Scholars

Scholars are NPCs that are present at Academic nodes.

Alpha-1 NPCs.

Alpha-1 arachnid NPC by Jessica Jennings.

• NPCs come and go as required by game mechanics, such as node progression.

• Players are able to kill certain NPCs, such as guards, but will in general not be able to kill non-combat NPCs, such as quest givers and vendors.

We may have some story arcs down the line where you're killing some well-known NPCs, but we got to build it up: we got to make you either love them or hate them before you get to that point. – Margaret Krohn

• During sieges or monster coin events, non-combat NPCs may despawn. If their service buildings are damaged or destroyed by the siege or event they may not respawn until their buildings are repaired or rebuilt.

During sieges or during monster events those venders, the non-combat NPCs, are usually provided for through a particular building type, unless they're general NPCs. If they're general NPCs currently, I think what we're doing is we're despawning them if they're not combat-oriented and if they are a service building like a constructible, if that building becomes damaged, then the NPC is disabled post the event, or post the siege until the building is repaired; but they're not present to be killed as part of the siege event. If they're a combat NPC, such as a mercenary or like a captain of the guard whatever: they're present, they can be killed and they have ramifications for doing so. – Steven Sharif

• Some NPC movements and behaviors are dictated by time of day or other rotational cycle, others will be static.

Where we place the NPC rotations that are relevant- those would be rotations that exist perhaps within an hour, not so much within a day so-to-speak. So there might be five minutes of some changing of an organization's acolytes in a temple or something; and that might be because obviously there's a quest related to that rotation. – Steven Sharif

• NPCs will behave differently based on a player's reputation. Otherwise, branching dialog trees are not currently planned for NPC interactions.

Q: Can you influence NPCs or mobs when interacting with them by using your knowledge of their unique personalities/routines/lore or general knowledge of the world state?

A: We haven't planned for any type of branching dialogue personalities that give insight to those types of things and I don't believe that's planned for our narrative design, no. There is however some potential faction-based reputations that can be had and those reputations might send the NPCs down different behavior trees; and that is something that is incorporated. But if I understand the question correctly it's more along the lines of catering specific dialogue responses that will send down different dialogue branches and that's not planned. – Steven Sharif

• The developers utilize a custom population tool to define NPC and mob populations.

We have our population tool, which relates to overland mob population. This, includes how that pop paths and roams, where it's attractors are placed, what's the puzzles of these population areas. That pop tool is informed, as a service, by the event system. – Steven Sharif

Academic nodes

Alpha-2 Kaelar Academic node architecture.

A great Verran philosopher once stated, "To know the Gods, we must first know ourselves. Science is our looking glass." On Verra, the Essence flows through the fabric of the world. Each location focuses the Essence in different ways, allowing for interactions with the Essence that yield a variety of results. Nodes exist near these locations in the world that focus the Essence, and one such focus is that of the Scientific Node Type. Those who seek knowledge, technological advancement, and want to understand why the world is the way it is will find the Scientific Node is for them. In these Nodes, you’ll find sprawling questlines and rewards for crafters, gatherers, and those who seek the highest reaches of Artisan knowledge.

Academic nodes (also referred to as Scientific nodes) are focused on artisan classes and construction.

• Scholar NPCs are present from the first stage of development (Expedition).

Upon first glance at a Scientific Node, players will find Scholars on an Expedition out in the wilderness, requesting aid in finding alchemical or natural reagents. If you should choose to help them, you may progress a Scientific Node beyond a lowly Expedition into something magnificent.

Specialization in Artisanship and Construction mechanics are granted through many of the NPC merchants and through the ancillary quest points within the Scientific Node Type. This will unlock abilities within many professions and allow specialization in the Gathering, Processing, and Crafting aspects of the Artisan system.

• Academic nodes are likely the only node type that will be fully implemented at the beginning of Alpha-2. Aspects of other node types will be tested within the framework of the academic node election system.

Academic node governments

Academic node mayors are elected via ranked choice popular vote.

• This was previously a single popular vote system. Records of who voted for who are not published.

Academic node benefits

Academic nodes that have reached Metropolis (stage 6) unlock teleportation within their vassal network, which can extend across seas, and also include islands.

• If there are multiple scientific metropolises, then an airship will provide faster travel between those scientific metropolises for citizens of those nodes and their vassal nodes, so long as the metropolises are not at war.

• Previously this was stated to be limited to citizens of metropolis academic nodes regardless of the stage of the vassal node, so long as the vassal node is not at war.

This will allow Citizens and Vassals of Scientific Metropolises to do things more quickly than others, as fast travel is limited in the world of Ashes of Creation. They’ll be able to exchange goods and information with ease and get to locations in the world at a quicker speed in order to gather crafting materials to create recipes, as well as participate in limited-time events.

See also

• Nodes
• NPCs