tavern foundryTavern Foundry / FIELD NOTES
Three details that make an NPC easier to play
You rarely need a full biography to make someone memorable at the table.
Give them an immediate want
A lighthouse keeper wants help before the tide rises. An innkeeper wants the argument upstairs to stop. Immediate wants give players something to respond to.
Choose one playable mannerism
Pick a small behavior you can repeat comfortably, such as arranging cups while talking or checking the window before answering. An accent is optional.
Leave an open thread
A secret should create a decision, not force a predetermined reveal. Give the party more than one way to discover what matters.