[ WP ] When NPCs are n't seen they are searching , constantly searching for places or items that will elevate them to the title of `` Side Quest NPC '' . It is fabled also that there is an ever greater title still .

`` You're insane! No matter how much you level up, you'll still be an NPC!'' 
 
 Aram had been practicing his swordsmanship for almost a year now. So long that I had almost forgotten what his other animations looked like. Just that same sword slash against the training dummy, over and over again. 
 
 `` I'm going to become the strongest fighter in the game. Then they'll *have* to take me!'' 
 
 `` Aram, please, just come inside for one night. Gods, when was the last time you *ate? `` * 
 
 `` PCs do n't need to eat, not unless the plot needs it!'' He kept up his sword swings the whole time. Chips of wood flew from the dummy. 
 
 `` You're not a PC. You're an NPC with one line of dialogue. You ca n't break immersion like that, it's not *right. *'' 
 
 He lowered the sword and looked at me. `` Isaac, tell me, if you were playing this game, and you saw a character practicing with the sword day and night, what would you think?'' 
 
 I pondered this. `` I suppose I'd talk to him, hear what his story is, the usual adventurer thing? But you do n't have a sidequest attached, so that would n't get me anywhere. I'd get one of the default responses, like `` Have n't seen you around town before.'''' 
 
 `` Ah, but I'm too unusual for a hero to leave at that. Think about what an adventurer does when they have a puzzle they ca n't figure out.'' 
 
 `` Look for clues? Talk to everyone in town? Check a walkthrough? Get fed up and start hitting things with your sword at random?'' 
 
 ``... And what do you suppose will happen, when he hits me with his sword?'' 
 
 I ran down the mental checklist that every NPC knew by heart. `` You'll shout'Help, Murderer!', draw your weapon, attack the hero...'' 
 
 He whirled the sword and sank it into the dummy's head. `` Exactly. We're going to fight. And I'm going to *win. * And he's going to realize that a random peasant has a level 99 skill in Swords. And he's going to be *interested. `` * 
 
 `` You really think you could beat a hero?'' 
 
 `` I'm going to *be* a hero. I'll be the secret unlockable party member that only joins after some absurdly complicated sidequest. Forum threads will be dedicated to Aram the Badass Peasant, wondering why he's so overleveled for his area. They're going to write walkthroughs about how to get me to join up. They're going to know my name!'' I could see madness glittering in his eyes as he resumed his practice. 
 
 `` You're crazy. Even if you pull this off, even if you somehow get strong enough, you still do n't have any quests coded! There's no way for you to join the party!'' 
 
 He shook his head and laughed. `` This is why you'll never be a main character, Isaac. Have n't you ever heard of modding?''
