Think NPCs are dumb? Click here!

[Jeraphon]

We've heard it from countless people. "Man, are NPCs dumb." Well, folks, guess what. We're working to fix that - one NPC at a time.

Helping out settings is as easy as 1-2-3.

1) Pick any NPC you want. It can be a vital one (eg Harnquist,) an important one (eg Amidison) or a relatively overlooked one (eg Narwin Molstagh.) Everyone has a favourite NPC, even if it's not a popular one.

2) Talk to them with TEN phrases. That's all I want for now: ten. I think it's a number that's not overbearing for a player. Try to pick phrases you think this NPC are likely to be asked. Playing "gotcha" or tricking them isn't the point: the point is getting information or things about their character from them.

3) If the NPC doesn't understand your phrases, or you find their answer woefully unsatisfactory (for example, a brewer tell you he buys beer if you ask him about work) just copy down the unsatisfactory phrases you used EXACTLY as you wrote them, and PM them to me (be sure to include the NPC name.) - Heck, you can even show me the phrases you used that work correctly if you do a full set of ten. That's actually helpful as well, in terms of seeing what players are asking the NPCs in case I want to add that info to others.

And that's it! Leave their answers to me.

Thanks.

Lots and lots of NPCs have benefitted from your "top tens," folks. I'm removing the list just because I've forgotten to continue updating it. But don't think by any means that I'm not still updating them, so keep on sending!

*Note: I would prefer that you ask the NPCs questions outside the scope of their quests. What I'm focussing on right now is general knowledge, not quest dialogue, because they are two very different things.

[Virgilius]

Wow, this sounds quite awesome, but does it get to the point where the NPC's might do something rather rash?

[Jeraphon]

Do something rash? I'm not sure what you mean. We're just trying to get to the point where the NPCs cover the basics (and maybe the intermediates) of things they're most likely to be asked.

[Earl_Listbard]

Ahem, now THERE is an idea.... Ask a npc the same thing too many times, or continuously say phrases he can't respond to and he/she starts to give irritated responses.  (think starcraft/warcraft when you continuously click on the same unit...)

Sorry for posting on the sticky, but since we were on the subject here I thought it would be a good idea to just bring up the thought.

[LigH]

^ Or like Postal² - quick-saving too often: "My granny could beat that game by saving so often".

[Tontow]

Why not have the system record phrases that NPCs don’t under stand in the game?

[Anumesa]

that could be a nightmare because there are so many of them...plus you get the people who get frustrated when they NPC doesnt know what they are talking about and spouting obscene things "What do you mean you dont know what im saying, Allelia!?!?! *insert stream of profanity*"  Maybe log just the common questions........or....you could just pm Jeraphon 

[Jeraphon]

Why not have the system record phrases that NPCs don’t under stand in the game?

We do. Unfortunately, it's lost with every restart. So it's likely that if I went around, I could find several NPCs that have no misunderstood phrases because nobody's spoken to them since the last restart. In addition, a large majority of the things spoken to NPCs is within a quest context. Most people don't talk to NPCs "just because." Just reading the forums and seeing people asking for help when NPCs know the answers is proof enough of that. That's why I want your help: to make it easy for players to speak to NPCs and use them as not only a source of game information but also interesting settings tidbits, outside of quests.

[LigH]

That would possibly require a database table to store such responses: Char / NPC / Expected quest and position (or "nothing").

Database changes. Happen "later (tm)".

[One and only tanner]

Hiacheius Dilech

if you talk to him says he works on the waterwheel bt if you ask him"about water wheel" who has no idea, i think he should know about what the waterwheel is doing is it generating power? and what all this power been used for?

[LigH]

You asked about "water wheel" (separated)? Try again with "waterwheel" (connected)?

[DarkKnight]

It would be... interresting if they would've had such a good AI as Alan from A-I.com wouldn't it?

P.S. I'm new 

[LigH]

New? - Newbie! Newbie! Alarm!

Welcome.

And ... well: An A.I. has to be programmed. By natural intelligence.

[Jeraphon]

Hiacheius Dilech

if you talk to him says he works on the waterwheel bt if you ask him"about water wheel" who has no idea, i think he should know about what the waterwheel is doing is it generating power? and what all this power been used for?

Ask him some other stuff and pm me a top ten. I'll get right on it.

[DarkKnight]

Yes I know, and that's the biggest problem ^^, maby a bit less advanced, but it still would be cool wouldn't it? ^^, btw, If I can remember right, you can somehow see it's codes and stuff, just talk to alan and ask for the advanced log, or look somewere on the, btw, that AI can also understand words with spelling errors