If an exclamation mark appears above an NPC’s head, walk away. That NPC is infected with heroism. True NPCs have gray, silent markers. They have no problems for you to solve.
The story is rarely told through cutscenes; it is felt through the atmosphere, ambient dialogue, and environmental storytelling. 4. The Philosophy Behind the NPCs Journeying in a World of NPCs -v1.0- -Nome-
To journey in this world, you must unlearn the grammar of protagonism. You do not ask, "What can this villager do for me?" You ask, "Why does this villager walk to the well every morning at 6:02 AM, pause for 4.3 seconds, and look at the eastern tower?" If an exclamation mark appears above an NPC’s