Will NPCs have names or will we be able to name them?
Each NPC will have their own unique name and reason as to why they want to join your company.
Can players change the outfits and equipment of their NPCs?
Yes, you can equip NPCs with anything you have as well as npc-only outfits and tools. Their equipment determines their role in your company. Set them mining by equipping a pickaxe, or cook up a feast for your company with a frying pan.
If a player gives an NPC a hammer, what can they build?
By equipping a hammer, NPCs can restore the HP of building blocks or they can be assigned to the building of Monuments (more on that soon). They will not, however, be able to place building blocks in lieu of the player.
Will NPCs protect themselves against hordes?
Yes, many NPCs will fight against enemies. Some will find a safe place to wait out a fight too. By equipping a weapon, an NPC can take on the role of a Guard.
Will NPCs sit on furniture?
Yes, we know sitting on furniture is something players have wanted for a long time, this is coming in TU6, and NPCs in Durin’s folk will be able to sit too!
Will NPCs sing and dance?
All Dwarves love a good hearty sing-a-long, if you start to sing near some NPCs, they’ll join in and dance along with you.
Will 21 NPCs be available per world or per account?
Following the end of the campaign story, King Thorin has given the player permission to recruit 21 volunteers to their company (per world). He will not risk more Dwarven lives at this time.
Will NPCs follow us around Moria and carry/trade stuff for us?
NPCs will move in and live in a base / camp of your choosing. They aren’t adventurers so they won’t be following you around or venturing far from the safety of camp.
Does the type / tier of equipment we give our NPCs affect how they perform in their duties?
This varies and is dependent on the task at hand. For example, by giving the NPC a weapon they will become a Guard. Better weapons will do better damage, better armor will help them stay on their feet longer. As another example, for the masons, a better restoration hammer will help them repair faster!
Will there be an option to toggle off NPCs so as to maintain the “lonely” feel of the mountain?
Players can choose to ignore the NPC features if they wish, however the extended campaign of Durin’s Folk will be impossible to complete without engaging with NPCs. There is no requirement that a game world must have Durin’s Folk enabled.
Can NPCs use ranged weapons to fight with?
NPCs will only use melee weapons.
Do you need to guard or set guards near your mining NPCs?
That depends on if you think getting attacked by orcs will lower their productivity…
When assigning NPCs the task of mining, do you designate a specific area for them to mine or can they gather resources from anywhere?
Vein Markers will tell the miners where to dig. For example, placing a Vein Marker near a Gold vein tells them to mine Gold.
How does an NPC’s unique traits affect their role in your company when recruited?
You can check the unique traits of a Dwarf before you recruit them and while all NPCs can be a Guard or Salvager, specialist roles like Miner, Builder, Artisan, etc. are only available for Dwarves with the right skill. That is the only distinction, however, as two different Miners will still have the same skill and output.
What are the Monuments, which you task NPCs to build, for?
Monuments show the rest of Middle-earth that the Dwarves are serious about staying here. Mechanically they help unlock new mechanics and enhance each Delving's attributes.
What happens if an NPC dies during a fight?
This is similar to a co-op player falling during a fight, you will be able to revive them where they fell. They won't die permanently, just need to rub some stone on it and they’ll be fine.
Will NPCs drink brews with us?
After a hard day's work and a well earned meal, an NPC will grab a brew (if available) and relax. Grab your own and sing alongside them to encourage them to join in!
What role will each of the Dwarven clan’s play for the NPCs?
The Dwarven Clans form the background flavor and look of each NPC that can be recruited to join. Once they enter Moria, they become members of your company of Dwarves.
Are there only 21 NPCs total or are there more?
You can have a maximum of 21 NPCs join you in Moria, by order of King Thorin, however there are a number of NPCs who’re looking to join you. So not everyone’s company will be made up of the same Dwarves.
Can we dismiss NPCs in favour of new ones?
As there are a number of potential recruits looking to join you in Moria, if you’ve hit your max, you can always choose to send one of your current recruits off on a new adventure to free up a slot for recruiting someone new.
What kind of jobs can NPCs do?
