I'm getting in the habit of spelling out what I'm intending to code before I go off
and code it. It saves me from diving down rabbit holes and taking a micrometer to the
weeds I encounter.
While I was preparing my last blog entry, I was thinking about the sorts of NPCs I would
have to model to either be employed if the player was leading a trade delegation, or
who would be needed to run a trade delegation on the player's behalf.
This is all off the top of my head, and subject to change, but here goes:
Mechant
Merchant style characters have money, and they make more money by
hiring people to do things. The principle way is by hiring people to move stuff from A
to B. (We need Merchant NPCs because for lower level players, they need someone to work
for to earn enough money to become their own boss.)
Spy
Organizations need eyes and ears in far off places. And sometimes there is no substitute
for having a set of them that is loyal to your designs. Spies live abroad and will
pass on information about what products are in demand, or what commodities are available
for cheap
Messenger
Travel is dangerous and difficult. Messengers are professionals
who are adapted to life on the road. They also make an art out of getting places quickly,
and delivering messages discretely.
Worker
Teams of workers actually do the loading, transportation and unloading. These are usually
low level characters who will work for an agreed upon price.
Boss
Bosses manage other hirelings. They supervise a team or workers.
You need a certain number of bosses to supervise workers or the workers wander off.
(And sometimes they wander off with money or cargo.)
Fixer
Sometime you need a junior you to straighten up issues abroad. They can travel to that
far off place, and negotiate how to get that trade caravan out of legal trouble. Or
perhaps work out a way that a warlord can get his beak wet on the activity of your trade
caravans without attacking them. Or track down missing cargo, and bring back the
scalps of those who made it disappear.
Warrior
While the player may be a powerful warrior, thieves tend to work in groups. You want
some hired muscle out there to keep trouble away by intimidation, and to pick up a
sword when intimidation isn't enough. The Merchant can also send muscle along to watch
over money and shipments.
Scout
With large caravans it is helpful to have someone scout ahead for trouble and make
forward arrangements for logistics.
I'm also thinking that your workers, regardless of class, should probably have some
special abilities:
Musician
Carries and instrument and entertains during campfires and nights at the Inn.
Auslander
Character comes from a different culture and bestows bonuses when having dealings in
that foreign land.
Veteren
A soldier back from the war, or a sailor back from sea, they have gobs of experience
that comes in handy in the oddest situations.
Medic
A character with a knowledge of first aid and field medicine
Mystic
A character who is attuned to the spirits.
Scribe
A character who can read and write. (Actually quite a rare thing in this setting.)
Eye Candy
A character who has just the look to turn the right heads in the wrong direction.
More on this as it develops.