Forum:Fallout 2 - the number of NPCs on each map in the games is often symbolic and not indicative of the canon number of people in that area

Well, the USAF dispute gave me some conclusions (how to translate game impressions into hard numbers), which I would like to share:
 * Canonic number of people in Fallout/Fallout 2 areas very often is not certain (eg. when not covered by Vault City travel log, design documents would be welcome).
 * I think the number of the NPCs encountered during random encounters shouldn't be considered as "symbolic", there is/was quite possible to create a lot of NPCs in a random map, like during Unwashed Willagers are hunting a spamer encounter (the same conclusion with Enclave Patrol encounter, where engine is able to create 3, 4, 7 or 8 troops).
 * I suggest some minimal and logical rule for counting NPCs on each location map - each encountered NPC symbolizes at least one "real NPC" - no fractions! (however there is also problem of symbolic number of maps in some locations/some unshown areas, eg. at Den, on the oil rig or hypothetically at Shady Sands).
 * Another suggested rule is "proportion" - even if number of the NPCs present on the map/in a location is lowered, a proportion between various types of NPCs there should be c.a. true.

--dotz 21:44, 20 February 2009 (UTC)