1. What can they drop? I seem to only get XP out of them. Or perhaps their 'drops' are yet to be added?
2. If I fight one and fail to kill it, will it be there tomorrow with the same hull amount I left it? (I assume all shields regenerates)
3. Any possible way NPC's will start using traps/artifacts by themselves?
4. Why only 2 slots?

1. Most of the higher rank NPCs drop XP only, at the moment.

2. The system currently has NPC shield recharge turned off. Thus, your damage to that and hull will permanently stick.

3. Yes - just not yet. It will probably start with traps, since those are easier to implement.

4. Slots are simply a way of allocating NPC spawns just to you. Each one is bound to you (or your legion) and there is no chance that someone else will finish it off once you've started it. Later, there will be ways to increase your slots.

Thanks for the answers. Are starbases in yet? I tend to get ships and drones. Are drones monsters?

Do NPC kills count toward kills to qualify for missions?

Good question. All of the kill requirements on missions prior to the release have been renamed to 'Player Kills' so as not to break player's advancement. Future missions will rely more on Non-Player kills. The mission requirements will indicate which one it is looking for.

Heh, I would suggest to have NPC shield recharge to be active so players will feel the urge to try to finish them off. It also makes NPC more "alive" and little more challenging..

It will... just letting players get used to the system a bit first.

Good idea.. Give them time to adapt to new system where they definitely will be better.. Then NPC deserves the adaption as well.