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D&D Villain Ideas Generator

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
120 views14 pages

D&D Villain Ideas Generator

Uploaded by

ua
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

STUDIO.

Villain Species & Role


1 Human 11 Elf / Fae / Fairy

2 Dragon / Wyvern / Hydra 12 Angel / Seraph / Celestial

3 Giant / Colossus / Titan 13 Construct / Machine

4 Lich / Undead 14 Dwarf / Halfling / Gnome

5 God / Creator / Immortal 15 Cursed / Vampire / Werewolf

6 Demon / Devil 16 Magical Relic / Sentient Item

7 Spirit / Ghost / Wraith 17 Half-Creature / Minotaur / Centaur

8 Orc / Goblin / Troll 18 Mermaid / Water-folk / Kraken


Species.

9 Doppelgänger / Mimic / Changeling 19 Elemental / Ice / Fire / Earth / Air

10 Beast / Creature / Animal 20 Dimensional Being / Elder God

1 King / Queen 11 Cult Leader / Fanatic

2 Warrior / Knight 12 Messenger / Harbinger

3 Artist / Musician 13 Alchemist /

4 Wizard / Sorcerer 14 Antiquarian / Relic Hunter


Role / Profession.

5 Thief / Outlaw 15 Deserter / Banished

6 Adventurer / Mercenary 16 Politician / Nobleman, Noblewoman

7 Assassin / Murderer 17 Necromancer / The Dark Arts

8 Military Leader / Commander 18 Torturer / Executioner

9 Priest / Religious Ruler 19 Unknown / Unfathomable

10 Survivalist / Hunter 20 Harvester / of Magic / of Worlds


Archetypes & Symbolism
1 Dark Lord 11 Henchman/woman

2 Ancient Evil 12 Another’s Hero / Hero from another world

3 The Bully 13 Mirror of the protagonist/s

4 Bad Ruler 14 Figure of Authority

5 Mastermind 15 Corrupted Individual

6 Religious Fanatic 16 Criminal / Infamous

7 17
Archetypes.

Anti-villain Insane or Disturbed

8 Terrorizer - Beast 18 Femme Fatale - Seduction

9 Machine-gone-rogue 19 Natural - Born from Nature

10 Evil Incarnate 20 Supernatural / Extraterrestrial

1 Skull 11 Bird

2 Eye 12 Moon

3 Hand 13 Rose

4 Talon 14 Wolf
Crests / Symbols.

5 Rune 15 Flame

6 Crystal 16 Snake

7 Tower 17 Ship

8 Mountain 18 Thorn

9 Tree 19 Star

10 Tooth 20 Goblet
Items & Weapons
1 Dark orb of mystical powers. 11 A cloak that allows one to defy the laws of time.

2 A relic that opens gateways between worlds. 12 The weather rune-stone of a slain god.

3 Magical ring that controls time. 13 A brackish vial of enchanted salt-water.

4 A sentient suit of otherworldly armour. 14 The wing of a fallen servant from an astral plane.

5 A scroll of the dark arts. 15 A bracelet that grants long life.

6 16
Villain’s Items.

Hooded cloak of concealment. A wooden totem that contains the souls of elves.

7 A crystal containing the soul of a god. 17 Chains forged from a magical, volcanic fissure.

8 A skull tankard that rejuvenates life. 18 A radiant leaf that fell from one of the moons.

9 A cursed, broken shield of a warrior of old. 19 A crown of black metal that calls the dead to it.

10 The flaming heart of a banished demon. 20 A sceptre of undulating power that warps minds.

1 The Power of their Mind 11 Dagger / Knife

2 Large Axe 12 Giant Hammer

3 Short Sword 13 Harpoon

4 Long Sword 14 Sickle


Favoured Weapons.

5 Staff 15 Nothing but a Shield

6 Morning Star 16 Glaive

7 Spear 17 Poisons

8 Bow and Arrow 18 Crossbow

9 Bare Knuckles 19 Magic

10 Claws / Talons 20 Traps


Appearance & Theme
Covered in ash-like scars that burn A strange growth of barnacles and sea-life
1 with a dull, orange light from within.
11 covers them. Their skin drips salt-water.
A full face tattoo of an unreadable, shifting A limb is beastly, hairy and clawed. It contorts
2 rune which glows beneath moonlight .
12 as the thick muscles bunch beneath the fur.
A pair of horns, the points so sharp they cut Rings and studs of jewellery pierce
3 rifts in the fabric of time as they move.
13 their skin wherever it is visible.
Memorable Features.

