Impromptu NPC work

Providing impromptu NPC work can sometimes be a sudden requirement and may have minimal preparations to lead off from. In these cases, you need to be quick on your feet and be able to mock up your own villager/soldier style backstory based on what you already know of the world.

Remember; as a player, you have front row seats to observe the world as it is presented by the Game Master. Take what the GM does as an example to branch off from to create your own pop-up NPC when you are needed to help. With basic knowledge of the world as you know it, the following list will help you create, and stick to a consistent improvisation.

Each item is a profession with a list of things that profession may specialize in (You can pick any number of the sub items, you don't need to pretend to have all sub-items). You are typically raised by your parents into the more basic/serf/peasant walks of life, giving you ample time to hone and master your craft. The more military or fighter lifestyles are more often chosen walks of life.

NOTE: Always try to stick to the environment. Do not default to your favorite if your favorite is not a direct, contributing member of society. This means that if your GM asks you to help fill a town, do not become a Mercenary, for example, by default. Become a Tradesman that actively contributes to their community, and can offer basic services to the players.

Tribal:

Tribal life is relatively simple, keeping to only the essential needs to live comfortably, but not so much as to be rooted too permanently in one place. When Tribes make it a practice to avoid a single place entirely, they are often called Nomads. The occupations of these Tribes are kept to a relatively simple list with technology remaining relatively low to flint knapping, carving, weaving, and pottery for example.

  • Hunting
  • Farming
  • Fishing
  • Herding
  • Crafting
  • Foraging

Hamlets, Villagers, and Townships:

Hamlets are smaller than Villages, often only requiring the essential occupations for comfortable living. Villages are collections of farmers and serfs, where as Townships are smaller for land reach, sometimes fortified, and more self-sufficient. Villages will be more open and exposed to the elements with little governing forces needed. Townships are typically a manor with a central head such as a Lord, Sheriff, or Bailiff, and can appoint and afford guards where villages relied on a community based watch.

Many trades and occupations will often trade directly with one another rather than exchange money depending on their needs.

  • Forager

    • Gathering
    • Searching
    • Scouting
      Foragers, the often unsung small time aids to village life. Foragers search the local both near and far to find natural materials and bring samples, if not collections back to their fellow Villagers, and identify locations of interest in order to maximize the use of the land.

  • Farmer

    • Grain
    • Gourd
    • Cabbage/lettuce
    • Corn
    • Goats/cows/donkeys/pigs/chickens
      As a Farmer, it is your responsibility to provide agricultural source for your village. You grow various vegetation and have a few animals on your farm to help.

  • Miller

    • Riverside/wind
    • Millstones
    • Millwheels
      The Miller is what controls the flow and cost of grinding grain into flower. They must ensure the entire system and mill remains calibrated to optimize the flow and refinement available via grinding stones. Millers adjust the mills to face the wind, or raise and lower the wheels to maximize the drag of the river flow.

  • Fletcher

    • Arrows
    • Bows
    • String and twine
      Typically working with the finer wooden and fiber arts, Fletchers are crucial for bow crafting and arming for hunters and community defense. Fletchers work closely with farmers and foragers to gather material appropriate for bow and arrow crafting. Some arrowheads are simply sharpened wood when made quickly and cheaply, but can advance to knapped arrowheads and forged metal arrowheads depending on availability.

  • Huntsmen

    • Tracking
    • Camouflage
    • Stealth
      Huntsmen take account of local animal wildlife. Huntsmen will keep track of the "game" available to hunt in the area. In larger towns, these Huntsmen will be hired by the local authority when hunting rights are limited in Lorded over towns.

  • Fishermen

    • Fish
    • Water
    • Currents
    • Rivers/streams/oceanic wildlife
      Fishermen keep close attention to the needs of fishing and aquatic culture, able to identify the needs, patterns and balance of water wildlife with the needs of the food outlets in their area.

  • Carpenter

    • Wood
    • Forestry
    • Crafting
      Carpenters are responsible for pulling in lumber for the use of crafting and construction, utilizing various tools to craft items ranging from tool handles to entire buildings, as well as carved accessories.

  • Stonemason

    • Stone
    • Construction
    • Carving
    • Chiseling
      Stonemasons are construction designers and artists of the rock and stone. Able to carve intricate designs or practical shapes for the creation and construction of structures for various needs from statues to buildings.

  • Weaver

    • Threading
    • Dying
    • Sewing
    • Interconnecting soft material
      Weavers pull soft, elongated material ranging from grasses to threads, able to create textile materials for various uses, but mainly focusing on the immediately practical such as baskets and clothing. Weavers also create items of interest such as banners and flags.

  • Cobbler

    • Shoes
    • Cloth materials
    • Leather materials
    • Sewing
      Cobblers ensure the health and comfort of their neighbors by creating and providing footwear to their community, ensuring the footwear is kept up with and repaired, making entirely new shoes as needed.

  • Blacksmith

    • Metal
    • Repair
    • Maintenance
    • Ore refinement/smelting
      Blacksmiths are the bread and butter for tools and construction. Taking raw ore whether from a local quarry or extracting from their own findings, and creating tools and items which bring ease and structural security to the every day lives of their fellow Villagers and Townsfolks. In Towns, Smiths even have skills in weapons making and armor fitting due to such needs being higher where guards need to be armed.

  • Butcher

    • Meat
    • Salting
    • Food preservation
    • Lard
      Butchers are knowledgeable masters of meat processing and preparation. Intimately familiar with animal biology for the sake of meat consumption and excess uses such as fat processing for preservers. Butchers will take animals to prepare their meat for fresh consumption or salt and lard the leftovers to make it last as long as possible and have plenty of food during winter lack and when the farms are closed.

