Welcome to Gaia! ::

It rather depends. For small, squad based factions, or very large guild with plenty of members, NPC's would have no point. but for small or medium guilds with a extremely large premis, like say, a interplanetary or intergalatical fleet, numbers cant be represented without NPC's. Like a single star ship, theres the crew, if you have to have a single RP'er for every crew member, no one would want to RP them, and even if people did, a sortage would happen very quickly. It would turn a guild with 20 man army into a wothless piece of crap. Go my 10th of a maned ship! How can you make war with that? You see my point. Also, guilds that are say, a very large army, but have a member shortage,for whatever reason, could not conduct a respectible and fun war without NPC's. Like controlling a whole squad, or even a army or portion of it, depending on the scale, and skill of the RP'er wiht NPC's, would make it a better experince for both sides, how fun is it to mop the floor wiht 200 members against 20? How fun would it be for the 20?

But NPC's would not have the same right as the PC's. They would be able to be auto-hit, otherwised it would become lenghty explaining the ways each one escapes, but within reason. One guy cant take out 30, ect. also, they cant be to weak, a single guy cant run into a room of 20 armed guards and take every single one out with a pistol.

But it would have to be within reaosn, depending on the type of guild. Large intended armies will have more, then say, a small group of mercenaries. It should also be acounted for how many there is total, make sure it isnt out-numbering by millions.

NPC's also raise another element to RP'ing, in the fact that players wont care as much that they die. God-moding ussaly stems from people thinking that they shouldnt die. NPC's have a way for someone to feel like they accualy killed something. I have gone a whole week without getting a single kill because of this human nature element, we dont like to die. NPC's help weaken this.

Having supplies would make this easier, you buy NPC's, each unit costs more, plus theres your charater that you could by upgrades for, things like that. Like a basic infantry cost so much, then a tank NPC costs more, ect.

I say have supply lines only if both parties agree on it. Or agree on the size of the forces your are going to field before hand.

I say keep it in the hands of the commanders. We can't restrain our commanders with to many rules.

NPC's used with moderation can be used to make RP more effective as well as enjoyable and conversely if abused it can lead to goddmodding.

They do have their role in Roleplaying. I agree with Nightpredator when he said it is indeed quite a tedious affair to combat a foe for literally days on end and not be able to lay a hand on them because they block or counter everything one dishes out at them. An NPC can be used to yield in graceful fashion to one's foe and the act can be reciprocated by them thus resulting in a more pleasurable gaming experience for everyone involved.

But you see, thats not really fare, seeing how NPC's are supposed to be WEAKER then a PC, so really, you should at least get double the difference in NPC's. And also, for fleet guilds, can crew just not count for PC or NPC, cause that could get a little annoying.

So unless someone disagrees from here on out, I think that the agreement on this rule shall be that before each battle or war, that the opposing factions sall make agreement of the number and use of NPCs. Right?