One limb has become a thick and


4 oozing tentacle that drips black ink.
14 Tattoos of ancient laws cover their entire body.

An ornate knife is lodged in their A thorn covered plant grows from their
5 shoulder, the wound healed around it.
15 back and wreathes about them.
Their flesh is translucent, the skeletal Their ears/nose have long been cut away,
6 form and organs seen beneath.
16 nothing but gnarled scars left in place.
A hollow hole rests where their heart
7 should be. It lets out a poison vapour.
17 Curled, shrivelled wings hang from their back.

Their skin becomes like moss and Spines pierce their skin and create a
8 the bark of a tree beneath sunlight.
18 deadly covering of natural armour.
Their eyes are as white coal, Their skin is marbled with luminescent
9 hot and weeping smoke.
19 birthmarks. They shine like wet pearls.
A deep scar runs the length of their back They twitch and glitch, their physical form
10 then up and over their neck and head.
20 bouncing between planes with a blink of an eye.

1 Nature / Druidic / Leaves / Flowers 11 Airy / Spirit / Floating / Silvered

2 Dark / Smoky / Ghostly / Ash 12 Earth / Stone / Cracked

3 Regal / White Cape / Gold Armour 13 Feathered / Tribal / War-paint

4 Hidden / Cloaked / Hunched / Cane 14 Monstrous / Twisted / Scaled / Claws

5 Colourful / Jester / Outfits / Circus 15 Fanciful / Ornate / Luxurious Clothing


Thematic Styles.

6 Scarred / Wild / Filthy / Dishevelled 16 Black Flames / Melting Wax / Skeletal

7 Priestly / Robes / Chains 17 Wild / Beads / Headdress

8 Armoured / Spiked / Metallic 18 Bracelets / Jewelled / Cloth

9 Flames / Magical Energy / Glowing 19 Leather / Cowl / Belts

10 Water / Barnacles / Seaweed / Rotten 20 Militaristic / Patches / Boots


Positive & Negative Traits
1 Tyrannical 11 Insane

2 Narcissistic 12 Apathetic

3 Selfish 13 Fanatical

4 Paranoid 14 Fickle

5 Detached 15 Jealous
Negative Traits.

6 Malicious 16 Materialistic

7 Impulsive 17 Repulsive

8 Disloyal 18 Greedy

9 Arrogant 19 Nihilistic

10 Aggressive 20 Patronising

1 Competent 11 Aspirational

2 Charming 12 Honest

3 Intelligent 13 Humble

4 Humorous 14 Loyal

5 Extravagant 15 Charismatic
Positive Traits.

6 Creative 16 Organised

7 Attractive 17 Patriotic

8 Adaptable 18 Patient

9 Decisive 19 Imaginative

10 Curious 20 Realistic
Grudges & Missions
1 You stole a magical item from them. 11 You have an opposing goal

2 You are considered a threat. 12 You each seek the same treasure.

3 You killed their minions. 13 You are a species they despise.

4 You stand for everything they hate. 14 You discovered their plans.
Personal Grudges.

5 You unknowingly halted their plans. 15 You warned others of their existence.

6 You gave them a scar / injury. 16 You joined an opposing faction.

7 You encroached on their territory. 17 You have something they need.

8 You spread lies about them. 18 You destroyed their physical form.

9 You destroyed their base. 19 You wronged someone they love.

10 You slew their pet beast. 20 You defeated them in a vision of the future.

They are planning the assassination of They are building a portal arch to bring forth
1 a local warlord to cause turmoil.
11 an army from a dark plane of existence.
Sending minions to sabotage trade routes, They slumber in their hold, gaining power,
2 caravans and grain distribution.
12 as minions wreak havoc across the lands.
Their right-hand henchman is infiltrating They have enslaved an entire species to build their
3 a wise council and swaying decisions.
13 impenetrable tower from which to rule.
They are hunting down a group of powerful They are spreading a sickness across
4 adventurers who have become a threat.
14 the land that kills all livestock.
They are infiltrating a religious sect They are performing dark rituals to summon
5 to gain and steal their secrets.
15 long slumbering gods of the deep.
Current Mission.

