIONS

John—To the characters whose lives I have shared over the years—time in your shoes gave me perspective on my life and helped me shape myself into the person I wanted to be.

Patrick—Dedicated to my wife Karen whom marrying was the best thing that I ever did, my daughter Calen for teaching me serenity, and my son Liam who is a character unto himself.

Walt—To my parents, who encouraged me to harness my creativity. Without their support, I may have missed out on an enjoyable and fascinating hobby. My contribution to Masks would not be possible without them.

Scott—I dedicate this book to all the characters in my life— from Dad, to Jennifer, Eric, and my game groups. None of my characters are you, I swear!

Matthew—To my wife, the best GM ever, and my daughter, whose imagination is limitless, and to the rest of the gnomes for being a positive influence on both my games and my projects list.

Martin—To my wife, Alysia, who puts up with my many quirks; my mom and dad, who raised a huge geek; and my daughter, Lark, who will grow up thinking that publishing books is normal.

Kurt—For my mother, who encouraged my gaming. For my non-gaming wife, who selflessly enables my gaming. For our children and all the players out there, here is a plaything that will never wear out.

Troy—To the Betty Boopster, my sounding board and anchor; and the Central Illinois Gamers Alliance, whose members bring their fantastic characters to life every Saturday morning.

Phil—To all the great characters that have inspired and entertained me in the games I have run and played: Alex, Arion, Erland, Drake, Gabe, Merik, Spenser, Owen, Tai-Nu, and Tessa. Thank you.

We’d also like to collectively dedicate this book to the readers of Gnome Stew and all of the GMs who bought our first book, Eureka. Without all of you, Masks wouldn’t exist. You rock!