Forums » Suggestions
Better NPC RP
I would like to see more NPCs that contribute to RP.
Let us use marshals as an example. They do a good job now for signing up bounty hunters, and even for giving information on bounties. This is good RP for an NPC. But they could be better. For one, you should be able to get that bounty information from anywhere. And for two, they should actively solicit bounty hunters to "go get that guy". This could be reinforced by allowing marshals to be added as a buddy, so that the marshal can use it's buddy list to it's advantage. It should even request to be a buddy when a new bounty hunter is signed up. When a new bounty is posted, or the marshal gains location information on a known criminal, it could look in it's buddy list to see what bounty hunters are active and in an advantageous location to give pursuit. The exact mechanics are not really the issue here. What is the issue is that NPCs like marshals could have a more active role in fostering action in VO, and doing it in an RP context.
Convoys of a given faction could report the location of anyone listed as criminal by their faction to their marshal. If you have a bounty on your head with Serco and you pass a Serco convoys, you should assume that your location is known to bounty hunters.
Their could be an information broker at Corvus capital. He knows about all ships that have been sighted by Corvus convoys, but he charges credits for the information, and unless you maintain an open account with him (you pay in advance), you will need to be in the same sector to transfer credits to get the information.
The Serco/Itani war front should have military coordination NPCs.
Nation borders should have a guard NPC that warns new players of the dangers of leaving nation space, and sounds an alarm when a known criminal infiltrates nation space.
The list can go on, and the main point is, that NPCs provide useful information, mostly about players, in an RP context.
Let us use marshals as an example. They do a good job now for signing up bounty hunters, and even for giving information on bounties. This is good RP for an NPC. But they could be better. For one, you should be able to get that bounty information from anywhere. And for two, they should actively solicit bounty hunters to "go get that guy". This could be reinforced by allowing marshals to be added as a buddy, so that the marshal can use it's buddy list to it's advantage. It should even request to be a buddy when a new bounty hunter is signed up. When a new bounty is posted, or the marshal gains location information on a known criminal, it could look in it's buddy list to see what bounty hunters are active and in an advantageous location to give pursuit. The exact mechanics are not really the issue here. What is the issue is that NPCs like marshals could have a more active role in fostering action in VO, and doing it in an RP context.
Convoys of a given faction could report the location of anyone listed as criminal by their faction to their marshal. If you have a bounty on your head with Serco and you pass a Serco convoys, you should assume that your location is known to bounty hunters.
Their could be an information broker at Corvus capital. He knows about all ships that have been sighted by Corvus convoys, but he charges credits for the information, and unless you maintain an open account with him (you pay in advance), you will need to be in the same sector to transfer credits to get the information.
The Serco/Itani war front should have military coordination NPCs.
Nation borders should have a guard NPC that warns new players of the dangers of leaving nation space, and sounds an alarm when a known criminal infiltrates nation space.
The list can go on, and the main point is, that NPCs provide useful information, mostly about players, in an RP context.
+1
There can also be NPC's that have storyline based missions. These NPC's can be placed wherever you want and you can tie their location in with the mission itself. You could place some of these NPC's in the middle of unmarked roid fields, hidden in worm hole sectors, and outside stations potentially.
Good suggestion
There can also be NPC's that have storyline based missions. These NPC's can be placed wherever you want and you can tie their location in with the mission itself. You could place some of these NPC's in the middle of unmarked roid fields, hidden in worm hole sectors, and outside stations potentially.
Good suggestion
A lot of the PCC missions already have this and it's really cool.
+1
+1
+1
+1
+0.5
+1
Anyone recall the damaged traders in EVN that would pay you for repairs or to bring in their cargo for them?
Anyone recall the damaged traders in EVN that would pay you for repairs or to bring in their cargo for them?
+1
+1
NPCs must complete the lack of players... and have more personality. Like, Serco Marshalls talking about Lady Serco Blessings, UIT one wishing you good profits, and Itani Marshall wishes that peace of Eo guide your path...
This topic also relates to many requesting remote contact with Marshalls, and Border Patrol, more life in grayspace with Unrats, lone regular traders, hive rat packs, so on.
NPCs must complete the lack of players... and have more personality. Like, Serco Marshalls talking about Lady Serco Blessings, UIT one wishing you good profits, and Itani Marshall wishes that peace of Eo guide your path...
This topic also relates to many requesting remote contact with Marshalls, and Border Patrol, more life in grayspace with Unrats, lone regular traders, hive rat packs, so on.
+1 I like it.
Complete AI personalities and supporting RP characteristics would be all nice and fine, but I had hoped to place the early focus on supporting player RP. That the Serco marshal may praise the "Great Lady Serco" is not near as important to me as the marshal being a useful tool to incite player conflict in an RP context, by doing things like encouraging active bounty hunters to chase down that bad guy recently spotted in the next system over.
Perhaps I mis-titled the thread. I should have called it "better player RP support from NPCs".
Perhaps I mis-titled the thread. I should have called it "better player RP support from NPCs".