NPC
A NPC (Non-Player Character) is any character that is generated by the Background simulation and controlled by artificial intelligence (AI). These can be encountered and interacted with in-game. NPCs are either independent or affiliated with a particular faction and power.
Locations
They are usually found in inhabited systems. NPCs may also be in Anarchy systems less frequently. Most NPCs are neutral and will attack when triggered. Fewer NPCs do not respond to attacks. NPCs can spawn around various signal sources or randomly in normal space.
Odyssey added on-foot human NPCs. They are mainly at ground Settlements, planetary Unidentified Signal Sources, Concourse and Stations. Interactions with them are limited.
NPC types
A list of NPC types:
Civilian
These are most commonly pilots, workers and other non-combat focused personnel. They always carry a pistol and if they spot you trespassing or doing something illegal they will engage you in combat.
Combatants
This is the broadest category, which includes all combat focused personnel. These will carry combat kits depending on their class. These are the sub-types:
Minor Faction
- They belong to a faction and are present on that faction's locations, killing them will lower your Reputation with their minor faction and will give you a small bounty (unless the faction has an anarchy government.)
Powerplay Power
- They belong to a certain Power and are always present in a system with at least the exploited state, in any faction's settlement. Killing them will get you a small amount of Merits.
Contacts
These are NPCs which are the vendors on stations or other Contacts.
Advanced Tactical Response
- Main article: Advanced Tactical Response
ATR only spawn if they detect a high-notoriety pilot. If detected, they will drop in and deploy the Stonewall Jammer to prevent SAV from intercepting them and the Reverberating Cascade to immediately damage the offender's shield. Destroying an ATR requires arduous effort. They communicate with audible voices.
Crew
- Main article: Crew
You can hire NPC crew to pilot your ship-launched fighters.
Criminal
These NPC types always incur bounties and can be detected with basic ship scans. NPCs that incur bounties in an anarchy system are not recognized by ship scans and require a Kill-Warrant Scanner. A criminal NPC can have a minimum of 100,000 credits and 600–700 thousand credits maximum. A kill-warrant scanner can increase a criminal's bounty by circa 200,000 credits.
Pirate
- Main article: Pirate
These criminal NPCs spawn around Hotspot, Distress Call etc. to seek valuable cargo. If you have cargo and don't surrender you will be attacked. They deploy a Hatch Breaker limpet to hack the Cargo Hatch and jettison the cargo.
Pirates will interdict pilots when they approach them. While interdicted they will:
- Threaten the pilot by broadcasting a threatening message to make them jettison cargo.
- Attack the pilot if he does not jettison cargo.
- Scan the pilot's ship to see if there is valuable cargo.
- If no cargo is detected in the hold or just limpets then they will leave peacefully.
- In an Assassination mission, they will attack a pilot without hesitation.
System Authority Vessel
- Main article: System Authority Vessel
These NPCs spawn around a Station, fleet carrier, Nav Beacon, etc. These authority vessels patrol a star system, scan ships and attack if you have a bounty. System Authority Vessels have different names depending on the star system's allegiance.
NPC Ranks
The combatants have combat ranks which improve their shields, armor and weapons. You can find out the rank of an NPC, by pointing your mouse on it and looking either at the amount of their shield sections, or the rank icon to the left of their nameplate.