There are a number of different jobs that NPCs can take on to help around your base and make the workload easier. These include, but are not limited to…
- Guard -> Looks out for enemies and defends your base
- Metalworker -> Helms the furnace and crafts ingots with whatever raw ore you give them
- Blacksmith -> Will craft new bulk order craftables to sell to Traders as part of their order requests.
- Mason -> Will repair damaged walls around your base.
- Miner -> Will carefully mine and extract ore without being destructive.
...and more to be revealed!
The NPC “Job Outfits” look awesome! Will we be able to wear them too?
Yes! If you fancy joining your NPCs in wearing some of the new workers outfits you can do so.
How do NPC jobs work in terms of ones that require crafting stations (eg: Metalworker), and those that don’t (eg: Miner)?
For jobs that require crafting stations, you will need to ensure there is a crafting station available for your NPC to work at. Dwarves like their own space to work on their craft, so you won't find them crowding around a single station.
For those that don’t require crafting stations, some NPCs will do their job automatically. The Mason, for example, will automatically find a damaged part of your base they can reach and repair it.
Other NPCs will require you to place a marker so they know their designated work area. The Miner, for example, will need you to designate a spot for them to go mine.
Some NPCs will work both ways. The Guard will automatically choose spots to guard around your base, however you can also designate guard spots for them if you prefer.
Can NPCs be deployed across multiple bases, or are they restricted to a single base?
When recruiting your NPC you’ll be given an option to choose which base you send them too. These bases are marked with a new build item to designate them as suitable for NPCs. You can also move NPCs from one base to another if needed, so long as one of these new items are in place.
What can I trade with Traders? Can I trade my old gear I’m not using anymore?
When a Trader comes to Moria they will have a specific set of orders. Sometimes these orders will be for existing items and materials you might have, but they will also ask for new items introduced in the DLC.
Some pre-existing saves with larger builds have limited resources now. How will NPC roles affect this and can I stop them from using all my resources?
Players will have control over what resources are made available to NPCs. There are also multiple new mechanics that will help tackle the problem of finite resources, including the previously mentioned NPC Miner.
With most NPC roles however it doesn’t matter the level of tool they’re given. They are skilled professionals in their work and can do the job with even the most basic of equipment.
Timestamp for full answer: [26:25]
Additional Note: As per some [Wandering Wizard comments - Discord], it was also noted that a better pickaxe may help increase the speed that NPC Miners collect ore, but it does not affect what vein can be mined. As skilled Dwarves they can tackle any vein with the most basic of tools.
What is a designated NPC area like in terms of size and management?
In the beginning you start with one Delving, and as you progress you can unlock more. You can also move your NPCs around and assign them to and move them between these Delvings rather than them being stuck to one place.
Size-wise, your NPCs are not on a tight leash to one area. They will want to sleep in a bed, eat and hang out by a hearth at night and all of these pull them back towards a base. Building a delvestone to designate a base as a Delving acts like a spawn point for NPCs, so they’ll always end up back there at some stage.
Ultimately NPCs can wander pretty far to complete their tasks, and they will eventually route their way back home to the safety of the Delving you’ve set up for them. Just be careful you don’t let them wander too far! Lest they get lost or end up in danger and you need to go find them.
Timestamp for full answer: [32:12]
Will NPCs trade stuff for us and have access to our resources to do so?
No, NPCs will stick to their assigned tasks within the general area of their Delving. New chests and items can help manage what resources they have access to so they don’t eat you out of hearth and home or use all your precious resources without your knowledge.
Items they create for you to trade will be placed in a special chest for you to collect, but these items you have for trade are up to you, the player, to bring to the trader to fulfil orders and build your reputation with that trader.
Timestamp for full answer: [35:10]
Will there be additional voice acting for NPCs or is most of the conversation via text boxes?
While there are some conversations that’ll happen through text, we also recorded a whole new set of voice over with the original cast for all the major story lines.
This was also answered in Forge Talk 13, you can listen to the extended answer here: [32:44]
Will equipped gear show up on an NPC or do they have a default wardrobe based on their role?
You can dress them however you want!
This was answered in Forge Talk 13 as part of the question at the same time stamp above.
Are NPC outfits purely cosmetic or do they have any buffs / special effects?
The outfits are cosmetic. Some hats will convey a skill on the wearer
This was also answered in Forge Talk 13, you can listen to the extended answer here: [42:09]