A few months. As for doing it, select the NPCs from the Party screen, then choose the patrol option from the drop down menu and setup the patrol.

Thanks Ellias.

I see what i was doing wrong: first, under Party, I had to crate a Squad. Then you can give that squad a command.

Much obliged.

While we're asking semi-related questions...

“Before you ask why they have them then, a) its because the NPCs needed a skill set similar to a 1st level PC to avoid the whole 30+ free skill points to turn them into unseeable, forces of nature in combat, and b) to add some RP flavour to them.

- Ellias
 ”

Why did they change the skills to begin with? As it is, any one of my npc's, even a boxstacker or greeter, would have better than 50/50 chances of killing me from five squares away, before I could even see them. And i'm a combat(ish) build character. Somehow this does not fit in with the generally accepted "PC's are the heroes of the galaxy, those who have an edge above others" when we've sort of become second tier compared to those we command.

Are you unable to have NPCs patrol while on a ship?

If so, what am i doing wrong? When i form the squad and set them to patrol, im told "You do not have access to this page."

Not sure if you are asking about setting NPCs to patrol your ship (don't believe they can do that) or giving them patrol orders remotely (can't do that, have to be at the same location to begin patrol, not sure about ending)

I don't think you can patrol a ship.

As, Shuji, for changing the skills, it was because of code stuff for combat. For whatever reasons, NPCs needed to have similar number of skill points to PCs. As for box stackers etc having better weapon skills than you, they should not. I don't believe I put any weapon skills (maybe the odd 1 point or something) for non-military NPCs, so likely if they are better then thats from just before they had skill sheets and so had 30+ points to use wherever.

That's what I mean. NPC's start with more skill points than a PC, and don't have to put anything in skills such as leadership or piloting. Especially military npc's but also non military ones, now have the ability to be super soldiers. Unfortunately, PC's won't stand a chance come combat in that sort of environment.

Harlynn you need to be on the groun in a city to be able to make NPCs patrol.

I agree NPCs seems over-powered now, with the patrolling its so easy for them to gain lots of levels and so SPs to spend on combat skills, not to mention all those NPCs that had 30-40 free SPs. I still have custom NPC that has 42 SP free and she is only level 1. PCs might start with same ammount but we are forced to spread them among all of the five groups, so we can't start with 4s and 5s in Combat group, but there was no such restriction on NPCs. I think something went wrong somewhere when NPCs are better than most low level PCs.

They already removed those skill points again for combat NPCs, presumably they'll do the same with the other types at some point.

“That's what I mean. NPC's start with more skill points than a PC, and don't have to put anything in skills such as leadership or piloting. Especially military npc's but also non military ones, now have the ability to be super soldiers. Unfortunately, PC's won't stand a chance come combat in that sort of environment.
 ”

We have 0 way of knowing precisely how PC v NPC combat is going to work in terms of PC bonuses, or anything of that nature. That being said, NPCs are identical to players now in terms of their leveling system, they don't start off with xX Heavy Weapons any longer.

Uh, NPCs have the same number, not more of skills. And as I said, they have their skills assigned much like PCs. So they have the same 18,14,8,4,whatever skill points assigned. So no advantage there.

“They already removed those skill points again for combat NPCs, presumably they'll do the same with the other types at some point. ”

Umm, no they didn't

..okay, maybe they haven't.

I think they did for Builders, at least

They also did that for Non-Projectile Combatants. The bext I have is 6 unused skill points.

Just checked, and only mah builders have had their SPs reduced, all others (including mah medic, ship greeter and custom) have boosted SPs, and all mah combatants are Non-Projectile (either UB or MCT)

I'm a little confused. Am I reading correctly that, when we hire an NPC, we have to assign their skill points as we would if we made a new character? If that is the case, then what is the difference between hiring a riflemen and a medic? Or did I miss something about the skill sets?

NPCs will have a few bonus and unassigned skill points, from 1 to 6 (from my experience). All the rest have been assigned, from 0 to 3.

KM

Thanks for clearing that up.

Each NPC class will have a skill set assigned to them based on their type. ie riflemen will have a projectile skill of 4 I believe, but only a few points in vehicle/starship piloting (mainly because they have points to be assigned there), while say a R&D engineer will have lots of R&D skills but not much projectile weapon skills.