Alien Encounters: Our First NPCs Learn to Think (Sort Of)
By Ashton Data Publishing, LLC — where pathfinding is optional but dramatic entrances are encouraged
Greetings again, cosmic adventurers!
Welcome to Dev Blog #6! Last week we hung out on the station, played with BIO Chambers, dodged caffeinated robots, and maybe adopted a space goat. This week?
Our NPCs woke up.
And by “woke up,” we mean they learned to think, react, and occasionally walk straight into walls because, well… babies take time to learn.
But hey — they’re alive. And sometimes that’s the scariest part.
The First Alien NPCs: Smarter Than They Look (Sometimes)
Our earliest alien characters have officially joined the galaxy. They’re rough, weird, and occasionally glitchy — but they have personality. Here’s what we got working:
- Basic Awareness
NPCs can now:
- Notice the player
- Stare directly into your soul
- Wave awkwardly when approached
- Ignore you when they’re “busy” (doing nothing)
Soon they’ll react to noise, track motion, and gossip among themselves.
- Dynamic Behavior Loops
Our NPCs have simple routines:
- Patrol routes
- Idle animations
- “Social moments” where they talk to each other
- And yes — spontaneous dance bursts (we’re calling those… bugs for now)
- Body Language System
Aliens can express:
- Curiosity
- Fear
- Confidence
- Confusion
- That “I need coffee before I deal with this human” look
The animations are early, but already giving life to non-human species.
Alien Pathfinding: Or Why NPCs Sometimes Walk Into Vents
We added early pathfinding logic this week — and the results were… educational.
NPCs can now:
- Navigate hallways
- Walk around obstacles
- Avoid falling into maintenance pits
- Occasionally sprint sideways into an airlock because the math got confused
Look — we’re improving it. But sometimes chaos is part of the charm.
First Contact Conversations: Dialogue Systems Online
We integrated our proto-dialogue system so aliens can “talk” to you.
Right now, they can:
- Greet you in their native language
- Use simple branching dialogue
- Comment on your gear, species, or suspicious behavior
- Offer tiny lore hints
Noble attempts at communication include:
- “Your eyes shine with the brightness of two dying stars.”
- “Humans smell like fear and carbohydrates.”
- “Do not feed the space goats. Ever.”
So… they’re coming along nicely.
NPC Reactions: They Don’t Just Stand There Anymore
To make NPCs feel less like statues, we added reactive behaviors:
When you approach:
- Some wave
- Some step aside politely
- Some hiss and back away slowly
When you fire a weapon nearby:
- They duck
- They panic
- They judge you silently with deep disappointment
When you stare at them too long:
- They shift uncomfortably
- They comment on the awkwardness
- One asked the dev team for a restraining order
We denied the request. For now.
Species Spotlight: The Verrik (Our First Alien Race)
Say hello to the Verrik — tall, lean, insectoid beings with glowing eyes, elegant chitin armor, and a tendency to click dramatically.
Early features:
- Reactive antennae
- Multi-hinged posture animations
- Distinct idle patterns
- Soft bioluminescent glow
Their personality?
A mix of philosopher, librarian, and creature that might accidentally eat your boots.
Early AI Combat Behavior: Baby Steps Toward Terror
We began implementing combat responses — just enough to confirm the foundation.
NPCs can:
- Notice threats
- Take cover
- Fire back (inconsistently and sometimes at walls)
- Retreat when low on confidence (or bravery… or ammo)
Their accuracy?
Let’s just say the galaxy is safe from them for now.
Final Thoughts for Dev Blog #6
This week was all about bringing life into the galaxy. NPCs are no longer floating mannequins — they have behaviors, personality, quirks, and unexpected sass.
Next week:
Dev Blog #7 — “Missions, Mayhem, and Meaningful Choices: The Galaxy Gets Dangerous”
Until then:
Keep your dialogue options friendly, your pathfinding straightforward, and remember — if an alien NPC clicks at you twice, it’s either a greeting or a warning. Maybe both.