The doctor and the deranged soldier.

[orbital 10]

Just a simple thought to build on.

Some other form of NPC apart from zombies.

What about some random spawning doctor who has antibiotics and other medical supplies on him.

Or a deranged soldier mindlessly walking around the map with interesting weapons and equipment, maybe even a rare uniform?

Sure it could involve a mission of some sort, but with the apocalypse mass murder mentality currently playing out, we might as well shoot them and grab the loot, for easy implementation.

(I must be honest, didn't search the forum for similar suggestions, shame on me)

[Redshift 58]

Thats interesting and leads to an idea that could be used as punishment/reward for humanity.

Have certain areas (like the tents south of Balota Airfield) that have a chance of spawning normal human NPCs. These NPCs would attack any zombies near them, but not roam from the area. If they survive then they stick around, more zombies would spawn and they fight them also. But if the NPC lives long enough more NPCs will spawn in given enough time, to the point where they effectively take over that area and it is simi-safe.

These soldier NPCs would check a players humanity and only agro on you if your humanity is too low.

This would give players an incentive to not randomly kill everyone since you could potentially find loot with less risk. And it also creates potential flashpoints for player interaction and PvP. Because, Bandits will know these areas exist and say "Hey there are NPC soldiers who have gear on them. I think I will raid them. Or wait around the edge of the area for a player to bring the loot out to me."

[Slyguy65 499]

I like that idea if settlements become a reality NPC's would flock to it (soldier, doctor, trader) and the soldier would shoot any bandits on sight and the traders and what not would not trade but if you were good you would be allowed in and trade

NOT saying settlements would be NPC controlled they would just start flocking there (spawning near it and walking to it) there would be a random max number of NPCs that would go there depending on how big the settlement is.

[orbital 10]

Well, I just thought of single elements spawning randomly on the map, like crashed helicopters do for instance. But any NPC addition would be interesting, preferably something that encourage teamplay. I would rather see some ideas to make banditry less interesting instead of punishing it.

Protecting a noisy doctor or soldier from hordes of zombies perhaps, not sure how to reward the players for attending though.

[agL 0]

I like the idea, although if you make it so the NPCs can find out your humanity then it would ruin it. In real life you wouldn't know if someone is a killer or not.