OTHER DUST - Quick NPC Generation

"Other Dust" by Kevin Crawford (C) 2012-2023

Generating quick particulars about an NPC for the postapocalyptic spin-off of SWN (Stars Without Number)
Get the pdf on https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/de/product/103502/other-dust.

All textual materials in this document are copyrighted by Sine Nomine Publishing. No infringement intended.

Result

Appearance

ETHNICITY:  Roll on "Particulars" (columns: 1)
BUILD:      Roll on "Particulars" (columns: 2)
LIFE STAGE: Roll on "Particulars" (columns: 3)
CLOTHING:   Roll on "Particulars 2" (columns: 1)

Traits

MEMORABLE TRAIT: Roll on "Particulars 3" (columns: 1)
BEST TRAIT:      Roll on "Particulars 2" (columns: 2)
WORST TRAIT:     Roll on "Particulars 2" (columns: 3)
RELATIONSHIP W/
 SPOUSE/FAMILY:  Roll on "Particulars 2" (columns: 4)

Situation

ROLE IN THE ENCLAVE:  Roll on "Particulars 3" (columns: 2)
MOST SIGNIFICANT
 SOURCE OF INFLUENCE: Roll on "Particulars 3" (columns: 3)
BIGGEST PROBLEM:      Roll on "Particulars 4" (columns: 1)
CURRENT DESIRE:       Roll on "Particulars 4" (columns: 2)

Subcharts

Particulars (d10)

d10 Ancestral Ethnicity Build Life Stage Result

1

Caucasian

Tiny

Barely adult

2

Southern African

Short

Unwed Youth

3

Northern African

Short but Resolve: {broad|obese}

Married Youth

4

South Asian

Average

Widowed Youth

5

East Asian

Average but Resolve: {broad|obese}

Unwed Adult

6

Arab

Average height but thin

Married Adult

7

Lunar

Average height but thin

Married Adult

8

Tailored Phenotypic Mix

Tall and Resolve: {broad|obese}

Widowed Adult

9

Mix of Re-roll (cols="1", dice="1d8") and Re-roll (cols="1", dice="1d8")

Extremely tall and thin

Married Elderly

10

Mix of Re-roll (cols="1", dice="1d8"), Re-roll (cols="1", dice="1d8"), and Re-roll (cols="1", dice="1d8")

Huge

Resolve: {Unwed|Widowed} Elderly

Particulars 2 (d20)

d20 Clothing Best Trait Worst Trait Relationships

1

Crude rags and tatters

Compassionate

Arrogant

Warm, loving, and uncomplicated

2

Patched Old Terran clothing

Cooperative

Bigoted

Spouse recently committed adultery

3

Loincloth and little more

Courageous

Deceitful

Parents disapprove of their role in group

4

Robes of Resolve: {homespun|Old Terran} cloth

Determined

Entitled

A new faith brings tension between them

5

Fragments of Old Terran plastics

Fair-minded

Foolish

NPC recently committed adultery

6

Leathers studded with credit chips

Forbearing

Greedy

Spouse pushing NPC to greater glory

7

Brightly-colored dresses or kilts

Forgiving

Indolent

Spouse or parent nag incessantly

8

Tunic and trousers of available cloth

Generous

Insulting

Spouse or parent overshadows NPC

9

Brightly-brocaded clothing

Honest

Irresponsible

Spouse committed crime; must hide it

10

Suit studded with beads and charms

Honorable

Malicious

Unforgivably terrible mistake was made

11

Armor even at inappropriate times

Hospitable

Mistrustful

Unjust suspicion between them

12

Feathers and leather and dyes

Humble

Reckless

Justified suspicion between them

13

Bright-woven homespun clothes

Loyal

Selfish

Pondering a divorce/disowned by parents

14

Saris or sarongs of bright cloth

Merciful

Spiteful

Impatient for inheritance

15

A few well-placed armor plates

Peaceful

Treacherous

The only support for parents or spouse

16

Shaggy camo clothing that blends well

Perceptive

Ungenerous

Pressured to divorce for infertility

17

Leathers decorated with their kills

Prudent

Untrustworthy

Family deplores spouse or lover

18

Fashionable Old Terran business suits

Responsible

Vengeful

Family burdens them with many orders

19

Leather straps and light cloth

Self-sacrificing

Violent

NPC is family's pride and joy

20

Paint alone when climate permits

Unbigoted

Wrathful

They mutually hate each other

Particulars 3 (d20)

