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Tutorial: Adding a Custom NPC

End-to-end example: a talkative guard NPC for Stormwind that greets players, responds when greeted with /bow, and drops a custom item. Everything is database-only.

1. Template

INSERT INTO creature_template
(entry, name, subname, display_id1, level_min, level_max, faction, npc_flags,
 gossip_menu_id, ai_name, movement_type, rank, script_name)
VALUES
(90001, 'Stormwind Town Crier', 'Herald of Goldshire', 4975, 60, 60, 12,
 1, 90001, 'EventAI', 0, 0, '');
  • faction = 12 - stormwind-friendly.
  • npc_flags = 1 - gossip enabled.
  • ai_name = 'EventAI' - table-driven AI (see AI System).

Check the exact column names in creature_template - the table carries many more (stats, resistances…), defaults are fine for a friendly NPC.

2. Spawn

INSERT INTO creature (guid, id, map, position_x, position_y, position_z, orientation,
                      spawntimesecsmin, spawntimesecsmax, movement_type)
VALUES (5000000, 90001, 0, -9464.13, 61.94, 56.34, 2.42, 300, 300, 0);

Pick an unused guid; map 0 = Eastern Kingdoms. Movement types are explained in the Movement System.

3. Greeting Text

-- menu id 90001 shows text 90001
INSERT INTO broadcast_text (entry, male_text) VALUES (90001, 'Hail, traveler! Need directions?');
INSERT INTO npc_text (ID, BroadcastTextID0) VALUES (90001, 90001);
INSERT INTO gossip_menu (entry, text_id) VALUES (90001, 90001);

Flow details: Gossip System.

4. Bow Response (EventAI)

-- event: on receive emote → action scripts 900010 and 900011
INSERT INTO creature_ai_events (id, creature_id, event_type, event_chance, event_param1,
                                action1_script, action2_script, comment)
VALUES (9000101, 90001, 22 /*RECEIVE_EMOTE*/, 100, 17 /*TEXTEMOTE_BOW = /bow*/,
        900010, 900011, 'Crier bows back');

INSERT INTO creature_ai_scripts (id, command, datalong, dataint, comments)
VALUES (900010, 0 /*TALK*/, 1 /*CHAT_TYPE_YELL*/, 90002, 'Crier yells a greeting'),
       (900011, 1 /*EMOTE*/, 2 /*EMOTE_ONESHOT_BOW*/, 1, 'bow emote');

The TALK command reads texts from broadcast_text - add entry 90002 there. Full command reference: DB Script Tables.

5. Optional Loot

UPDATE creature_template SET loot_id = 90001 WHERE entry = 90001;
INSERT INTO creature_loot_template (entry, item, ChanceOrQuestChance)
VALUES (90001, 900001, 25);   -- 25% drop of item 900001

Loot mechanics: Loot System.

6. Localization (optional)

Add rows to locales_creature and locales_broadcast_text with _locN columns filled (see Localization).

7. Verify

.npc info 90001          -- template loaded?
.go creature 5000000     -- teleport to spawn
.reload creature_template -- after template edits

Watch the server log for LOG_DBERROR lines mentioning your entries.