Nightingale - NPC Tips

Here are some tips for how to handle your Recruitable NPC in Nightingale:

• They don't know how to use every tool, but that's a good thing.
• If they have the Wood Axe equipped (typically that's what they start with) they will cut trees when they enter an idle state if they are near trees.
• If they don't have space to pick up what they harvest, they won't harvest.
• If you don't want them to harvest when idle, give them a tool they can't use properly:. When you equip something like that, you will get a message that the NPC can't use it properly.
• Climbing Picks can work although the animation looks off because they only carry one Pick. You might also start to see floating static climbing picks in the game world, presumably because they can't use Climbing Picks properly.
• The Maul is also a good choice for high damage and good knockdown / stagger.
• If there is a partial construction nearby, or a crafting station that burns fuel, they will try to add wood to it. This can result in using special wood you would rather not use, so be careful about having them carry those for you.
• If this is driving you crazy, build a simple Storage unit like an Angling Basket and move your wood into it to protect it. Use the furniture movement commands to move it around with you until you are far from the pending construction or station that needs fuel, then transfer stuff back to the NPC and dismantle the container to recover your resources.
• For containers, do not checkmark "Survivors" container permission and NPCs should not be able to pull things out to use.
• If they do use precious materials on Aid NPC building tasks, after the task is completed you can try destroying the furnishing to recover your materials.
• When you use the furniture movement menu you'll see a health bar but you'll have to attack it until it breaks and it's not clear you'll get everything back.
• Their inventory appears to be capped by inventory spaces, not total weight. Equipped items count toward spaces.
• Typically they do not hold enemy aggro, but you can use this to your advantage by basically tanking or kiting enemies while your Recruit deals major damage.
• The only advantage to a lot of combat is farming loot drops and components so don't worry too much about getting in swings and kills.
• Gear equipped on NPCs do not lose durability.
• You can consider reducing your Repair bills by using a two-handed weapon to block while your companion does the kills.
• Note that currently (still works as of 2024-Feb-26), if you go to the Inventory screen and use "Repair All", no Essence is used for any repairs. If you right click an item for repair, it always uses the maximum Essence cost.
• NPCs do not set off traps.
• If they are reduced to zero health, they are "Injured" but can be immediately Revived to full health by getting close and tapping the key to Revive.
• It is basically instant. No channel time, no resource cost. This can of course lead to a lot of cheesy tactics.