GM Advice for a Braindrain Friday: The One-Stat NPC

Hey everyone,

It's Braindrain Friday, so let's talk about one of my favorite low-effort, high-impact GM tools: The One-Stat NPC.

We've all been there. The players wander off the path and decide to interrogate a random city guard you just invented, or they get into a deep conversation with a shopkeeper who, thirty seconds ago, didn't even have a name. You need to make them feel like a real person, but you have nothing prepared.

This is where the One-Stat NPC shines.

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What is a One-Stat NPC?

It's an NPC defined by a single, simple motivation. You don't need a backstory, a list of personality traits, or a detailed character sheet. All you need is one driving goal. Everything that NPC says and does is filtered through that one simple lens.

Instead of a generic "shopkeeper," you have a shopkeeper whose only stat is "wants to sell their overstocked, slightly-damaged goods."

• Do the players ask for a discount? He'll offer a "special deal" on the dented helmets he can't get rid of.
• Do they ask for directions? He'll only give them helpful information after they've listened to his sales pitch.
• Do they try to intimidate him? He's more worried about his bottom line, so he'll try to haggle for his safety.

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Some Quick Examples

This technique makes improvising characters incredibly easy. Here are a few more examples:

• The City Guard: Their one stat is "is two minutes away from the end of their shift." They will be lazy, cut corners, and agree to almost anything if it means they can go home sooner.
• The Barmaid: Her one stat is "is secretly in love with the captain of the guard." She'll be distracted, dreamy-eyed, and might offer free drinks to anyone who speaks well of the captain or shares gossip about them.
• The Goblin Sentry: Its one stat is "is terrified of being blamed for anything." It will lie, deflect, and point fingers at other goblins to avoid getting in trouble with the boss.

By focusing on a single, core motivation, you can create a memorable and consistent character on the fly with almost zero effort. It’s the perfect tool for a lazy GM who wants to run a rich, dynamic world.

As always,
Michael Garcia a.k.a. TheCrazyGM