# Ability to trade with static starting NPCs
**URL:** https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/ability-to-trade-with-static-starting-npcs/7304
**Category:** The Drawing Board
**Created:** [September 9, 2014, 4:07am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/ability-to-trade-with-static-starting-npcs/7304 "2014-09-09T04:07:32Z")
**Posts on this page:** 10
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@RipRoarinBoogerPenis](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/RipRoarinBoogerPenis)
#### Post date: [September 9, 2014, 4:07am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/ability-to-trade-with-static-starting-npcs/7304/1 "2014-09-09T04:07:32Z")
Just what the subject says. I can trade with wandering NPCs I run into but not the one that spawns with me. It seems reasonable that if others are open to trading supplies they would as well. This COULD be a balance issue (a lot of the times the NPC spawns as a doctor or medic class and has a ton of meds) but there isn’t usually much stopping you from killing them or letting a horde do it for you anyway.
---
### Author:  [@flaede](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/flaede)
#### Post date: [September 9, 2014, 5:59am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/ability-to-trade-with-static-starting-npcs/7304/2 "2014-09-09T05:59:35Z")
Once I convince them to join me on their random quest they always trade with me just fine.
---
### Author:  [@RipRoarinBoogerPenis](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/RipRoarinBoogerPenis)
#### Post date: [September 9, 2014, 11:34am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/ability-to-trade-with-static-starting-npcs/7304/3 "2014-09-09T11:34:12Z")
I’m suggesting that they should be able to trade even if they aren’t following you around, logically they would still have a need for supplies even if they aren’t in your party.
---
### Author:  [@kevin.granade](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/kevin.granade)
#### Post date: [September 9, 2014, 3:14pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/ability-to-trade-with-static-starting-npcs/7304/4 "2014-09-09T15:14:01Z")
With the static NPCs it is a balance issue, having effectively a shopkeeper standing right next to you at game start is a bit much.
---
### Author:  [@12doze12](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/12doze12)
#### Post date: [September 9, 2014, 3:16pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/ability-to-trade-with-static-starting-npcs/7304/5 "2014-09-09T15:16:08Z")
One question: Why can’t we trade with NPC that give a quest?
---
### Author:  [@KA101](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/KA101)
#### Post date: [September 9, 2014, 10:20pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/ability-to-trade-with-static-starting-npcs/7304/6 "2014-09-09T22:20:08Z")
> [@12doze12](#):
>
> One question: Why can’t we trade with NPC that give a quest?
Uh, you can, when they’re programmed for it. Folks in the refugee center have at least one combo quest-giver and merchie.
If you’re talking about the NPCs that immediately push their quest on you (mom/jabberwock), that’s both because Kevin’s reason and because they’re pushing a quest, not looking for customers!
---
### Author:  [@RipRoarinBoogerPenis](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/RipRoarinBoogerPenis)
#### Post date: [September 10, 2014, 2:19am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/ability-to-trade-with-static-starting-npcs/7304/7 "2014-09-10T02:19:48Z")
I mean if you really wanted their items you could lure some zombies over to take care of them. Not a big issue just sort of a head scratcher
---
### Author:  [@Miloch](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Miloch)
#### Post date: [September 14, 2014, 2:55am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/ability-to-trade-with-static-starting-npcs/7304/8 "2014-09-14T02:55:11Z")
Well how about making the initial NPC have less stuff? 😛 He should be in roughly the same boat as the player but with different skills. Could we use the professions we have to define what the NPCs are to some degree?
---
### Author:  [@Snaaty](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Snaaty)
#### Post date: [September 14, 2014, 7:04am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/ability-to-trade-with-static-starting-npcs/7304/9 "2014-09-14T07:04:24Z")
I concur with less stuff for the starting NPC. Especially the doctor type (imho) carries a shitton of useful stuff, that one may get easily if the doctor doesn’t have a gun.
I believe one could just create a new NPC category “starter”, and use that one for all the starting NPCs instead of a randomly selected one of the arsonist, doctor, etc. (If that is not how it works, please tell me.)
So it’s only a matter of json.
---
### Author:  [@ID404-NotFound](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/ID404-NotFound)
#### Post date: [September 14, 2014, 6:54pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/ability-to-trade-with-static-starting-npcs/7304/10 "2014-09-14T18:54:33Z")
some NPC quests disable the ability to trade, as the dialogue loops in the “have you done it?” and I say no, and then there is no other option.