NPC drowning shenanigans

[Pvt_OBrien]

There are a few odd behaviors NPCs seem to perform while drowning or near another NPC that's drowning. While I can't be sure these would classify as bugs so much as quirks of the system, they are definitely prone to cause problems. Specifically the fact that NPCs will (for some reason) run towards drowning NPCs causes issues. The jeweler in Gates of Morning can drown himself if he sees a drowning NPC, thus losing a shop and breaking a quest. The larger issue, and perhaps bug, is that if a drowning NPC is able to teleport itself out of the water while suffocating, other NPCs will still be drawn to it, and it will continue to wander around the zone, teleporting at random. This eventually causes all NPCs, even Aewyn, the jeweler, and the woman who gives the spider cave quest in Gates of Morning to all follow said NPC, often to their deaths. I have noted three instances of this happening, and one of the jeweler drowning himself.


1. In Derth (luckily after arena quest) there were two rare NPCs, one could teleport, the other had wraithform. Drowning the teleporter caused him to teleport out and run around Derth collecting an entourage of NPCs until he randomly teleported himself back into the water, the wraithform rare following in pursuit. Both drowned, it was hilarious, but it also could have killed arena guy.

2. In Gates of Morning an NPC teleported out of the lake, ran around town collecting everyone, and Aewyn, the Jewler, and the spider quest lady all died.

3. In Gates of Morning an NPC (this was offscreen, so I can't confirm he actually spawned in the water, but I don't know what else could have happened) somehow teleported away from suffocation within about 10 turns of starting the actual game (shalore sun paladin) and #2 began to happen again, fortunately he killed himself.

4. Gates of Morning, no teleporting but the Jeweler witnessed someone drowning, ran to them, and killed himself.

[jenx]

There are several who can kill you too, but casting talents that heal and damage at the same time. Usually anorothil types do this. It's why i stay away from them while they suffocate