Non-playable character

NPCs (Non-playable Character) are usually non-playable sims in both The Sims and The Sims 2, but it is possible to play them through the use of Mods.

There are two main types of NPC. Ones that through relationships and simple cheats will be able to be playable characters without any programming errors and ones that were specifically not meant to be played.

The Sims
There are several NPCs who appear in the game besides services you can phone up (maid, policeman, pizza delivery guy etc. List of Services.) and the burglar. Most of them are listed below:


 * Paper Delivery Girl: The most common NPC in the game. She appears at 9 am every morning to deliver the paper.


 * Postal Woman: She appears every 3 days to deliver the bills and places them in the mailbox.


 * Repo-man: If you don't have enough money to pay your bills, the repo man will show up and use his reporising gun to absorb some of the objects in your house to pay for the bills.


 * Social Worker: If you don't take care of the Sim babies by feeding and playing with them, the social worker will appear to take them away.


 * Burglar: Whenever every Sim on the lot is off the lot or asleep, the burglar may sneak in and steal their possessions. Avoid him with a burglar alarm, because calling the police takes too long. Burglars are always males, named Some Sneaky Sim.


 * Entertainer: The Entertainer is introduced in House Party. If you buy the large cake under Miscellaneous and click on the command, 'Buy Male/Female Entertainer'. The stripper will emerge from within and start entertaining the guests. Be careful, though, because the entertainer might stir some jealousy from other people at the party.


 * Mime: Introduced in House Party, the Mime will show up at your party if you are boring your guests to death. While he will try to raise the mood a bit, the Mime is known to steal objects around the house. He will leave only when the party gets better.


 * Party Crasher: Also introduced in House Party, party crashers will arrive during mediocre to fairly good parties, and tend to destroy a lot of objects.


 * Drew Carey A real life celebrity who shows up as a reward for a great party.


 * Santa Claus: If you have a Christmas tree up, and you place a plate of cookies just a little before midnight on a table near the fireplace, Santa Claus will show up whilst your Sims are sleeping. He'll leave a gift for each of your Sims, plus an extra special present, which could be any item.


 * Obsessed Fan: Introduced in Superstar, your Sims can attract unwanted attention if they achieve 3 star of fame or more. The obsessed fans will stalk your Sims wherever they go, at home or at work. They leave 'special presents' for your Sims - black roses. They also paw through your dustbins.

The Sims 2
The Sims 2 NPCs are much more colorful. For starters, basic NPCs can be interacted with (talked to, befriended, married etc.) and each has a different face, hair color and name. They can be male or females and they make more logical decisions, mostly. Also with some Sims, such as the repairman or the exterminator when doing their duties if University is installed, a thought bubble will appear over their head about college. Which possibly means they regret not going to college. When an NPC becomes playable, a new NPC will be generated to take the old NPC's place.

Playable NPCs
These NPCs can become playable through many different ways. For a full list of ways to make them playable see Turning a Townie into a Playable Sim.


 *  The Maid: Usually a woman, but there is a couple of men, at a ratio of about 2:1. Maids will clean up your lot for you, useful if you have filthy Sims.
 * The Repairman: Repairs broken-down objects and unclogs the toilet.
 *  The Exterminator: If your lot is filthy and you see cockroaches crawling around, call the exterminator and he will rid the lot of them for you.
 *  The Policeman: He'll fight a burglar or fine you about 200 Simoleons if you ring him falsely. Otherwise, there is a 4:1 ratio the police officer will be a man rather than a woman.
 *  The Fireman: If you have Sims with a low Cooking Skill attempt to cook anything involving an oven or a microwave, sometimes a fire will result. Having a fire alarm will have a fireman come to extinguish the fire, without having you call them.
 *  The Burglar: He or she doesn't always come at nighttime. Most burglars are men, although female burglars have been seen as well. Burglars are Townies that you can meet and even befriend (they still wear their crime outfit), but that won't stop them from robbing you.
 *  The Gardener: If you have a large garden to upkeep or you are just feeling lazy, the gardener will come and take care of your plants.
 *  The Nanny: They can be very irritating but will look after your Sim's baby, toddler or child's needs. Always an elder woman.
 * Paper Deliverer: Appears at 7 am every morning to deliver the papers. Can either be male or female, but is always a teen. Also delivers hobby magazines once a week along with the newspaper (FreeTime).
 *  Professors: Professors come from the University expansion pack. You meet them at class and when you talk or phone them, your Class Performance goes up. Some of them occasionally visit the character's lot and ring the doorbell.
 *  University Mascots: There is the evil mascot (the cow) and good mascot (llama). The cow, has zero body points, while the llamas mascot has the body skill maxed out. If both of these mascots appear on the lot, more than likely, they will cause a fight.
 *  Cheerleaders: Cheerleaders are almost always women, and they come onto a lot on campus (whether dorm or private residence) at random times during the day. However, a locked door can keep them out.
 *  The Coach: The Coach is almost always, if not always, a man. Your Sim will stop whatever he or she is doing in order to work out. Like the Nanny, the Coach can be very irritating.
 * Hobby Instructors: Instructors will contact your Sim when they increase their enthusiasm in a certain hobby. They can be found on the secret lots and instruct Sims in their hobby.

Non-playable NPCs
These NPCs cannot become playable without the use of mods, cheats, and/or expansion packs.


 * The Grim Reaper: Stereotypical death. Scythe, cloak, mobile phone, clipboard, etc. When the death is not from old age or drowning, other Sims can plead for a loved one's life. He can also be contacted through a special phone to bring a loved one back, usually as a zombie unless you offer 5000 simoleons. But this can only be activated in University.
 *  Mrs. Crumplebottom: She is Downtown's favorite old prude. She hits you with her handbag if you kiss/flirt in front of her.
 *  Social Worker: If you neglect your children, whether intentionally or not, the Social Worker will take your children away.
 *  Social Bunny: If you let your Sim's Social Bar become low enough, then the Social Bunny will appear. You can socialize with the Social Bunny until your Social Bar is halfway full. There are three versions of the Social Bunny, each one with a different colored suit. He can only be seen by the Sim being treated.
 * Skunk: A small animal from The Sims 2: Pets who will "spray" your Sim or pet and make them smell. This usually happens if you try to pet them or chase them off. They are black and white cat-sized creatures with a tendency to hang around lots with flowers. Sometimes, they just appear randomly.
 * Pack leader: A black wolf with glowing yellow eyes, if you raise the relationship level high, teens and older will be bitten and turned into a werewolf!
 *  Repo-man: If you don't have enough money to pay your bills, the Repo Man will come and take some of your Sim's items to compensate.
 * Carpool Driver: The Carpool Driver is the one who drives the carpool to your residence on every day that you have to go to work. Usually, the Carpool Driver is a man.
 * Unsavory Charlatan: If you encounter him on a community lot he may try to steal your wallet.
 * Penguin: Usually appears during Winter season for you to pet. They are attracted to fish and will chat to your scarecrow or snowman.
 * Sim Shrink: Appears when your Sim's aspiration level is very low. He can only be seen by the Sim being treated, so other Sims in the area will think the Sim's crazy. The shrink will raise your Sim's aspiration level a tad, and will disappear.
 * Fan NPCs: These can only be got through hacks and mods
 * Easter Bunny: Buy His Family Crest and he'll come overnight when your Sims are asleep. He'll take his crest and leave an egg for everyone in the house.
 * Mr. Humble: If you have installed The Sims 2: Freetime, he will drop by your house and leave a computer with The Sims 3 game on it.