You always claim to support and prefer roleplaying over fighting (and I see NPC quests as entry level for yet not so experienced \"PvP roleplayers\"). But at the moment, a beginner is in no way able to both live as a pacifist, and develop his stats, because fighting is still the only way to gain experience and progression points.
NPC quests are very different. Some require a lot of knowledge. Others are in general easy, but give a financial malus. But in my opinion, they should have in common that you can get some experience by solving them; especially a \"malus quest\" shall give your character experience (assumed that you want to make PlaneShift more credible).
This way, characters would be able to develop their stats even if they try to avoid fighting, until crafting may become available some day...
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{ Edited due to stupid \") smilie }