NPCs & Crew

Space Idol is populated by a cast of non-player characters who serve different roles across both phases of the game. They’re mentors, colleagues, clients, and — eventually — employees.

Meeting NPCs

NPCs are encountered naturally as you progress. Each has a meet level — the player level at which they first appear. Early NPCs are mentors and colleagues; later ones include potential clients and hirable specialists.

Every NPC has their own personality:

  • Affinity profile — their own scores across the five affinities
  • Affinity specialty — what they’re best at
  • Personality tag — how they interact with you
  • Affiliation — the organization they belong to
  • Phase — whether they appear in the prologue, tycoon phase, or both

Relationship Levels

Your relationship with each NPC is tracked as a relationship level that grows through interactions:

  • Completing quests they’re involved in
  • Participating in NPC events
  • Making choices that align with their values

Higher relationship levels unlock:

  • Side quests — unique missions tied to that NPC’s storyline
  • Certifications — special credentials they can grant you
  • Hiring eligibility — the ability to recruit them in the tycoon phase

NPC Events

Time-limited interactive events involving one or more NPCs. These are special opportunities that appear, stay available for a window, and then expire.

Events have:

  • Energy cost and duration — like quests, but often with unique mechanics
  • Level requirements — minimum player level
  • Rewards — unique items, relationship boosts, certifications, story progression

Events are a key source of relationship growth and unique rewards. Don’t ignore them when they appear — the window is limited.

Certifications

Certain NPCs can grant certifications — formal credentials that unlock gameplay capabilities. A certification might bypass a reputation requirement, unlock a quest line, or qualify your agency for a contract category.

Each certification records:

  • Which NPC granted it
  • The certification type and what it unlocks
  • When it was earned

Certifications are a reward for deep NPC engagement and can provide significant shortcuts.

The Crew System (Tycoon Phase)

When you found your agency at level 20, NPCs you’ve built relationships with become your hiring pool.

Hiring Crew

Not every NPC is hireable — only those with the hireable trait. Hiring factors include:

  • Salary tier — higher-quality crew cost more to hire and maintain
  • Your relationship level — strong relationships make recruitment easier
  • Their affinity profile — crew members bring their specialties to your agency

Managing Crew

Once hired, crew members:

  • Are assigned to missions (a mission may require 1–3 crew)
  • Gain experience from completed missions (missions_completed counter)
  • Level up over time (crew_level), becoming more effective
  • Can be set to active or inactive status

Crew Strategy

  • Match crew to missions. Assign crew whose affinities align with the mission requirements for better outcomes.
  • Invest in training. The crew_training_boost skill makes leveling crew faster.
  • Build a diverse roster. Different contracts and missions need different specialties. A well-rounded crew lets you take on any opportunity.
  • Relationship investment pays off. The best crew members — highest affinity scores, most useful specialties — require high relationship levels to recruit. Time spent building NPC relationships in the prologue directly translates to tycoon-phase advantages.