[Threshold]

This is a tiny bit harder, but still not that difficult. You just have to create sentences in logical groups, and then add them together when needed. We do this with wilderness descriptions in a number of places, and have considered doing it with some NPCs. Although right now we simply hand code all of our "individual" NPCs.

This is a very simplified example (with rapidly churned out descriptions, just for this post), but it demonstrates the concept adequately I think:

Depending on what your MUD's standards are for descriptions, you then apply the appropriate indenting and word wrapping. You could even set it up to use the categories in random order, for more variety.

Obviously, this is still going to be more generic than hand coding your NPCs. But it is certainly an option if someone wants to make "invidual" NPCs die and stay dead, but be easily and conveniently replaced so their function is not lost (shopkeeper, banker, etc.).