They seek an old relic of power to gain They wander the wilds, looking for weary travellers
6 an advantage over an old enemy.
16 to manipulate into following their cause.
They hunt an ancient beast, to tame it They are changing their appearance into that of the
7 and use it for their planned war.
17 current ruler, in the hopes of exchanging places.
They are sailing to an island hidden by They hunt for a young blacksmith, who has been
8 mist to build their base there.
18 prophesied to become a hero of the lands.
They are enslaving people to work in a They are building a great, fortified dam to cut off
9 mine, where they search for precious stones.
19 the main water source of the capital city.
They are building an arena to host great They are using dark magic to awaken
10 tournaments for the warriors of the land.
20 a long dormant volcano.

Use the ‘Personal Grudges’ table to determine why the Villain hates your party of
adventurers. Use the ‘Current Mission’ table to determine what the Villain is currently
up to, or the act in which the party first confront them.
Villain’s Servant Villain’s Pet
One Two One Two
1 Knightly Troll 1 Magical Owl

2 Cursed Lizard-folk 2 Spiked Lion

3 Fanatical Dwarf 3 Ferocious Dragon

4 Deformed Elf 4 Acidic Crocodile

5 Intelligent Gnome 5 Towering Frog

6 Warrior Halfling 6 Spirit Rat

7 Magical Half-Orc 7 Flaming Bat

8 Relic Wielding Half-Elf 8 Metal-plated Wolf

9 Ethereal Drow 9 Tattooed Snake

10 Foul Smelling Fae 10 Talking Bear

11 Strong Monk 11 Crystalline Raven

12 Cunning Demon 12 Shape-shifting Worm

13 Invisible Archivist 13 Constructed Fox

14 Charming Dragon 14 Giant Lizard

15 Lowly Alchemist 15 Saddled Cat

16 Infamous Wizard 16 Metallic Horse

17 Crazed Human 17 Venomous Spider

18 Frightening Child 18 Rune Covered Hawk

19 Corrupted Scientist 19 Ancient Shark

20 Powerful Sentinel 20 All-Seeing Ape


Villain Backstory Hooks
One Two Three
1 A Royal Knight destroyed their entire family.

2 The Townspeople took their only heirloom.

3 The Ruler hid their closest friend.

4 A party of Adventurers burned their collected treasure.

5 A trusted Wizard lied to them about their memories.

6 An ancient Being buried their livestock.

7 An famous Naval Captain cursed their home.

8 A Noble House magically twisted their sibling.

9 The Wise Council teleported away their lover.

10 An Elemental Creature placed a magical evil into their body.

11 A trusted Companion ruined their mind.

12 A travelling Merchant magically froze their journal.

13 A famous Bard let loose a feral fiend on their collection of maps.

14 An honoured Warrior magically deformed their entire species.

15 The local Lord summoned a demon within the people of their village.

16 The Queen of the lands turned to stone a tree to which they’re bound.

17 A Guardian of Light magically bound the city of their birth.

18 An infamous Prince prophetically doomed the relic they searched for.

19 The Chosen Hero magically melted the school in which they trained.

20 A great Hunter planted a foul sickness within their wise tutor.

Roll your D20 three times on this table to create a villain ‘hook’ to build upon and create a
backstory. Allow each column to bring forth ideas of a narrative which lead to the creation
of the hateful traits of the villain. ‘Their’ in the third column represents the Villain.
Villainous Prophecy

A B

C D

E F G

One Two Three Four Five Six


A Druids Men Queen Monks Archivists Soothsayers

B Ashen Coast Pantheon Forgotten Realm Flame Lost Hollow Wilderness

C Black Red Burning Violet Ethereal Weeping

D Blade Star Fox Mountain Moon Tree

E Rises Visits Falls Dies Sleeps Awakens

F Demon’s Cursed Plagued Forged Deathly Dark King’s

G Host Malice Leviathan Tower Army Sword

H Written Carved Scrawled Painted Sung Rhymed

I Sand Snow Ash Rock Bark Crystal

J Ruin Darkness Sickness Flames Poverty Confusion

[Roll your D6 on each corresponding ‘letter’ in the sentence, then place the
rolled word within the blanks to generate a prophecy about your Villain.]
Villain Goals
[ Motivations & Objectives ]

