With living NPCs the big rules difference is how they work armor wise. The armor heals on its own like shields do. Some would likely even lack shields. Some could have traps (once those are added at random ect...) that give them special abilities.

So things like space-dragons, space squids, ect...


Next thing and these would also be common to find are bandits from each race. Kind of like PC ships, but NPC based ones. A great way to have something at all level drop some artifacts or other things from them.

Relics, like artifacts are special but they are buildings and other useful tools you can only get from killing an NPC. But the relic idea is also something that could be used on planets.


NPC planets would also be cool, you just go out scanning one day and find a planet that has NPC buildings on it. Either they could be special or just like a player. This is a great way to add a little more spice to a planet.

I was JUST thinking about something like that! A mix of attack, defense, and resource structures would be cool, and make planet finding extra fun.

+1 from me.