NPCs

The NPCs (*non-playable characters*) in the world of HEAT are there to both add more life into the game but also to serve as companions that will protect your land and fight along side you. Companions can be gained from either claiming a seat of power, or by having children and raising them to adulthood.

Every NPC has a level, same as any animal in the game. While each NPC will have a numerical level, they are also tiered by colour. From best to worst:

* Gold
* Purple
* Blue
* Green
* Silver (default)

## Family Members

Infants can be adopted or birthed by a female player or NPC after they have become pregnant. Infants, if kept healthy, will grow through childhood, to adolescence, to adulthood. These NPCs can be used to either defend your base or be a follower. Like other companions, they can be armed and they can be killed by other NPCs or players.

## Companions

*See Party for a full description of the party system in the game.*

Companions are added to the player's party once a seat of power has been claimed. They are typically located near to the seat of power itself, and varies between one or two companions based on the seat of power.

### Secret Service and Intern

These party members are available to the current President. This office includes three companions, one intern and two secret service members.

### Chief's War Party

These party members are available to the current Chief. This office includes two warriors.

### Deputies

These party members are available to the current Sheriff. This office includes one deputy. Deputies can be found upstairs in the Sheriff's Office.

### Peons

These NPCs become available to the Governor.

## Town Dwellers

The inhabitants that make up the three towns in the world of HEAT cannot be made into companions for use in a party, but they may be killed and looted. Warning: attacking a resident will cause all other residents to become hostile. If the player has a HEAT Level then residents will attack the player along with Law Enforcement.

Residents spawn with a ranged and melee weapon, and will switch between them depending on their distance to the player.

## Bandits

Bandits are the hostile NPCs in the world of HEAT. They can be located by the bonfires and tents that dot the land. These bandit camps are either made up of one, two, or three tents, and the number of tents will determine how many bandits will spawn at the tents once the player is close enough in proximity. It is possible to have the bandits spawn before they are close enough to notice the player, thus making long-range attacks viable.

* One-tent bandit camp.
* Two-tent bandit camp.
* Three-tent bandit camp.
1/3

There are two types of Bandits that will spawn: *Rifleman* or *Fighter*. A Rifleman will spawn with both a ranged weapon and a melee weapon, and will use either depending on their proximity to the player. A Fighter will spawn with a melee weapon, and will attempt to rush the player to get into melee range.

## Law Enforcement

Law enforcement officers, also known as *Marshals*, will spawn to attack any player with a HEAT level.

*See HEAT Level for a full guide on the mechanic.*

Marshals will spawn at a distance (not close) from the player and will chase them down to attack. They spawn with a ranged weapon and a melee weapon, and will use either depending on the distance to the player. Marshals DO NOT drop any loot, and exist only to protect players' property from raids.

## Gunslingers

Gunslingers will spawn from a gunslinger tent to protect the property of the player who owns the tent. Gunslinger tents can be purchased from the shipping bin or crafted. The gunslingers will spawn based on proximity from their tent. Gunslingers DO NOT drop loot when killed.

Gunslingers will spawn at a tent when a threat to the player or the player's property is detected. Having a HEAT Level and being hunted by Law Enforcement will not cause gunslingers to spawn to aid the player, nor will having bandits attacking the player. Having hostile players in the vicinity with a land claim set to hostile is the only way to have gunslingers spawn. However, once gunslingers are spawned, they will attack any threat to the player, whether it be animal, NPC, or other player.

## Looting

All NPCs have the potential to drop loot once killed, with the exception of Marshals and Gunslingers. For residents of towns and bandits, the loot is randomized and may include currency, consumables, weapons, or materials and resources. For companions and party members, the loot will be whatever the NPC had in their inventory at the time of their death.

Any killed NPC has the potential to drop loot as entities that glow on the ground, or items in a loot bag. As entities on the ground cash will glow green and ammunition will glow orange.

There is no difference between the lootable NPCs in terms of what items are dropped and in what quantities.

### Lootable Items

* Cash
* Ammunition
* Weapons
	+ All lootable weapons are uncraftable. No craftable weapons can be looted from NPCs.
* Consummables
	+ Food
	+ Bandages
	+ Buffs
* Farming Supplies
	+ Mixed Seeds
	+ Soil Improvements

*This section should include a table of all possible loot and their drop percentage.*