Hello,

Does NPC’s AI use same strategic tools than players: block, roll dodge, counterstrike after blocking an heavy attack from player, interrupt casting from player, etc?

Have a nice evening!

I just want to know:

Are all NPC's marked as "Essential"? Or do I actually get to have some assassin-fun?

i believe that is the idea. I dont know if the synergies will be identical but they have those as well.

Yes.

It being an MMO, you will probably not be able to touch ANY non-hostile NPC at all.

^

I was hoping you can hostile and "temporary" injure NPCs thus removing them from service for an hour or so.

Of course it will count as a crime if you attack an NPC from your own alliance, which the guards will be coming soon to sort out.

But in cases when you are raiding the enemy village or keep or whatever, the ability to disable key NPCs such as keep guards, NPC healers, store keepers etc should have some strategy implications.