---
title: Contacts
description: "Contacts are NPCs the characters can call on in times of need for information or assistance. They are individuals the character has developed a relationship with who won’t [Turn](https://openadventurerpg.com/glossary/turn/) the character away in times of trouble. Depending on the ask,…"
url: "https://openadventurerpg.com/coc/contacts/"
updated: "2026-04-27"
category: Rules Modules
---

# Contacts

Contacts are NPCs the characters can call on in times of need for information or assistance. They are individuals the character has developed a relationship with who won’t [Turn](https://openadventurerpg.com/glossary/turn/) the character away in times of trouble. Depending on the ask, the Contact might still require some convincing to help the character, and their [Aid](https://openadventurerpg.com/glossary/aid/) may require some form of payment. Unlike a stranger, however, a Contact wants to find a way to help the character out if they can.

## Contact Score

Each Contact has a score that represents how motivated the Contact is to assist the character. Most Contact scores [Range](https://openadventurerpg.com/glossary/range/) between 0 and 3, although there are some relationships (such [AS](https://openadventurerpg.com/glossary/as/) close family members or significant others) where the score could go higher if the Adventure Guide approves. The Contact’s score is added to the [Action](https://openadventurerpg.com/glossary/action/) Score whenever the character must make an [Action Check](https://openadventurerpg.com/glossary/action-check/) to convince the Contact to help.

## [Action](https://openadventurerpg.com/glossary/action/) Checks

Whenever the character wants help from their Contact that is costly, [Dangerous](https://openadventurerpg.com/glossary/dangerous/), or a notable burden, the character must make an [Action Check](https://openadventurerpg.com/glossary/action-check/). The [Action Check](https://openadventurerpg.com/glossary/action-check/) uses the standard rules for [Action](https://openadventurerpg.com/glossary/action/) Checks described in Chapter 2: [Action](https://openadventurerpg.com/glossary/action/) Checks and Challenges.

The way the character asks for help determines the [Primary Attribute](https://openadventurerpg.com/glossary/primary-attribute/) for the [Action Check](https://openadventurerpg.com/glossary/action-check/). The size, cost, time requirements, or danger of the ask determines the [Difficulty Score](https://openadventurerpg.com/glossary/difficulty-score/), with high Difficulty Scores applied to bigger asks. Providing payment for the service or promises of future favors may allow the character to apply Benefits to the [Action](https://openadventurerpg.com/glossary/action/) Score, while conditions such [AS](https://openadventurerpg.com/glossary/as/) making the Contact cover the costs or pushing the Contact to partake in an activity that the Contact finds especially unpleasant may add [Drawbacks](https://openadventurerpg.com/glossary/drawbacks/) to the [Difficulty Score](https://openadventurerpg.com/glossary/difficulty-score/).

## Gaining Contacts

The most common ways for a character to gain a new Contact is [AS](https://openadventurerpg.com/glossary/as/) a reward for successfully overcoming a [Challenge](https://openadventurerpg.com/glossary/challenge/), or by completing an [Encounter](https://openadventurerpg.com/glossary/encounter/) or Adventure. The Adventure Guide might also award a Contact for especially engaging roleplaying or rich character backstories. Most Contacts begin with a score of 0, but the Adventure Guide makes the final decision on the Contact’s starting score. The **Interlude** rules, found later in this chapter, offer an additional method for gaining new Contacts.

## Increasing Contact Scores

Most often, a character increases their score with a Contact through roleplaying. Maybe after every adventure, they bring the Contact a souvenir, or perhaps they regularly perform favors for the Contact and ask nothing in return. The Adventure Guide might also decide to increase a Contact’s score [AS](https://openadventurerpg.com/glossary/as/) a reward to a player who writes up a rich [Background](https://openadventurerpg.com/glossary/background/) for the Contact, draws a picture of the Contact, or creates the Contact’s statblock. The **Interlude** rules, found later in this chapter, offer an additional method for raising a Contact’s score.

> ## Guidance for Guides: Unfriendly Contacts
>
>
>
> Having a relationship with a Contact doesn’t necessarily mean the Contact likes the character. Street informants, defeated enemies, and individuals under oath to help the character are all examples of Contacts where the relationship might be less than cordial. In each of these cases, the Contact wants to help the character, but the motivation might be fear, hopelessness, or [Duty](https://openadventurerpg.com/glossary/duty/). Contacts of this sort use the exact same rules [AS](https://openadventurerpg.com/glossary/as/) a Contact with whom the character has a positive relationship.