I second this! We don't want to scare new players away and having them kill a Champion they were trying to recruit will only frustrate them.

Yea I agree, Im new to Elemental and find hiring NPC very difficult, Ive killed everyone ive tried to hire. The left click on a NPC with an option would be a good idea, save confusion.

Anyway how do you hire someone rather than starting a fight? And How can you tell if its another faction or someone you can hire?

I needed also some time to figure this out.

To hire somebody just left click on the NPC while they are either near to your sovereign our with in the borders of your realm.

Then you have the option to hire the character if you have enough money and to look at the details of the character, e.g. if he is an adventurer, merchant, researcher or what ever...

Yea, the mini-menu would be intuitive, ala Civ IV's Shift-Leftclick, except:

• Left-click = Select Unit (then click actions at bottom)
• Right-click = Attack if hostile (spider/etc.).  If neutral, show mini-menu (below).
• Shift-click = Show mini-menu.  This lists all actions available at bottom (Details, Attack, etc.).  This makes "What can I do with X?" more immediately to the user because he's focused on the mouse (not the bottom of the screen).

Ideally, Right/Shift-click mini-menus would also be available for objects on the map (City, Oasis, etc.).

Part of the confusion might also happen because it's hard to differentiate between the different types of NPCs wandering the map.  In something like Civ IV:

• Unmarked = Barbarian (usually aggressive)
• Colored flag = Other Kingdom/Empire.

In Elemental, it's not as simple because a lot of the NPCs are neutral but hireable.  This makes for a lot of NPCs on the map.  It would help to have clear visual indicators based on NPC type.  Either colored flags or circles at their feet, e.g.:

• White = Neutral but can be hired.
• Black = Neutral but aggressive (rat, spider, troll, etc.).
• Kingdom/Empire color = NPC belongs to a Kingdom/Empire (neutral/aggressive depending on war).

I think what he means is that right clicking on a person should give you the option of talking to them or slaughtering them.

( I made the mistake as well.)

i only made this mistake once. First time playing.

But i do think its bad gaming Etiquette.

right click on a neutral person automatically attacks them and doesnt intereact? hmmm