Catch Phrases for NPCs

Catch phrases have long been advocated as a means to add some role-play to a player’s character. I remember in our Gamma World game we had a war cry of “Where’s Our Cow!” which we developed as we rescued the town’s cow from some muskrat raiders. It gave us an identity and set us apart from the “ordinary” people.

However, I believe there are special benefits when catch phrases are used by the NPCs of your campaign. It can make a specific NPC become more memorable and distinctive. It can also enhance a campaign setting by being a reminder of what makes that setting unique. For instance, the Dark Sun setting has no gods. The closest things to a god are the sorcerer-kings. Having an NPC make the declaration “Oh my kings!” instead of “Oh my god!” serves to remind the players they are not on Earth or even another “typical” world setting.

Here are some examples for the Dark Sun setting…

Belgoi’s Bells! = Hell’s bells

Water for the eyes = A sight for sore eyes

All that glitters is not iron = All that glitters is not gold

The Dragon comes = All good things come to an end  

Better the King you know = Better the Devil you know, than the Devil you don’t  

Elves will be elves = Boys will be boys  

Even a slave eats = Every dog has his day  

Let a mage cast = Give a man rope enough and he will hang himself

Haste spills water = Haste makes waste  

Become a templar = If you can't beat em, join em  

It takes a gladiator to kill a gladiator = It takes a thief to catch a thief  

Elf goods = Let the buyer beware  

Defilers don’t start that way = The road to hell is paved with good intentions

There's always more sand in the desert = There's always more fish in the sea

A templar in slave’s clothing = A wolf in sheep’s clothing

Pay the Dragon's levy = Give the Devil his due