Fun with NPC Personalities

Designing Memorable NPC RPG Class 101

I was reading another gamers blog and he talked about the "Perfect Gaming Session" That session that everyone remembers and talks about for years.
One of the vehicles you can use is to up the anti on your NPCs personalities.
My all time favorite example is a very elderly high level arch mage......who is senile.
His name is Malshum and he epitomy of an aging man, stooped over, shuffling along leaving a trail of gas from his dusty rear end. In most cases he cant remember anything except for little bits from his childhood. But, once and a while his full facilities come roaring back, along with all his mage abilities and then the fun begins....which suddenly comes to a halt because he forgot what he was doing.

For you budding DMs out there try this idea. Your main antagonist is also the sponsor of your latest quest. Thats right, a skitsofrenic good/bad guy. The good side doesnt know that his arch enemy and evildoer is actually his dark side. Sending a group out to hunt down this evil dispicable man who ultimaetly ends up being the same man that hired them to find...himself....

Try googleing mental illness and get a list of mental conditions and model some of your NPC after these conditions. I bet your party will never forget these encounters!