04-01-2015, 01:37 AM
On the subject of NPCs, I agree that they should be more than just glorified signposts/blatant plot devices. To that end, I gave different, non-plot related shticks to my towns so I can develop the NPCs around them. For example, the inhabitants of a town visited early are trapped in a cold war of some sorts between a shady mayor and an equally shady elder. This scenario will unravel independently from the main plot, to give the impression that the world doesn't spin around what the main character do.