Non-Playable Characters
From Arcanum Illyria
Non-playable characters (commonly called NPCs) are computer-controlled entities that either attempt to behave like intelligent game participants or just passively provide simple player interactions. Illyriad has, to an extent, both types of NPCs and both come in the form of factions. Nature factions are dumb critters that simply occupy space and defend themselves when attacked, while monster and humanoid factions will spread and claim/control territory in similar fashion to actual human players. The latter are still quite simple models, however, as opposed to complex AI-driven entities. Their goals are simple and their actions purely reactionary. Escaped elementals function much like critter but spawn at standing stones and do not migrate.
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NPC Parties
NPCs can be found camping on various squares throughout the camp. These parties can be attacked--or in some rare cases, reinforced--by player armies. NPC camps on the world map will be described in terms that approximate their numbers.
| Label | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| Few | 1 | 3 |
| Handful | 4 | 8 |
| Several | 9 | 21 |
| Pack | 22 | 81 |
| Many | 82 | 128 |
| Gathering | 129 | 227 |
| Horde | 228 | 462 |
| Throng | 463 | 815 |
| Host | 816 | 2,500 |
| Legion | 2,501 | 9,999 |
| Myriad | 10,000 | 24,999 |
| Sea | 25,000 | 49,999 |
| Cornucopia | 50,000 | - |
Factions
Factions are non-player alliances (most of them also comprised of non-playable races and some quite powerful) who operate trade hubs and whose troops currently also only inhabit space. When Faction AI is introduced, however, factions will be much more like real players; they will ally with players who help them out, but will attack players that kill their units.
Escaped Elementals
Escaped elementals are not part of any coherent faction, but function much like critter. They spawn at standing stones and do not migrate. They are hunted by players for the elemental salts they drop when they are killed.
Critters
Critters are creatures of nature--non-sentient beings that migrate within appropriate climates in the game world. They don't do anything hostile, but you can attack them for experience and gold, and for hunting, as they may drop hides and rare animal parts when killed.
