# NPC Followers And Combat

**URL:** <https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/npc-followers-and-combat/21996>\
**Category:** The Bunker\
**Created:** [November 19, 2019, 8:22pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/npc-followers-and-combat/21996 "2019-11-19T20:22:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Estranged](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/59ef9b/32.png) [@Estranged](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Estranged)\
**Post date:** [November 19, 2019, 8:22pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/npc-followers-and-combat/21996/1 "2019-11-19T20:22:39Z")

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Am I missing something in the npc combat commands?  
I’ve got an npc follower and put their settings to only attack what I attack first and follow me no matter what.  
We started attacking a couple of zombies, those couple turned into a big group and now there’s a bigger group approaching.  
I’ve run off but my follower has stayed behind fighting/dying.  
Is that a case of still slightly dodgy npc ai or have I missed an npc combat setting?

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**Author:** ![MutaMan](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/mutaman/32/7000_2.png) [@MutaMan](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/MutaMan)\
**Post date:** [November 19, 2019, 9:08pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/npc-followers-and-combat/21996/2 "2019-11-19T21:08:49Z")

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Telling them to stay close to you in the miscellaneous options(I think) usually makes them get out of a fight when you’re far away but sometimes it seems like they prefer fighting to the death.

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**Author:** ![Sticker](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/sticker/32/6178_2.png) [@Sticker](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Sticker)\
**Post date:** [November 19, 2019, 11:25pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/npc-followers-and-combat/21996/3 "2019-11-19T23:25:22Z")

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> [@Estranged](#):
>
> I’ve run off but my follower has stayed behind fighting/dying.

You will probably live longer this way.

I find NPCs are more likely to run away with you when you give them a temporary order to retreat (or was it prepare for danger, I don’t recall) using the selections avaliable in the (C)ommunication menu.