NPC Discussion

[Talvara]

I've noticed that the word NPC has the power to cause quite some uproar, so in an attempt to save the Shop discussion from further NPC derailing I think it would be wise to start a seperate NPC discussion.

Would you like them? would you hate them?
What would they do? what wouldn't they do?

Should they have both upkeep and recruitment costs?

Please share your ideas and also your worries, also... please discuss in a timid manner, swearwords and unneeded use of capital letters aren't welcome. We're all entitled to our own ideas and beliefs, if someone isn't able to 'buy into your vision' then dont hold it against him/her.

now with that out of the way...

I personally think NPCs should have a place within heaven and hearth (Hell, they're here already!! the waitress in the Inn of Brodar, and the bandits). Theres simply jobs that need doing in comunities that players cant fullfill because of time constraints and the simple fact that we all have a 'real' life.

Initially I think about guards, but what would they do? who would they attack? and why? They'd have to be strong enough to cause any person with 'evil' intentions some trouble.

Something i've also tought about would be soldiers... Like guards but weaker. these guys could be taken along incase we ever get to the point where we want to wage a little war.

Shopkeepers, Purely cosmettic I think, but would add some flavour I think.

I think NPCs Should have a decent initial cost.
I Think NPCs Should be payed in food and perhaps also coins, no food? no coins? NPCs go on strike/inactive.

What I dont want to see is a town that works purely on NPCs and needs nothing from players, (nothing like that atall!) Players should always be the main focus and driving force of our comunities.

so... To sum it up, I think NPCs could be a good answer to those jobs that us players simply can't do, And I think NPCs could provide a nice sinkhole for food and coins.

[Jfloyd]

I do like the idea of soldiers. Summon a platoon of say 10 weaker men to help you fight. This of course could be implemented if town razing was added ;D
Shopkeepers should just be for looks, for they only serve as the outlet for the shop, and that can be done through many other ways. Maybe people could hire silly
things, like a viking, or something like that, if they serve no "real" purpose.

[Hamel]

I agree with Talvara for the most part. I'm not sure about soldiers, but I definitely like guards.

As for who, and for what guards should deal out punishment, I think they should punish someone if commit they a crime in the guard's location. What crimes they should deal out punishment for should be determined by the Lawspeaker and/or Chieftain. Towns would have to have some sort of militia, who could get away with breaking laws such as trespassing, assault, battery and murder, without the guards attacking them (just like the guards themselves). People in certain positions of government might even be able to get away with theft, like tax collectors.

Guards should not always kill people for breaking laws, other punishments might include knocking them out repeatedly, or fining them something (possibly all of their possessions). That sort of thing would, of course, be decided by the lawspeaker and/or Chieftain.

I think it would be neat if NPCs would have to be equipped by players. So guards in one village may be using leather armor and bows, while those in another might be using platemail and B12 axes.

[Vanigo]

Bows and leather actually sound like a better idea to me, if you could wall them in...

Oh, and I definitely don't like the idea of soldiers. NPCs should always be passive, reacting rather than acting.

[Hamel]

Bows and leather actually sound like a better idea to me, if you could wall them in...

Hopefully path-finding would be implemented by then, and I doubt the guards would take kindly to you trying to wall them in.

[Vattic]

As for guards I like the idea of guard dogs, someone suggested it somewhere else, you'd have to feed them and get them water and maybe train them. You could leave them to guard your place or even take them hunting with you.

[Ferinex]

Soldiers = bad.

Guards = good.

I don't know about confiscating player's items, but I think attacking anyone who commits a crime inside of the property the guard is on is a good idea. Perhaps guards who can murder would be harder to summon (as I imagine the Devs would not be willing to set a cost in coinage for them).

Also, I think guards should be on a player by player basis, not a village basis. I for one would want my guards to attack our Lawspeaker if he came snooping looking for something to take as 'tax'. If I can defend myself from that sort of bullying, why not?

Or perhaps you could have private guards and village guards.

I'm sure the Devs already have plans for most of the things we've been talking about though - they aren't stupid by any means.

[Hamel]

I don't know about confiscating player's items, but I think attacking anyone who commits a crime inside of the property the guard is on is a good idea. Perhaps guards who can murder would be harder to summon (as I imagine the Devs would not be willing to set a cost in coinage for them).

They wouldn't confiscate things unless they were ordered to. I really don't know what you wouldn't like about it, I mean, I'd prefer for a guard take all of my money and weapons rather than kill me.

Huh, it would be pretty neat if you could order guards to take weapons from outsiders, returning them when they exit the city grounds. When guards try to enact a fine, I don't think they should necessarily knock you out and take your stuff. Instead they should ask you to hand over the specified goods, and if you don't, then they knock you out and take the stuff.

It would be pretty awesome if you could set up a curfew where no one was allowed to walk the streets at night, lest they be fined X amount of coins. But, clearly, I'm just dreaming here.

[Jfloyd]

Hmm, another idea would be, when coming into a city, a guard checks your stuff. Will take any weapons/armor from you, and your free to do as you please. Now when you come back if you have anything that you stole, they'll notice it, and you get a punishment. When an item is stolen, it should get a tag that says stolen, like in Oblivion, shopkeeps won't buy stolen goods.

[Hamel]

Gates, walls and guards would probably lead to interesting situations. One of which I can think of at the moment would be two people trying to smuggle weapons into a city which does not allow people to own weapons. Perhaps one of them would try to smuggle the arms in a cart, while the their accomplice distracts the guards. Possibly by running around naked. Public nudity should be something you can set guards to punish. While the guards are busy trying to fine and redress the nudist, the other criminal could sneak the cart past without it being inspected.