d20 Result NPC Role in Enclave Source of Influence

1

Loudly bigoted against another enclave

The finest and most respected farmer in the enclave

Has blackmail evidence on the enclave's leader

2

Resolve: {Near-sighted|Hard of hearing}

The enclave's best hunter

Amazing knack for finding food

3

Scars over a missing Resolve: {hand|eye|foot}

Cruelly oppressed house servant for the elite

Has done favors for everyone in the enclave

4

Traces of a Resolve: {amoeba-like|chitinous|furred|fungal|plant-like|finned|metallic|scaled|tentacular} mutation stigmata on body

Enclave's caretaker for the sick and crippled

Remarkable powers of seduction

5

Resolve: {Mute|Possessing a speech debility}

Favorite concubine to an imporant leader

Believed specially blessed by God

6

Elaborate Resolve: {tattoos|piercings}

A scout roving the nearby lands for signs of trouble

Hereditary authority rests in their bloodline

7

Limb crippled from old Resolve: {wound|accident}

Tech maintaining arcane and balky relics

Owns a powerful relic used for the good of the enclave

8

Extensive scarring over some visible skin

Clergy of the enclave's dominant faith

Performed a mighty deed of arms that saved the enclave

9

Fastidiously clean and neat

Beggar, if the enclave is big enough for such

Married into a powerful local family

10

Uses a particular phrase over and over

Sage versed in Old Terran lore

Respected for presciently wise advice and good judgement

11

Always accompanied by another NPC

Harried official of the enclave's government

Years of friendship with important enclave figures

12

Always predicting the worst possible outcome

Scrapsmith forging necessities from spare parts

Best trader in the enclave, has many foreign friends

13

Icy scorn for a particular Resolve: {gender|ethnicity}

Stranger who wandered in recently from afar

Accidentally crippled by enclave leader; guilt brings influence

14

Talks loudly and slowly to outsiders

Missionary of another faith - openly or otherwise

Found a cache of precious tech and shares it with enclave

15

Answers questions with another question

Wandering Resolve: {historian|sage}

In their youth, was a great adventurer - by local standards

16

Resolve: {Bald|Fanciful hair style}

Resolve: {Judge|Magistrate} of the enclave

Respected for rigorously upright spiritual life

17

Always toying with their weapons

Owner of the biggest Resolve: {farm|house} in the enclave

Children or siblings married into half the enclave's families

18

Quotes religious scriptures constantly

Resolve: {Head|Eldest heir} of a large and powerful family

Secret psychic powers

19

Indiscriminate flatterer

Former wanderer made mentally ill by experiments

Hidden ties with an outside Resolve: {raider|cult} group

20

No sense of humor whatsoever

Heir of the enclave's ruler

Irresistably charming and well-loved by enclave

Particulars 4 (d12)

d12 Big Problem Current Desire

1

Has a chronic and eventually fatal disease

The romantic attentions of a particular neighbor

2

Spouse or child Resolve: {is gravely ill|has been crippled}

Enough food to ensure family's safety for a while

3

Powerful local has a grudge against them

Revenge against a hated enemy

4

Has committed a crime and fears discovery

Justice for a crime committed against them

5

Owes a powerful person a favor they can't afford

Truth about a spouse's or lover's faithfulness

6

Can't presently feed themselves or their family

Better equipment for their role in the enclave

7

Suspected of being a psychic - Resolve: {and really is|and possibly is|but really isn't}

Leadership in the enclave's government

8

Follows a faith unpopular with the locals

The strengthening of the enclave as a whole

9

Their true love wants nothing to do with them

Safety for Resolve: {themselves|an imperiled friend}

10

Recently disgraced for a serious failure of duty

Cure for a Resolve: {sick|crippled} friend

11

They've recently broken a valuable enclave relic

Roll on "Particulars 4" (columns: 2)

12

They've been betrayed by a once-friend

Roll on "Particulars 4" (columns: 2)