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GM resource

NPC toolkit for Shadowrun 6th Edition

Quick NPC creation and reuse. A reusable NPC toolkit keeps Shadowrun 6E sessions moving: a name, a want, and one detail fitting the game's tone (cyberpunk-fantasy shadowrunning) is enough to improvise a scene.

Checklist

  • Keep a list of 10 names and one-line hooks ready before the session starts.
  • Give recurring NPCs a want and a limit: what they'll do, and what they won't.
  • Reuse minor NPCs across sessions instead of inventing a new one every scene.
  • Decide an NPC's stance toward the party before they show up, not mid-scene.
Common pitfalls
  • Every NPC sounding the same
  • Inventing NPC details mid-scene instead of prepping a one-line profile in advance
  • NPCs with no want, so scenes have nothing to push against
Combat cheat sheet
Quick lookup during play.
Rules reference
Combat, skills, and conditions for quick lookup.

Keep sessions moving

Use quick pages, then get back to the scene.