NPC Voice & Roleplaying Characteristics

Vocal attributes, mannerism, demeanor, and calm/stress traits

I wanted something to provide inspiration for: "how do I roleplay this random NPC?".

Sources for table data:

https://www.reddit.com/r/BehindTheTables/comments/7fde9p/npcvoicestable/
https://www.reddit.com/r/DnDBehindTheScreen/comments/3ylu5n/npcgeneratorpersonality_faith/

Result

Voice: Roll on "Speed" speed, Roll on "Pitch" pitch, Roll on "Texture".
Vocal pattern: Roll on "Vocal pattern".
Mannerism: Roll on "Mannerism".
Demeanor: Roll on "Demeanor".
Roll on "Calm trait" when calm. Roll on "Stress trait" when stressed.


Subcharts

Speed (d3)

d3 Result

1

Slow

2

Medium

3

Fast

Pitch (d3)

d3 Result

1

low

2

medium

3

high

Texture (d8)

d8 Result

1

gruff

2

smooth

3

strained

4

relaxed

5

breathy

6

from the back of the throat (wolfy)

7

scratchy

8

nasal

Vocal pattern (d50)

d50 Result

1

Incoherent except for a few key words

2

Stutters

3

Lots of um

4

Lots of like

5

Lots of swearing

6

Uses thee's and thou's

7

Never stops to breathe

8

Short, clipped sentences

9

Talks in third person

10

Doesn't conjugate well ("me make good soup")

11

All S-sounds become Z-sounds

12

All w-sounds become v-sounds

13

R's arrrrrre always rrrrrrrolled

14

Never uses contractions

15

Whiny

16

Stuffy nose

17

Tongue stuck to back of teeth

18

Opens mouth too wide

19

Clenched teeth

20

Barely opens lips

21

All Th-sounds become Z-sounds

22

Repeats the last few words of a sentence/thought ("nice to meet you, meet you.")

23

Uses full titles or descriptions of how he knows you ("ellen-farmers-daughter is pretty")

24

Strings together adj/adv for more impact ("wow, your dress is pretty-pretty!" "I am short-short-short.")

25

All non-proper nouns end with "en"/"sen" ("may I have some applesen?" "I saw a big moosen!")

26

L-sounds become w-sounds

27

Repeats the last word you say before responding

28

Sings everything

29

Does the wrong emPHAsis on the wrong sylLAbles

30

Pauses often

31

Staccato speech

32

Monotonous

33

Whistles on S-sounds

34

Spits on Th-sounds and S-sounds (think Sylvester the cat from Looney toons)

35

Light lisp

36

R-sounds become w-sounds

37

Severe underbite

38

Severe overbite

39

Speaks out of the corner of his mouth

40

Always pouting

41

"Ar/er" sounds become "aye" sounds (fart will sound like fight, water will sound like watay)

42

Soft letters are elongated ("ssssso, hhhhhhow are you?")

43

Slurs words

44

Mouth is always full when talking

45

Sighs after each sentence

46

Never uses am/is/are/was/were (“I big.” “She pretty.”)

47

Responds in the form of questions

48

Always over-exaggerates

49

Never tells the complete truth

50

Mutters to self

Mannerism (d50)

d50 Result

1

Pulls on ear

2

Taps chin

3

Wrings hands

4

Flexes arms

5

Puffs out chest

6

Clenches fist(s)

7

Clenches jaw

8

Looks at the speakers forehead

9

Taps nose

10

Licks lips

11

Chews nails

12

Chews straw/tobacco/gum

13

Clicks tounge

14

Acts bored

15

Swallows a lot

16

Pulls/twists clothing

17

Covers mouth when speaking

18

Sniffs often

19

Bites lips

20

Teeth chatter or grind

21

Coughing (genuine)

22

Constantly clears throat (think umbridge)

23

Adjusts glasses/spectacles

24

Caresses a coin

25

Strokes chin/beard

26

Invades personal space

27

Flips a coin

28

Rests hand on hilt of sword/dagger

29

Shamelessly hits on all male PCs (winks, waggle-brows, touching, etc)

30

Shamelessly hits on all female PCs (winks, waggle-brows, touching, etc)

31

Rarely blinks

32

Excessive blinking

33

Pops lips

34

Flexes muscles

35

Taps foot

36

Never looks at the person talking

37

Eyes constantly shifting around

38

Gets lost in a daze

39

Easily distracted

40

Cracks knuckles

41

Drums fingers

42

Waggles eyebrows

43

Picks nose

44

Holds head high

45

Delayed reactions

46

Slumps shoulders

47

Shuffles feet

48

Jogs in place

49

Writes down every word said

50

Only looks at the speaker’s chin

Calm trait (d32)

d32 Result

1

Compassionate

2

Cheerful

3

Reserved

4

Outspoken

5

Uninterested

6

Gruff

7

Eager

8

Deceitful

9

Foolish

10

Strict

11

Agreeable

12

Mischeivious

13

Angry

14

Fearful

15

Manipulative

16

Devout

17

Greedy

18

Funny

19

Dour

20

Fun-Loving

21

Lazy

22

Driven

23

Boastful

24

Artistic

25

Assertive

26

Carefree

27

Cautious

28

Confident

29

Thoughtful

30

Loyal

31

Sophisticated

32

Weak-Willed

Stress trait (d32)

d32 Result

1

Withdrawn

2

Murderous

3

Obsessive

4

Authoritarian

5

Determined

6

Brave

7

Spiteful

8

Belligerent

9

Caustic

10

Reckless

11

Argumentative

12

Gluttonous

13

Overly Protective

14

Angry

15

Cowardly

16

Meticulous

17

Sarcastic

18

Stubborn

19

Destructive

20

Practical

21

Pushy

22

Fanatical

23

Secretive

24

Scornful

25

Courageous

26

Impractical

27

Calculating

28

Industrious

29

Manipulative

30

Destructive

31

Compulsive

32

Intolerant

Demeanor (d3)

d3 Result

1

Agreeable

2

Disagreeable

3

Indifferent