Since Kingmaker has so many NPCs the players will encounter, I'm looking for something I can use to keep track of them all. It could be software (purpose-built or just something off-the-shelf, provided it's better than just Word) or just a method of organizing note-cards or something like that. I don't have any hard requirements, but this is a list of the kinds of things I expect to need to do:
I'm sure there's more, and it's nothing unique to my Kingmaker game - it's the kind of thing any GM is going to need to do. I just don't have a good system/program to handle it right now.
Anyone have suggestions? How have you handled the plethora of NPCs?
I just use an Excel sheet. It makes for easy sorting by name/current location/status/attitude towards PCs/etc.
I use a ringbinder for all my Kingmaker 'extra content'. It includes handouts, rules clarifications, pages of suitable names (taken from online name generators), homebrew NPCS, and named but unstatted NPCs from the AP that I've given statblocks to (e.g. Oleg & Svetlana, Aecora Silverfire). I've grouped them by location - PC's Kingdom, Rest of Greenbelt, Varnhold, Rest of Nomen Heights etc.
For on-the-fly NPCs I've found the sample NPC statblocks in the Gamemastery Guide to be a lifesaver, but if I have the opportunity I always prefer to stat them myself in advance.
Ooh, a 3-ring binder... I haven't used one of those in years. That's a good idea, though. If I maintain the list on the computer (in any format), and have the most current version printed out and put into the binder, I can write extra notes on the sheet to transcribe to the computer later (my handwriting is pretty bad), organize them by area... Yeah, that sounds quite workable. Thanks!
If I maintain the list on the computer (in any format), and have the most current version printed out and put into the binder
That's exactly what I do!
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Another option (which I use) is an online messageboard that you moderate.
You limit access to one area only to you (GM) so that you can make notes etc and keep track, and another area for all to read.
That is where you post updated info on the stuff the PCs know.
Giving the players access to post on each name also allows for them to make notes on certain NPC for their own purposes.
Here's a link to my messageboard NPCs for you to check out:
I have another area of the board that only I have access to - so that I can keep my campaign related articles there for my reference.
Robert
Ah yes, I forgot to mention that page.
+1 for EpicWords. (Free if you only have one campaign to worry about)
I had a wiki for my prior homebrew campaign, but my players weren't really into maintaining it, or even really checking it. I have some of the same players this time, so I don't have high hopes for the usefulness of a EpicWords, but I can see it's usefulness, especially in a long-running game like this. I can certainly try to sell them on it, though.
