The Grand Tangent NPC Chart

Every so often a DM has a powerful need to go off on a tangent. Sometimes it is simply for a stress break, sometimes it’s to regroup and rethink, and sometimes it’s about a change of pace or to shake things up. Whatever the reason, the fastest way I know to send your PCs rolling down a new path or to distract them from their current quest is to throw an NPC at them.

But where are you going to find the time to create a new NPC with a distracting story? Never fear! What follows are thirty four examples of terrific NPCs ready to go with tangents built into their design. Feel free to choose whichever one best suits your wants or needs. Or, if you feel brave, have a roll on the accompanying chart. Please note that this chart is specifically geared towards 4th and 5th edition; however, it can easily be converted to all editions with a few minor adjustments. Good luck!

D100	NAME	ABOUT	BACKSTORY
01-03	Tonk Gabber	Female Gnome Wizard	On the hunt for lost magical item needed to save her family.
04-06	Geri Levandis	Female Elf Druid	Injured after goblin attack.
07-09	Tommis Pellarc	Male Human Cleric	Searching for nearby ruins.
10-12	Gabby Marc	Male Dwarf Fighter	Hunting for wanted bandits.
13-15	Jerric Belindo	Male Drow Wizard	On the run from Orcs.
16-18	Messa Farrow	Female Human Monk	Needs escort to local monastery.
19-21	Kendra Plunk	Female Halfling Rogue	Looking to sell cursed item.
22-24	Naus Ferderra	Male Dragonborn Barbarian	Asks for help to avenge dead tribe.
25-27	Soren Jullun	Male Elf Warlock	Thinks PCs are trying to arrest him.
28-30	Tamara Cobb	Female Half-Elf Ranger	Searching for missing children.
31-33	Dominic Deller	Male Human Paladin	Hunting for nearby demon.
34-36	Jannis Lamra	Female Tiefling Bard	Wants to steal money from PCs.
37-39	Ageron Ionic	Male Elf Sorcerer	Looking for abducted wife.
40-42	Meltia Copperboot	Female Dwarf Barbarian	On a quest to prove herself.
43-45	Helena Loom	Female Human Druid	Tracking  a pack of Gnolls.
46-48	Gobran Jonns	Male Gnome Rogue	Tied to a tree and left for dead.
49-51	Markus Ashenleaf	Male Elf Wizard	Searching for rare spell component.
52-54	Serra Markenfell	Female Half-Elf Fighter	Asks for help recovering lost gold.
55-57	Tibby Fozoni	Male Halfling Bard	Wants help following treasure map.
58-60	Candori Misk	Male Dragonborn Warlock	Accidentally opened random portal.
61-63	Dori Pewter	Female Dwarf Paladin	On quest to find mount.
64-66	Jenna Wellward	Female Human Ranger	Poisoned and looking for cure.
67-69	Ordon Grell	Male Half-Elf Cleric	Searching for stolen holy item.
70-72	Lissa Winn	Female Elf Monk	Was attacked and has amnesia.
73-75	Kellar Duan	Male Tiefling Rogue	Almost dead from sickness.
76-78	Fiona Tanger	Female Halfling Fighter	Is an old girlfriend of one PC.
79-81	Duggan Monty	Male Human Wizard	Is lost and has memory issues.
82-84	Kallico De’Juani	Male Drow Sorcerer	Being hunted by other Drow.
85-87	Cammie Aya	Female Half-Elf Bard	Is searching for her lost twin sister.
88-90	Smolts Brassblood	Male Dwarf Cleric	Tracking an evil necromancer.
91-93	Talon Quanto	Male Elf Paladin	Recently bitten by a Vampire.
94-96	Deanna Velna	Female Human Druid	Hunting nearby Kobold clan.
97-99	Tori Husk	Male Dragonborn Fighter	Mistakes PCs for old foes.
100	Damerjam Mookie	Male Gnome Wizard	Wants escort inside rival Wizard’s tower. Compensation TBD.