  • Tanner/Leatherworker

    • Animal hide
    • Sewing
    • Crafting
    • Buckles
    • Belts
      With a wide range of needs leather can fulfill, Tanners are master craftsmen, creating a wide range of items from clothing to accessories, to tool sheathes and handles. Often working closely with the Hunters, Farmers, Butchers, and Smiths to get animal hide from them in exchange for repairs and services to one another.

  • Marketer/Merchants

    • Market stand
    • Wagons
    • Trade outlet
      Marketers are the front line of general trade for travelers. What the village might have in excess then goes to the markets to pull in commerce which grants the village/town. A marketer represents and calls passers by over and encourages them to stock up on their basic needs in order to sell the excess goods of other Villagers/Townsfolk. Though some Villagers and Townsfolk can sell their own crafted goods, marketers can haul a small inventory to a centralized area (the market) and sell from a consolidated stock at a table stand. Marketers can haggle for prices to ensure they sell their stock without losing out on opportunity to maximize profit after they themselves are paid and the taxes due are given.

  • Cleric

    • Scribe
    • Illustration
    • Theism
    • Worship
    • Ministry
      Teachers of the religion of the Village/Town, the Cleric is responsible for spiritual leadership and guidance in for their neighbors. They provide clarity and comfort to those who come to them and provide advice based on the needs of the people. The Cleric provides congregational prayer, teaching, and community services on all days, especially those of rest and Sabbath.

  • Tavernier

    • Innkeeping
    • Food
    • Drink supply
      Taverns are a staple of medieval gathering place. Finding drinks and some food before purchasing some lodging to fall asleep in is the field and passion of a Tavernier. Often taking care of their neighbors after long days of work or on sabbath breaks, Taverniers will also identify and provide for travelers that they may simply purchase dinner and a place to stay rather than hunt or roll out a camp for sleep.

  • Vintner

    • Fruit
    • Grapes
    • Berries
    • Wine
      Vintners grow grapes and sometimes other fruits of similar nature. Some Vintners also grow some other fruits to increase their stock and options for wine fermenting.

  • Cartographer

    • Maps
    • Local environments
    • Locations knowledgebase
    • Scribe
      Creators of accurate maps, Cartographers are responsible for recording and illustrating locations, paths, and relevant measurements/directions based on cardinal locations such as mountains to create maps which can be understood by most who wish to expand their wandering. While maps can be entirely accurate with measurements and true understanding of the Compass directions, most are simply directions to more particular locations with Cartographers focusing on the needs and understanding of their neighbors who can see mountains and country ranges as directions more reliably than an expensive compass.

  • Apothecary

    • Medicine
    • Ointment
    • Treatment
      Apothecarial providers create medicine ranging from herbal mixtures to tonics and other treatments. Their main focus is to ensure the health of their neighbors and to study and counter sicknesses which put people out of their ability to live properly.

Cities:

When Townships grow beyond simple self governing life with minimal aid, a City is born. Cities and large reaching lands are governed by a Lord or Baron, if not the King themselves depending on range and size or preference of the King.

Additions to occupational life include more advanced craftsmen and specialties on top of many of the jobs already found in Village/Townships. Many of the additional occupations however, are more luxury entertainment than necessity.

  • Brewer

    • Beers
    • Ales
    • Spirits
      Larger ranges of people and diverse travelers requires differing views on refined taste, as well as the need to make something to drink without the space to sprawl out a whole vineyard.

  • Barber

    • Hair
    • Style
    • Fashion
      Keeping the hair out of one's eyes is one thing, but providing a little more artistic touch is another. Barbers will help cut hair and shave beards.

  • Chandler

    • Candles
    • Wax
    • String
      Creating candles is crucial for small sources of evening light or diving deeper into buildings and structures where the sunlight does not reach.

  • Minstrel

    • Music
    • Instrumentalist
    • Lyricist
      Keeping the masses happy on a daily basis in the hustle an bustle of City life can be a challenge Minstrels have cornered the market in making sure people didn't have a reason to fall too flat on the interests of life, providing songs for small public audiences for tips when not hired for entertainment.

  • Scribe

    • Literature
    • Writing
    • Reading
    • Illustration
      Scribes are responsible for providing reading and writing services, and some even offering basic illustration services depending on their training and the need for ornate documents.

  • Watchmen

    • Patrol
    • Safety
    • Security
    • Law keeping
      Sometimes guards aren't entirely necessary in the inner city. Watchmen have interior law training and are tasked with the upkeep of said laws as a policing force.

Miscellaneous:

Not everything happens within the confines of typical community limits. Sometimes you might be called upon to be an actor of a less conventional character.

  • Mercenaries

    • Combat
    • Traveling
    • Armoring
      Mercenaries are typically banded in a group and work together in small networks as security for hire. Often linking with traveling Merchants and offering some small time combat assistance when a Lord's forces are lacking, or aiding some smaller Towns and Villages during bandit raids issues.

  • Bounty Hunters

    • Contracts
    • Traveling
    • Law keeping
      Bounty hunters seek and arrest, or kill if it is necessary when criminals become enough trouble for a community to prioritize an activation of justice.

  • Brigand

    • Criminal
    • Roadside
    • Traveling
      Brigands are roadside robbers. Some traveling in small groups of two to five, Brigands will pay attention to the size, arming, and capabilities of passing travelers to weigh whether their life is worth putting on the line to ambush and attack the unaware traveler. Though sometimes, need and desperation could outweigh reason.