# NPCs won't fire\\shoot at zombie children

**URL:** https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/npcs-wont-fire-shoot-at-zombie-children/13031
**Category:** The Garage
**Created:** [November 28, 2016, 2:36am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/npcs-wont-fire-shoot-at-zombie-children/13031 "2016-11-28T02:36:31Z")
**Posts on this page:** 2
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![Olith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Olith](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Olith)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2016, 2:36am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/npcs-wont-fire-shoot-at-zombie-children/13031/1 "2016-11-28T02:36:31Z")

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I’ve tested this in the most recent version: 0.C-19954-g46467ec

This can be repeated by simply getting a NPC to equip a ranged weapon and having a zombie child come into range. Even if you set the NPC’s marksman/rifle skills to maximum they will always chose to melee instead; Not even going as far to switch to a superior melee weapon.

Notably this also happens with the Monster ‘Your Mother’, and dodge value of the monster doesn’t seem to be the cause of this; As NPCs will always choose to shoot cougars, zombie dogs and the like. They also have no problem shooting any other variant of zombie children.

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### Author: ![Coolthulhu](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/coolthulhu/32/2446_2.png) [@Coolthulhu](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Coolthulhu)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2016, 8:11am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/npcs-wont-fire-shoot-at-zombie-children/13031/2 "2016-11-28T08:11:49Z")

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This is mostly caused by them rating zombie children as incredibly low threat.

Will probably require a rework of targetting to actually fix. Or just bumping the threat rating of children and regular zeds.