NPCs

NPCs follows four background characters who live in a fantasy realm where adventuring parties come and go on quests. When a group of players dies in their tavern, these non-player characters must take up their identities and complete an urgent mission to prevent disaster for their village. The story alternates between the NPCs' journey through a dangerous world they've never experienced firsthand and scenes revealing the real-world players whose game intersects with these events. The protagonists must learn to navigate both physical challenges and complex social interactions while maintaining their borrowed identities. The novel plays with traditional fantasy and roleplaying game tropes by examining them from new angles. It explores themes of identity, free will, and the hidden potential in those society overlooks.

Readers found NPCs to be a light, humorous take on what happens to background characters in D&D-style fantasy worlds. The fresh perspective on RPG tropes and worldbuilding resonated with fantasy fans and tabletop gamers. Readers liked: - The unique premise of NPCs becoming adventurers - The blend of comedy and serious character development - Clear explanations of fantasy/RPG concepts for non-gamers - Strong interpersonal dynamics between main characters Common criticisms: - Slow pacing in the first third - Some found the writing style basic - Character voices could blend together - RPG mechanics occasionally felt forced into the narrative Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (19,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (1,900+ ratings) Audible: 4.5/5 (4,800+ ratings) Sample reader quote: "It takes the common tropes of fantasy RPGs and examines them from a completely different angle, making you think about all those NPCs you've casually ignored in games." - Goodreads reviewer

Off to Be the Wizard by Scott Meyer A computer programmer discovers reality can be manipulated like code and joins a community of "wizards" who protect their medieval facade while wielding technological powers.

Critical Failures by Robert Bevan A group of tabletop gamers gets transported into their fantasy roleplaying world as their characters and must navigate the consequences of their previous gaming decisions.

The Utterly Uninteresting and Unadventurous Tales of Fred, the Vampire Accountant by Drew Hayes An accountant turned vampire maintains his mundane lifestyle while becoming entangled in supernatural events that force him to interact with mythical creatures.

Second Hand Curses by Drew Hayes Three professional fairy tale problem-solvers travel through a darker version of classic stories, turning traditional narratives on their heads.

Mogworld by Yahtzee Croshaw A reanimated adventurer in a fantasy world discovers he exists in a massively multiplayer online game and must deal with the implications of his artificial existence.

🎲 The book was originally self-published before being picked up by a traditional publisher, showcasing the growing success of indie authors in fantasy publishing. 🗡️ Drew Hayes deliberately subverted common fantasy tropes by focusing on background characters who would typically be ignored in traditional fantasy stories. 🎭 The concept was partially inspired by Hayes' experience playing tabletop RPGs and wondering about the lives of non-player characters when players weren't around. 📚 NPCs is the first book in what became the "Spells, Swords, & Stealth" series, which currently consists of five books exploring this unique perspective on fantasy worlds. 🎮 The term "NPC" (Non-Player Character) originated in tabletop gaming in the 1970s and was later adopted by video games, serving as the foundational concept for this novel's premise.