We rip open Pathfinder 2E’s NPC Core like a loot chest at midnight—all killer, no filler, just gun-wielding witches, charming villains, and side characters spicy enough to steal the spotlight (and maybe your party’s gold). #Pathfinder2E, #NPCCoreRules, #PF2GMFuel

• NPC Core (affiliate link)

Show Notes

In this episode, the RPGBOT crew opens up Pathfinder 2E’s NPC Core and immediately gets lost in the endless possibilities of building bartenders who could solo a dragon and criminals with the fashion sense of a runway model. They dig into the  shockingly well-organized stat blocks, and the book's philosophy of making every town guard, blacksmith, or shady fence into a potential campaign highlight.

The hosts explore how NPCs are no longer just glorified exposition dumpers or sacrificial goblin #3—they’re diplomats, villains, witches with guns (yes, that’s a thing), and essential storytelling tools that add flavor and chaos to any scene. Need someone to warn your party that they're about to die horribly? The NPC Core has a stat block for that. Want a non-combatant spy with more plot hooks than a pirate ship? It’s in there too.

They highlight how the book helps GMs create NPCs that aren’t just throwaway extras but fully customizable agents of drama, comedy, or world-ending terror. From themed spell lists to the new relationship subsystem (think: dating sims, but with more stabbing), the crew dives into mechanics and storytelling tricks that make your NPCs actually matter.

The episode crescendos in a live-build exercise where the hosts create an unforgettable NPC—part crime boss, part matchmaker, all chaos—and demonstrate how NPC Core can help any GM bring wild new energy to the table.

Key Takeaways

• Monster Hunter Wilds: Yes, it influenced this book, and no, you don’t need a 12-foot greatsword to enjoy it.
• Organized, Beautifully: Stat blocks so clean, you’ll cry tears of efficiency.
• Non-Combatant, Not Non-Important: Some of the best NPCs don’t fight—they ruin lives socially.
• Custom Archetypes Galore: Build a frogfolk librarian who also moonlights as a necromancer. No one can stop you.
• Gun Witch: Just... gun witch. You're welcome.
• Villains with Vibes: Give your BBEG a tragic backstory, a fashion-forward cloak, and a snarky catchphrase.
• Diplomacy is OP: Talking your way through an ambush is now a viable strategy—unless the dice hate you.
• Magical Shenanigans: Spells aren’t just for combat—use them to cook, sneak, charm, or fake your own death for tax reasons.
• Advanced Relationship Mechanics: Because your players will romance the bartender, and now there’s a chart for that.
• Sample Organizations: Pre-built groups so your GM notes don’t look like the scribbles of a sleep-deprived conspiracy theorist.
• Themed Spell Lists: Pre-curated magic menus for fast flavor and fewer tears. NPC Advancement: Level up your innkeeper until they’re ready for the final boss fight.
• The Connection Subsystem: Build emotional bonds, tragic betrayals, and passive-aggressive tea parties.

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Tyler Kamstra

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Ash Ely

• Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games
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