1. To rule the world. 35. To recover what was lost. 69. To create order out of chaos.
2. To steal all priceless art. 36. They wish to escape a prophecy. 70. They are a failed and broken hero.
3. Bring down a pantheon of gods. 37. To kill all who oppose them. 71. Persuaded by a lover.
4. Get revenge for a bad childhood. 38. Complete a collection. 72. Revenge for the death of a lover.
5. Build a new world. 39. To consume all magical energy. 73. They wish to stop corrupt politics.
6. Merge their world with another. 40. A quest for immortality. 74. To use the world as a game board.
7. Evil for evil’s sake. 41. To save their people from harm. 75. Prophesied as the chosen one.
8. Force people to obey them. 42. To protect their own world. 76. Regaining lost magical abilities.
9. Find romance and love. 43. To amass resources. 77. Unexplainable, god-like goals.
10. Distinguish themselves. 44. Explore and conquer worlds. 78. Riddled with insanity.
11. Be accepted by those in power. 45. Collect souls and specimens. 79. To Measure up to their kin.
12. Gain justice for wrongdoing. 46. Experiment on populations. 80. Power and boredom.
13. Amass great wealth. 47. To find a weapon of power. 81. To speed up the inevitable.
14. Conquer lands for power. 48. To build a peaceful world. 82. Devoted to a dark god/being.
15. Defend themselves due to fear. 49. To gain honour in combat. 83. Wishes to release a god/being.
16. Rags to riches. 50. Find a good death in battle. 84. To serve their religious order.
17. End a long rivalry. 51. To construct a machine of war. 85. To spread their faith.
18. Claim their rightful destiny. 52. To open portals to other planes. 86. To cause calamity to find courage.
19. Desperation drives them. 53. To turn back time. 87. Patriotic to their homeland.
20. Ever growing ambition. 54. To control the flow of time. 88. Evil deeds to prevent greater evil.
21. Persecution of their species. 55. To posses all knowledge. 89. To be set free from their chains.
22. Love and loss of a person or item. 56. End the reign of a god-like being. 90. To set their people/followers free.
23. A hatred for a certain group. 57. Break a curse upon them. 91. They wish to be remembered.
24. Traumatised by war. 58. Place a curse on others. 92. Competitive beyond reason.
25. A warped sense of honour. 59. Unlock ancient vaults. 93. Once devoted to their heroes.
26. To find lost relics of old. 60. Defeat the greatest warriors. 94. To bring back old laws.
27. Full of grief and anger. 61. Ban all art, music and joy. 95. To create new, strict laws.
28. They see conspiracy everywhere. 62. Erase all historical texts. 96. To harbour important secrets.
29. A rebellion against the rulers. 63. Burn all books of knowledge. 97. A forgotten hero or god.
30. An old betrayal drives them. 64. Spread lies and cause havoc. 98. Appease or get rid of a patron.
31. They wished to be left alone. 65. Collect all runes of power. 99. To resurrect a fallen ally or lover.
32. To begin all life anew. 66. Collect pieces of magical armour. 100. Return the world to nature.
33. They serve a higher master. 67. They had a vision of power.
34. They have gone insane. 68. A prophecy claims them a god.
Quick D6 Tables

One Two Three Four Five Six


Age

Young Middle-Aged Old Ancient Eternal Reincarnated


Location Weakness Strength

Power Manipulation Intellect Beauty Status Brawn

Water Fire Earth Air Magic Silver

Tomb Mountain Tower Abyss City Wilderness


Hates

The Living Magic Laws The World The Gods The Rulers
Loves

Power Their People Their World Nature Treasure Their Spouse


Seeks

Relics Treasure Acceptance Vengeance Balance Reverence


Uses

Rituals Machines Mutations Mind Control Curses Spells


Studies

Magic War/Combat History Alchemy Languages Music


Visions

Planes/Portals Chosen One Their Rule Greater Evil Their Demise Cataclysm

[Roll your D6 on each Villain category to quickly generate a base for a Villain. Allow each table to bring forward concepts to flesh out,
even contradictory ones. Perhaps a Villain hates magic, but still studies magic, in an attempt to find knowledge of how to rid the world of
it. Then roll on the Skull Icons to determine whether the Villain Category has negatively effected the world yet. A Skull means this trait
has already had an impact on the world, or is known, while a blank space means this villainous trait has yet to emerge or be discovered.]
Name:

Species:

Profession:

Archetype:
Grudges:
Crest / Symbolism:

Missions:

Item: Servant:

Pet:

Weapon:
Backstory:

Features:

Prophecy:
Theme:

Negative Traits:

Goals:

Positive Traits:
Villain Generator
from

STUDIO.
Roll up ideas for the creation of a memorable
villainous character for your campaigns.

shieldicestudio
shieldicestudio@[Link]

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