[quote=@Willy Vereb]
<Snipped quote by Vordak>They kind of have the same role in a battle, though.
Also rather than NPC characters it's more correct to call mercs and such as "minions".


[/quote]

What i meant is that an NPC is added to enhance the storyline, and that any kind of subordinates your character has will belong to a different category, should they be able to actually influence the fight.