Non-player character
A non-player character (commonly abbreviated as NPC) is a character in a Pokémon game whose actions cannot be controlled by the person operating the console. Their direct opposite is the player character.
Functions of non-player characters
Non-player characters are typically present in the game to further the progress of the player. Their duties vary. Early in the games they tend to offer advice for new players, similar to the trainer tips signage. Later in the game, as the player is more experienced, this function is less prominent, however at this point there still remain characters who encourage, or hint at, a visit at a certain area to fulfill a given task.
NPCs also supply the player with items and Pokémon, often free of charge. Generally, these cannot be received in another manner (except through utilizing a cloning glitch or through breeding). However, some NPCs hand out common or uncommon items on a daily basis, such as the Berry Masters of Johto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh.
The final variety of non-player characters are those who interact with the player, including Pokémon Professors, villainous teams, and the player's rival. This interaction may occur in Contests, in battle on routes between cities, or in Pokémon Gyms. The latter belong to a category known as Gym Leaders: defeating all eight of these in a region enables access to the Pokémon League, another group consisting of five NPCs. Pokémon Diamond and Pearl introduced five more NPCs who, at various stages of the game, battle with the player as a partner in a double battle. In Platinum Version, these NPCs, and also the Gym Leaders of Sinnoh, can be fought again at the Battleground in the Battle Frontier, once the Pokémon League has been defeated. Often, NPCs will offer a trade with the player. Sometimes, this Pokémon is unobtainable otherwise; for example, a girl in Vermilion City will trade her Farfetch'd for a Spearow.
