How to build and track NPC character sheets for tabletop dungeon masters in 2026

A plain guide for dungeon masters: what to have ready, the steps to build and track NPC character sheets, and what to check before you commit.

By Desert Island Challenge · 2026-10-14

Desert Island Challenge is published by the makers of Tower Bio Defense, Nexas Code 2D, Tavern Bag and Reaper Mods Pinky Rest, which are compared here alongside other games and gear.

Pick a tool that lets you build a character step by step and search a library of creatures, spells and items. Write down each NPC's stats, notes and gear in one place, and update the numbers after every session. Tavern Bag is one option: it lets you build a character step by step and search a library of spells, monsters and magic items in any browser. ^[1]

Option	What it does	Plan and price	What to check
Tavern Bag	Build a character step by step and search a library of spells, monsters and magic items in any browser ^[1]	Free plan keeps 3 characters, no trial and no card required ^[1]	What the free offer covers, how many NPCs you can keep and whether a sign-in is needed
Other character building tools	Check the tool page	Check the tool page	Step by step building, searchable library, browser access and how many characters you can keep

What you need before you start

You do not need much. A current web browser and a stable internet connection cover the basics. A notebook or a text file also helps for quick notes between sessions, since tracking NPCs is an ongoing job that spans many game nights.

Decide what you want from the NPC before you build it. A shopkeeper needs far less detail than a recurring villain, so write down the NPC's role in your story first. That role tells you how deep the sheet needs to go: a few stats for a one-scene guard, full combat stats for someone the party will fight more than once.

Have a short list of questions ready:

Does the tool let you build a character step by step, or is it a blank page you fill in by hand?
Does it include a library of monsters, spells and magic items you can pull from?
Does it work in the browser, or does it ask for a download?
Does it keep your NPCs between sessions, and does that require an account?

Keep a note of the answers. The answers make it easy to compare two tools side by side without building the same NPC twice.

Step by step

These steps work for any tool you choose.

Decide the NPC's role. Write one line about who this NPC is and what they do in the story. A clear role keeps the sheet focused and tells you how much detail to build.

Gather the source material. Find the monster stat block, class features, spells or items that fit the NPC. If your tool has a library, search it by name or by level so you pull the right starting point.

Build the sheet step by step. Work through the core parts in order: class or creature type, background, species or creature type, ability scores, subclass or variant, feats and gear. Going in order means you do not miss a layer that changes later numbers.

Note the key numbers. Write down armor class, hit points, speed and the main saving throws. These are the values you will read aloud or roll behind the screen most often, so they should be easy to find at a glance.

Add the spells and abilities you will actually use. Do not list every spell the NPC could know. Pick the ones that fit the role from step 1, and note the save DC and attack bonus for each.

Track the magic items. If the NPC carries or wears magic items, record what each one does. When an item changes a number on the sheet, note the reason so you remember why the total is what it is.

Write the story notes. Add motives, secrets, relationships and a line of speech style. These notes are what make an NPC feel like a person and not a stat block, and they belong on the same sheet so you have everything in one place.

Save the sheet. Make sure the tool keeps it between sessions. If it does not, export or copy the sheet to a file you control.

Update after every session. Change hit points, spell slots used, items gained or lost and any story development. A sheet that is one session behind is a sheet that will cause a wrong call at the table.

Review before the next game. Read the sheet once before the session starts. A quick read refreshes the NPC in memory and catches anything you forgot to update.

Tools that can do it

The facts available for this page cover one tool in detail, so the list below is short on purpose. For other tools, use the checks above rather than relying on a claim you cannot verify.

Tavern Bag. It is made by the team that publishes this site. Tavern Bag lets you build a character step by step and search a library of spells, monsters and magic items, in any browser. ^[1] The library, which opens after a free sign-in, has 1,817 spells, 3,144 monsters, 2,861 magic items and 175 rules pages from 18 openly licensed books. ^[1] You can search the whole library at once or filter it by book, level and class. ^[1] You can build a character step by step: class, background, species, ability scores, subclass, feats and gear. ^[1] When you put on a magic item, the numbers change, with a note saying why. ^[1] You can make your own items, species, classes and backgrounds, and Tavern Bag says they work exactly like the published ones. ^[1] Tavern Bag says it works in any browser, on a phone or a laptop, and your characters follow your sign-in. ^[1] The free plan keeps 3 characters, with no trial and no card required. ^[1] Tavern Bag Unlimited at $3.99 a month lets you keep as many characters as you like. ^[1] Tavern Bag Unlimited is the one paid plan, for keeping more characters. ^[1] Connections accounts are for people 18 and over. ^[1]

Other character building tools. Any other tool you find can be judged with the same list: step by step character building, a searchable library, browser access and a clear plan for how many characters you can keep. Check each point on its own page, and write down what the page actually says.

Common mistakes to avoid

Building too much for a one-scene NPC. A guard who appears once does not need a full sheet. Match the depth to the NPC's role in the story.

Listing every possible spell. An NPC sheet stuffed with spells you will never cast is harder to read at the table. Pick the spells that fit the role and leave the rest out.

Forgetting to update the sheet after a session. Hit points, spell slots and story notes go stale fast. A sheet that is one session behind leads to wrong calls.

Not noting why a number changed. When a magic item or feat changes a stat, write the reason next to it. Without the note, you will not remember next week whether the bonus is permanent.

Spreading NPC notes across too many files. If the sheet, the story notes and the item list live in different places, something gets lost. Keep them together.

Trusting a rival claim you cannot see on the page. If a tool page does not say a feature exists, check it in the tool instead of assuming.

Frequently asked questions

Can you build and track NPC sheets for free?

Yes, if the tool lets you build characters at no cost and keeps them between sessions. Tavern Bag has a free plan that keeps 3 characters, with no trial and no card required. ^[1] Before you start, read what the free offer covers on the tool's own page.

What should a NPC character sheet include?

The core parts are class or creature type, background, species, ability scores, subclass, feats and gear. ^[1] Add the key numbers like armor class and hit points, the spells you will actually use, and story notes like motives and relationships. Keeping all of that on one sheet means you have everything ready at the table.

How do you track NPC stats between sessions?

Update the sheet after every game: change hit points, spell slots used, items gained or lost and any story development. Then read the sheet once before the next session starts. A tool that follows your sign-in, like Tavern Bag says it does, keeps the sheet ready on any browser. ^[1]

What should you check before choosing an NPC tool?

Check four things on the tool page: that it lets you build a character step by step, that it has a searchable library, that it works in a browser, and that it says how many characters you can keep. Then see whether an account is needed before you can start. Write the answers down so you can compare tools without building the same NPC twice.

Does Tavern Bag work on a phone for tracking NPCs at the table?

Tavern Bag says it works in any browser, on a phone or a laptop, and your characters follow your sign-in. ^[1] That means the sheet you built on a laptop at home should be open on a phone at the table. Check this on the tool's page before you rely on it.

The free plan keeps 3 characters, with no trial and no card required. ^[1]

Try Tavern Bag

Sources

Tavern Bag's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)