Make Your City Feel Alive
Are your urban fantasy NPCs feeling a bit generic? The brooding vampire, the gruff werewolf, the quirky informant… sometimes they all start to blend together. What they need is a spark of life, a memorable detail that makes them feel real. That’s where a great NPC quirk generator comes in!
This simple d20 table is your new best friend for instantly creating memorable characters that will make your game’s city a place your players will never forget.
The Urban Fantasy NPC Quirk & Habit Generator
Ready to go? Just roll a d20 and give your next NPC one of these unforgettable habits.
- Always late, but with wild, unbelievable excuses
- Collects unusual or bizarre hats
- Whispers encouragement to nearby plants
- Has a deep, irrational fear of escalators
- Insists on talking in riddles or proverbs
- Proudly wears wildly mismatched socks
- Hums a single, unidentifiable tune constantly
- Carries a ‘lucky’ rock and consults it for decisions
- Cannot resist juicy gossip, no matter the source
- Is overly competitive, even in simple games
- Always chewing a piece of magical-looking gum
- Writes surprisingly deep poetry on cocktail napkins
- Is a devout believer in every conspiracy theory
- Mumbles song lyrics under their breath
- Collects antique keys and tests them on random locks
- Refers to everyone, regardless of age, as “dearie”
- Terrified of even the smallest dogs
- Makes up their own words for common things
- Obsessed with practicing lucid dreaming techniques
- Violently, almost comically, allergic to cats
More Than Just a Quirk
A great quirk is a story hook in disguise! Use it as a springboard to flesh out your NPC’s backstory and personality. Ask yourself why:
- “Always Late”: Are they secretly juggling a double life, or just profoundly bad at time management? What happens when their lateness puts the party in danger?
- “Collects Unusual Hats”: Is each hat a trophy from a past adventure or con? Does their favourite hat hold a secret enchantment?
- “Whispers to Plants”: Is this a comforting habit, or do they have a touch of druidic magic they don’t even understand? Do the plants actually listen?
More Quick Quirk Ideas
Looking for even more inspiration for your next TTRPG session? Here are a few more ideas to get you started:
- Has an irrational fear of pigeons.
- Always wears gloves, even indoors.
- Speaks in charmingly outdated slang.
- Is secretly a high-level LARPer.
- Believes they are descended from forgotten royalty.
- Obsessively polishes their glasses with a specific cloth.
- Carries a magnifying glass everywhere, “just in case.”
- Leaves cryptic, philosophical notes for strangers.
- Knits constantly, but only creates bizarre, useless items.
- Has encyclopedic knowledge of a very niche, mundane topic.
These small details are the secret to great GMing. Grab this table for your next game prep and watch your urban fantasy world come to life, one quirky NPC at a time. Feel free to adapt, expand, and create your own amazing characters!