[c0ncrete]

This is an unfinished example of how you can easily add a lot of flavor to any generic NPC with scripting alone. I wrote it years ago and never did much with it, so I thought I'd share to maybe help spark some creativity.

(a_cave_rat.pl @ tutorialb)

my %instance = ();


sub AI_YellForHelp
{
	my $npc_num	= substr($npc->GetName(),-3);
	my $signal	= scalar 911 . scalar 0 . scalar $instance{$npc_num} . scalar 0 . scalar $npc_num;

	# tell a_cave_rat which variant is yelling for help.
	quest::signalwith(189453,$signal);
}


sub EVENT_SPAWN
{

	# ==== HIDDEN (GENDER) NPC VARIATION ==== #

	# 0 = female
	# 1 = male
	# 2 = adolescent
	my $variant = int(rand(3));
	my $npc_num = substr($npc->GetName(),-3);

	$instance{$npc_num} = $variant;

	# ==== VISIBLE (SIZE) NPC VARIATION ==== #
	
        my $SizeMult = sub { .01 * ( $_[0] + int rand $_[1] - $_[0] ) };
        # randomly changes size by percentage mutiples in range provided
        # (example below is between 75% to 125% of original size)
	$npc->ChangeSize( $npc->GetSize() * $SizeMult->(75, 125) );

}


sub EVENT_ATTACK
{
	$client->Message(7, "You have a strange feeling this might not end well...");
	quest::setnexthpevent(50);
}


sub EVENT_HP
{

	if($hpevent == 50)
	{
		# 25% chance to call for help
		if(int(rand(100) >= 75)
		{
			quest::emote("squeaks loudly.");
			AI_YellForHelp();
		}
	}

}

sub EVENT_SIGNAL
{

	my $strSignal = scalar $signal;

	if (length $strSignal == 9 && substr($strSignal, 0, 3) == 911)
	{
		my $otherType   = int(substr($strSignal, 4, 1));
		my $otherNumber =     substr($strSignal, 6, 3);
	
		my $myNumber = substr($npc->GetName(),-3);
		my $myType   = $instance{$myNumber};

		# TO DO: implement range/LOS check.

		if($npc->IsEngaged())
		{
			quest::shout("DEBUG: $myNumber is busy and can't help $");
		}
		# we got a request for help from variant 0 (female)
		elsif($otherType == 0 && $myType == 1)
		{
			# TO DO: assist if male (%75).
			quest::shout("DEBUG: $myNumber is thinking about helping (0->1 @ 75%)");
		}
		# we got a request for help from variant 1 (male)
		elsif($otherType == 1 && $myType == 1)
		{
			# TO DO: assist if male (50%).
			quest::shout("DEBUG: $myNumber is thinking about helping (1->1 @ 50%)");
		}
		# we got a request for help from variant 2 (adolescent)
		elsif($otherType == 2)
		{
			if($myType == 0)
			{
				# TO DO: assist if female (100%).
				quest::shout("DEBUG: $myNumber is thinking about helping (2->0 @ 100%)");
			}
			elsif($myType == 2)
			{
				# TO DO: assist if adolescent (25%).
				quest::shout("DEBUG: $myNumber is thinking about helping (2->2 @ 25%)");
			}
		}
	}

}

sub EVENT_DEATH
{

	# delete dead rat's instance data
	my $npc_num = substr($npc->GetName(),-3);
	delete($instance{$npc_num});

}